Now the converter doesn't match...

Been bracket racing a long time, long enough to know that one thing effects another, but wasn't really expecting this.
My combo has been sorted out for a while, but I wanted to change it somewhat, with my engine being relatively mild. Was 440, domed pistons, Edelbrock RPM heads, M-1 intake, MP .590 solid cam, 1050 Dominator, Hooker Super Comp headers, 727 MR valve body and 4.56 Dana. Car is very consistent, 6.50ish, 100 mph.
I had been gathering parts to build a 500ci Mega Bolck to swap out but ran into issues trying to find parts. So, I took a perfectly good engine and changed out some of what I had on to it. Changed heads to Indy EZ-1's (MW ports), Super Victor intake and a solid roller camshaft, 312 dur & .697 lift. Everything else stayed the same.
Up until a couple of months ago, I ran a Turbo Action 17509J converter (9"), but wanted to see if something else was better. I had PTC spec me a converter, and they sent me a 8" that works OK. The J converter liked to be launched about 2900-3000 footbraking, the PTC would go 2600, but seemed to like 2500. Reaction times much better with PTC and the car deadly consistent.
Now, the engine runs good, but just blows through the converter for about 150'. I picked up about 5 mph in the 1/8, even with the converter slipping. I thought the new combo would loosen up the converter, but not this much.
Question to those that have "been here, done that", can this PTC be adjusted to work, should I try the TA "J", or have a completely different converter built?
At this point, I'm thing I'm going back to what I had that works and figure this new stuff out over the winter.

Thanks, Brian

With the bigger heads and intake, on a stock stroke combo.......I’d think you want something that flashed 56-5800, and then was pretty efficient from there on up.
I don’t think you’ll get that out of a 9” behind that motor.

Apparently, I severely underestimated how much of a change in horsepower and (especially) torque that swapping to these parts would make. I knew that they would have an effect on the torque converter, but not to this extent.
At this point, with only a few weeks until the Mopar show in London, Ky, I think that I will just go back to my original plan and put my old stuff back on. Then, sort these other parts out over the winter, and get all my ducks waddling bill to tail feather.

Thanks, Brian

If it were mine I would have the 8 inch tightened up....

Well, that’s up to you.
But I’d swap in the 9” converter before I pulled the motor apart again, then the 8” would be out and ready to go back for an adjustment.

So if your reaction times are better, the car is much faster, and its deadly consistent, why touch it?

And when you say its "blowing through" the converter for about 150 feet, what do you mean exactly? To me it sounds like the car is happy with the 8" converter, it just may not be something you were used to with the 9" J converter.

I would much rather prefer a looser converter over a tighter one, especially bracket racing.

Most of the guys in my circle running a 440 based stroker are using a 9.5" convertor. We would have the same problem if we went to an 8" like your running..I do not think there is enough holding power in an 8" for a stroker.

And when you say its "blowing through" the converter for about 150 feet, what do you mean exactly? To me it sounds like the car is happy with the 8" converter, it just may not be something you were used to with the 9" J converter.

.
[/quote]

When I launch the car now, the RPM's are going to about 5000 or so, but the car isn't really moving. Kinda like the clutch is slipping in a manual transmission car for 150' before it starts to hook up. After about 150', it starts to get hooked up and then the RPM's go up enough to shift (about 6000 rpm's)
The car was fairly happy with the 8" converter before I changed the heads, intake and camshaft. Not so much now.

Brian

"cause I'm a dumb ^$$?
Seemed like a good idea at the time. I got $4000 worth of new parts to build a 500" and can't get connecting rods or a crankshaft for it, and were running out of racing season, so I put some of them on my stock stroke 440. That was running fine.

Brian

That would be the best thing to do, but not sure if I can get it out, back to PTC, and back in the car in time for the Mopar show.

Brian

When I launch the car now, the RPM's are going to about 5000 or so, but the car isn't really moving. Kinda like the clutch is slipping in a manual transmission car for 150' before it starts to hook up. After about 150', it starts to get hooked up and then the RPM's go up enough to shift (about 6000 rpm's)
The car was fairly happy with the 8" converter before I changed the heads, intake and camshaft. Not so much now.

Brian [/quote]

Brian,

I honestly would leave it be. Consistency and good reaction times are a winning combo.

I could write a lengthy paragraph or two about the experiences myself and my race team have had with 8" converters and changing engine combos etc, but at the end of the day if you're not happy, then do what we all do, change it and hope for the best.

I certainly hope you get it straightened out for London.

R.J.

I have ran 8 inch converters in everything from 11 second footbrake cars to 7 second dragsters and have one in my Dart now that 60 fts 1.19....

He is quite a ways from blowing through the tightest 8 inch you can make. IF its done right.....

I asked a reputable converter guy about where the cutoff was for an 8 inch one time and he said probably around 3000lbs and 900 hp.....

Is it getting hot?

The year before I sold my Coronet I had a guy at Monster Mopar ask me "why'd you put a 4spd in there". No idea what he was talking about, he was amazed when I showed him it was an automatic. He said "I've watched you pull out of your pit space all weekend, the way that thing revs out I thought it was a 4spd". I never even really thought about it. Sent it back to Forte and he asked me how long it's been like this, I told him probably two years, he said the fins on the pump were bent over bad. I had won three events that year cause it was a Xerox machine to the 1000'.

I don't care how fast it runs, if it's not hurting itself and runs the #, I let it eat. They don't give you may more money to go faster.