Transmission, Automatic

Stall Speed Increase

I have an 85S Auto with RMB, chip upgrade, K&N, polished intake and throttle body...it was ok, but off the line it was just not very exciting (sound familiar?). then it developed a "clunk" under the front end when starting out from a dead stop - not the kind of excitement I was hoping for!

After repeatedly asking if the torque tube was ok ("oh you bet!"), I had spent over $6k on everything from motor mounts to a complete front suspension and steering system overhaul (spread out over 3 shops). "clunk" was still there until another shop finally fried my 1st gear clutches trying to "find" the problem.

SO - I took Clunky Shark to a tranny shop where they also said my torque tube was "probably fine"...after a little pursuading ("JUST PULL THE THING OFF!!") - they only found dust where the front bearings used to be!!! adios Clunky Shark - hello $ilent $hark!!!

the REALLY big news:
since I finally had someone's attention (other than my wife and accountant), and we were all on a 1st name basis by now, I had the torque converter overhauled and stall raised about 400 rpm from the stock 1650rpm to about 2000rpm...

WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!! Silent Shark has balls!!!!
done properly, the torque converter change will transform your Shark into a VERY QUICK (but still smooth)Shark!!! It was easily the best $375.00 ever spent on a performance upgrade!!! This Shark MOVES!!! Just tighten up the throttle/trans cable, crank down the vacum modulator and hang on!!!

the science is simple - you are putting the engine further into the power curves before you engage the drive train - like revving the motor more before you drop the clutch in a manual trans car.

but be careful on this one - if you go too gung-ho on raising the stall (to 3500 like a race car I once built), you will be on a first name basis at your local tire, chiropractor, and tranny shops...your shark will also be totally unusable on any wet surface due to insane tire spinning starts - cool until performed in front of Johnny Law (trust me on this one)....

Now I only have to listen to "how can you spend $9k on an $8k car?" from my wife and accountant...what? BWAAAAA!! I caaannnn't hear yooouuuu!!.....

No Hands!

Rob Rossitto
Grey 85S
socal



That's a good idea. I'll be sure to pass it along. Does the torque converted get replaced to raise the stall speed, or does it get modified by the shop?

+Editor



Modified only, by a rebuild shop...I believe they added some shims to increase the RPM's required to cause it to engage...allows a little extra "rev" prior to actually moving the car, hence the higher torque & HP when it finally does "catch"....at around 2k rpm, you can still easily control launches in order to maintain smooth starts on slipperly (wet, etc) surfaces, if desired - but if you go too high, you will lose that capability, and turn the car into a dragster....(of sorts)....most cars are at about 2400 rpm, but the 5.0 has such good torque at low rpm that we can stiil use a number that is lower than "normal" cars in order to preserve that "sport touring" feel (as opposed to a harsher, pure sports feel)...if I had the time, I would probably have tried even higher, maybe 2300 or so, just to see what would happen…