Overthinking a torque converter?

Building a mild 438 for a 68 Road runner. Hoping for maybe another 100 HP over the 383. Had about decided to spend the bucks on a good converter. Way back in the day my 383 was near stock with a long duration Crower Monarch cam. Sounded and ran good, but with an automatic it was hard to hit a happy medium between idling in park and cutting off in gear. In my research it's sounding like a stock 383 Road Runner converter is not a bad choice for a street cruiser (Mostly). The 438 will have a little more lift and duration than stock, but under .500 lift and .300 duration. .323 gears, 70 series tires. Also back in the day and by accident I replaced the 440 converter in a GTX with one from a 383 Road Runner because it was what i had. The X would smoke the tires effortlessly with the smaller converter. I see converters rated at 2200, 2400, 2500, etc. I'm reading the 383 converter is already there.

Not a bad choice at all.

Dacco #764 that I purchased many moons ago is behind my 383/432 Stroker

Absolutely love it on the street - Perfect idle as low as I want to go - Stab the go peddle off idle 700 RPMs and melt the 275-60R 15 tires as long as I am in the gas

Smooth and just works perfect for street use

I was told by many Mopar stock and SS racers back in the early 1970s that the 1970 383 two barrel converter was the best choice for a decent stock street and drag strip converter, not the stock street hemi converters
I've tried using a stock 440 motor home converter as a cheap way for better low price Hi Po converter, for street racing, the smaller (11 inch smog converters) later converters work better on foot stalling and having a higher foot stall RPM, around 2800 instead of 2300 to 2500 like the stock 11 inch street hemi converters had

You were misinformed, the 383-2 converter is a 12" (11 3/4") converter same as the 440 and the lowest stall offered. The 383-4 converter P/N 2801764 is the 10 3/4" hi-stall converter which is basically a Hemi converter with smaller drive lug bolts.

its now 2024 and converter technogoly has come a long way since the 70's and 80's. my opinion would be to call dynamic, ultimate or ptc and have a converyer built for you car, combo and intended use. be 100% honest about everything when talking to them.. the converter won't be cheap but the difference it can and will make is incredible.. i always laugh when i see someone dump thousands into a motor and trans only to skimp out on a conveter. the conveter can make or break the entire combination..

For a "street cruiser", no need to overthink the converter.

I’ve used the stock 340 converter which I believe is similar if not the same as the 383 hp converter. It served me well for years. It was not as quick at the track. But it drove well on the street.
Doug

This last part here is the key: be VERY honest with yourself (and your converter builder) about what it is that you want!!! While converters today are very good, that high-stall ones will end up bit looser on the bottom end, they have to be...so if you absolutely can NOT tolerate that you builder needs to know this.

Here is some examples of aftermarket converters in the mid 2500 stall range:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ape-54093


https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hup-24-25


https://www.summitracing.com/parts/bmm-10415

My favorite mild street strip is a 141200 tci