How do you choose who to build your converters?

I'm planning on changing the converter behind the 434 small block in my Dart over the winter and talked to four compaines today, Edge Racing, Abruzzi, BTE and Coan. They recommended 9.5" 10" and the last two recommended 8". I gave them my dyno information and particulars on the car. Coan asked way more questions and asked for dyno sheets, data logs and video of the tach during a run if I had any.

My head is about explode! I'm thinking I'll put all four company names on pieces of paper and drawing one out of a hat. lol

Get a PTC 8". Seems everyone pushes the 9.5" lately. I think the 8" cores are scarcer.

Kenny went through the 8" converter I have and helped it but it's still not right, it originally came from Ultimate.

I’ve ran an 8” 5500 stall behind my 417 inch motor and it was built by Dynamic converters. Always seemed to perform flawlessly but I now have a 9.5” 4500 stall GM converter from FTI due to a trans swap. But more than likely the company who is asking the most questions is going to probably build a converter more closely suited to your exact combination. COAN will build you a good converter for sure but you’ll pay for it. I’ve read a lot of good stuff about PTC too and they won’t cost as much as a Coan I don’t believe. And of course I’ve had good luck with Dynamic.

IMO I have dealt with MOST the companies listed and talked about. The last two years I have been dealing with FTI and could not be happier. They have nailed all 5 converters I have purchased from them in the past two years. Those are from 600hp pieces to 1250hp ones You will not be disappointed if you call the guys at FTI.

https://ftiperformance.com/main.sc;jsessionid=EB762E07DA054AA582AE5D9CCB60B062.p3plqscsfapp004

Thanks Al, I'll give them a look.

I'm trying to get my 60' back, with my 408 and a $450 9 1/2 Edge converter I ran a bunch of 1.38 60. I killed the Edge and had Ultimate build me a new 8" and my 60' went into the low 1.50's. Before I could send it back I decided to freshen the 408 nad found some issues so I built the 434. After some testing the converter was sent back and gone through, it ran high 1.40's after that. I then sent it to Kenny and he tightened it up a little and it has gone 1.40 one time, most of the time 1.43-44.

The 434 added close to 60 pounds to the front but I also have moved the battery to the trunk to help offset it some. IMO with the added 60-80 hp it should 60' better than the 408 did.

I would say do not buy a Edge, Andre is full of crap. 9.5 billet cover weighs a bunch and was not efficient for me.

Changed to a Continental 8" picked up .15 ET with 300rpm more flash and less stripe rpm. The problem is Kris is no longer in business

Edit
If you got a good Edge, you are a lottery winner.

Depending on cam/ compression, bigger head etc, it might not necessarly 60 foot better.
Convertors as you know can be tricky getting right
Last year i went 1.63 sixty and went 11.26 with too tight of a convertor.
This year i went 1.51 and 11.32 with too loose a convertor after swapping to a 904 and expecting to knock on the door of 10’s.
1.51 is great for an 11.30’s to 40’s heavier car, but it was so bad in all the other incrementals it gave it all back and more. Never took the time to get it out and adjust it this season

Yes Brad.

Lenny built it for the 408 initally, when I built the 434 I talked to Lenny after it was on the dyno and he told me to run it as it should be close. It didn't work, the 60' was way off and it was slipping on the big end. It was sent back to Lenny and gone and configured for the 434. It still didn't work, that's when I sent it to Kenny Ford at PTC.

What I’ve found is, the “bigger head” combos are fussier about how they interact with the converter than a smaller head combo.
Especially when there are some compromises made to the engine combo for street duty.

It’s sort of like..... big heads, without the big compression and big cam, have a smaller tuning window at the starting line.
It’s just easier to make them work when it’s 14:1 and 280@.050...... you start with a 5800 8” unit and go from there.

I wish I had more experience with converter companies. I had a Coan 11" that worked great, but they said if I exceeded 500 HP it wouldn't hold up... and they were right. Once that car was dipping well into the 11s, it was like the converter's fuse was lit.

Tried a J.W. Performance 10" that was too loose for what it was sold for (10+% slippage), so I pulled it and put in a Frank Lupo Dynamic 9.5" which was very "popular" at that time (late '90s). But I don't hear people talk about Dynamic much these days...

In my car, that Dynamic worked really well, even after changing the engine and picking up about 50 HP over the original application. Now I've picked up another 50+ HP and am hoping it is at least still in the ballpark to get a new baseline.

In a friend's car that Dynamic spec'd a different 9.5" for, not so good... waaaaay too loose, so he yanked it and put in something much tighter. Very disappointing, especially because he knew how well mine worked for me.

ATI is probably an hour's drive from me (no traffic), but I've never been sure they were the way to go, either. They told me years ago that I should run an 8", which I thought was a bit absurd for a low-11 second car (at that time).

Dayum... I don't know that I helped the OP one bit, but I just reminded myself about how much I don't want to change converters again.

I'm sure there are few good companies out there, but I have had great luck with PTC. Excellent customer service, and reasonable pricing as well. Never had a problem w any of their converters and Ive used in 4-5 diff cars. Always worked great.

Sorry, I hadn't read all your replies before I posted my question, and then I thought I'd deleted it soon enough that you wouldn't have had to answer it.

Converters are like beer - you choose what you like and others may not agree .
I have run a Dynamic for several years as I progressed through different power levels . 9 1/2" 5000 stall . Was great won a championship with it - footbraking .
I now have a A1 Performance unit to go with my transbrake .
It is a 8" , specced to my 505 with stock port heads and 4150 carb . Was around 5500 .Fitted TF270 heads and went 4500carb stall was just over 6000 . Blew that motor , refitted 440 with big top end stall is 5800 .
This is on a pump gas street/strip motor . I always felt a little to high a stall wont hurt , to tight does .

Tex

All of Kris's stuff was purchased by Steve Casner at CRE if you still want to use the product. Just FYI

I’ve had real good luck with Transmission Specialties behind my small block powerglide combos. It’s a spragless 8 inch turbo spline. I’ve never given them dyno numbers because I don’t dyno my stuff but when I told them I wanted 5800 stall on my last freshen it came back at 5760. I consider that pretty close. I will be sending another in over the winter to duplicate it so I have a spare sitting here.

No one mention Turbo Action ?

GER?

[/quote]

All of Kris's stuff was purchased by Steve Casner at CRE if you still want to use the product. Just FYI [/quote]

Thanks Al, as always I appreciate the info.

I did not know where the stuff went, the kid Peter was trying to put something together when they 1st closed. But that obviously did not happen.

We're using FTI with good results.
We are basing initial build/stall off of engine dyno hp curve, re-stall come with purchase and we have only needed it once so far.
fwiw

Personally Ive had better luck with Dynamic than anyone else, as far as building and working like I thought it should. Since Ive moved back to Kentucky though Ive used BTE to do a repair on a starter ring gear of the old Dynamic and they were excellent to deal with, seems a large majority of people in this area think they are by far the best. All I know is lots of people really like them, and that they are very reasonable on pricing.

FTI only shows one (1) item for a 727 trans, their 9.5" street/strip converter. Is that correct?

Sounds like Edge Racing is the GER of the 21st century.

Mine is going to Dynamic for the new build. Been dealing with Frank for 35+ years and can't stop now.............

I have one 8” converter 6200 stall that has some slip, but will print off 1.34 60 times and 6.13 1/8 times by the notebook full. I attribute the consistency to my 3rd place finish in the Hot Rod Heritage Series 2 years ago.

My other 8” is tighter and 5800 stall. It can dip into the high 1.2’s on the 60 and has given me a best 1/8th increment of 5.94. Prob is that it can vary on launch and isn’t nearly as predictable. I bought this piece just to shut a guy up that thought he had me covered as he had intel from my slo piece.

Good thing I have all these piled up next to my 727 as I’m switching over to a 904... dumb...dumb...dumb...

[/quote]
Good thing I have all these piled up next to my 727 as I’m switching over to a 904... dumb...dumb...dumb... [/quote]

Hopefully I can help inspire you, just think of that glorious feeling you will have when you rip off that 1.35 60' and a 6.14 et with the new combo Who is supplying the new converter?

That’s my goal.... I like to spend a lot to go back in time! I have Ultimate converters stacked up like cord wood. It was actually a really old Dynamic.... so old Lenny was probably still working with Frank when it was built. Had it updated for this combo + the a500 pump drive conversion.

ATI is still very popular with the stock/superstock crowd.

I was gonna say why not ATI? The local guy that builds my converters and transmissions has a very close relationship w/ ATI and uses a lot of their parts.
Atlantic Coast Converters in Conway, SC, is who I use. Almost everyone around this part of SC and NC uses them.

While I have not got anything from them recently I have used Turbo Action for years. I had one converter that sat on the shelf long enough to be out of warranty when I used it. After a few races something let go internally and they still warrantied it.

As I understand it Paul works part time now and he is who I would want to talk to. I think he comes in at 1:00 pm four days a week.

x2 on PTC. Nothing like you guys are running, but they worked over a lock up 904/a500 stocker for me, tweaking the stall so it is right where I wanted it, put on the "d" drive and big bolt lugs. Does exactly what I need it to, this is on a 408.

I would suggest calling A-1, and order a 8 inch converter. I have a 8 inch tight 4800 RPM stall converter in my 505 stoker, with 4:10 dana. Nothing but fun, works so nice, perfect drivability on the street, no slop. Stomp on the gas and holy crap, it flashes to 4800 in an instant and takes off. Very good product, no complaints, custom made per my dyno sheet, and car specs. May be a little more $$ than some, but is worth it in my opinion. Give them a call, you won't be disappointed. Very nice guys to talk with also.
FYI...Dave Smith at Pro-Trans built my 727, and recommended that I order a 8 inch A-1 converter. I trusted his recommendation, glad I did.

https://www.a-1perf.com/

I had A1 work on my nine inch Continental converter and Mikes Ultra Glide after it broke. It lasted 12 runs before it broke again
I paid them to fix it again and it has lasted a little bit longer this time, so far
If and when I have another glide converter built it will be a ATI
I have used Dave at Pro Trans for years on my Mopar trans. cars
He is building me a all out 727 now for one of my customers street and show car with a 800 HP pump gas 572 EFI Hemi motor, hopefully he will be able to supply me with a good converter for that car also
OP, buy the best converter you can get
Not the cheapest

Many good companies out there and of course you will get about 20 different opinions on what everyone likes. I guess it just depends on what someone uses that works good for them. I love my 9.5 Dynamic that's been in my car since 2006 and still working fine on the street and track. Ron

Just a thought
IF you footbrake
The fastest converter may not be the best for hitting the tree--Tighter makes it easier to nail the tree vs loose ( which is usually faster 60 ft etc)

My favorite two are ATI & PTC. I used to run a PTC 8" 5000 nitrous convertor in one of my old Pro street 69 Charger for 5-6 year on the street until I sold the car. Totally street friendly until you mashed the throttle & then it would do what it needed to do.

I currently have another PTC 9.5" 3800 convertor in my street driven cruiser 70' Charger with well over 30,000 street miles on it & is about 10 years old now without any issues.

I also have another PTC 9.5" 5400 Nitrous convertor in my 70' Hemi street/strip 70' Challenger. No complaints from PTC from me.

ATI is usually more expensive than PTC but so many of my buddies are always returning them back & forth between ATI & Ultimate Convertors to adjust the stall up or down several hundred RPMs to get them right.

Thanks Al, as always I appreciate the info.

I did not know where the stuff went, the kid Peter was trying to put something together when they 1st closed. But that obviously did not happen. [/quote]

Glad I clicked on this thread. Kris built me a converter a couple of years ago and it turned out to be one of his last. Great guy, great product, great price. I appreciate the update.

I learned the hard way on that way back when. Broke one GER(it sound like a box of glass), they replaced it and the replacement had 13% loss. I've been running a PTC for quite awhile.

I've had a UCC in mine since 2005 no issues...

One of my buddies tried a 10" 4000 GER in his turbo 400 in his 68 Pontiac because they were so cheap. He got lucky. It lasted many years with abused street/strip miles in a 10 sec all steel street car. Still worked great when he just sold it a few years ago. The car has changed hands & is still going strong today & is back up for sale again now from new owner #2.

I had and 8 inch ATI in my car that broke a lug in July. James at Coan built me a spragless 8 inch that picked me up .05-.06 in the 1/8.

If you are shoe polish racing a loose 8 inch is the way to go.

I've had great luck with ATI, the one in my 9 second 69 Dart had less than 3% slip.
ALOT of guys at my local tracks are using 501 Perfect Converter now and having awesome results.

The second converter was still working when I replaced it with the PTC 9.5", but the 13% loss was costing me almost .30 and quite a bit rpm.

We've been dealing almost exclusively with JW Performance for a while now. Really love my 8" for the 904. We've sent a few back for adjustments and they've performed exactly like what we were looking for when we got them back.