Good night. I am in dire need of recommendations for a torque converter with a stall speed of 3000-3200rpm MAXIMUM. I have a 1987 Buick 455 Regal-T with a 1970 TH400 3-speed modified, with a 2800-rpm stall 10-inch torque converter supplied by my engine builder over 6-years ago. The videos below taken today, shows my transmission/torque converter issues. My transmission builder feels it's my torque converter in our conversation over the phone about it ... I can't take my Buick to his shop until @ 3 weeks from now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-pFzJG3iuA ... second video below shows situation gradually getting worse. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqarBtbGCDI ... BEFORE this happened; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9H14l8gY-w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD872IgFxHg If it's indeed my torque converter (my tranny builder Tyrone said that if it is ... there's pieces of metal inside my TH400, he will need to rebuild the entire tranny) ... WHAT torque converter do you guys recommend; 10-inch with a 3000-3200 stall, or a 3000-3500 stall? My engine builder haven't got back to me regarding manufacturer, stall speed, and if it needs to be a 10 or 11 inch converter ... for NEW torque converter if that's the problem. Thanks for your time. Sincerely, Christopher D. Swinson :3gears:
This is the stick shift section. You want to post this in "The Juice Box" section for auto trans and converter questions.
Hey, Larry :TU::TU:. I did exactly that in the same order :TU:you mentioned. My fluid level was about 1/2 quart too low (I read somewhere that th400's won't shift if under 1qt too low of fluid) ... I added until the dipstick read full ... and I checked the fluid between 2 of my fingers searching for ANYTHING. I called Tyrone yesterday asking him if he's 100% sure it's the torque converter ... he said yes, again. He has not physically checked anything ... phone diagnosis. He told me that he's going to check my fluid condition and level ... then remove my TH400 oil pan immediately after that, regardless of the fluid feeling/looking okay. The vacuum modulator I checked by hand and eyes ... still as it was when I picked up my Buick when Tyrone changed my shifter cable. I feel that I will lean more toward a 9.5" Jim Wiese torque converter that stalls between 2800-3200-rpm. I've read and heard so many great things about Mr. Wiese's torque converters ... especially his lifetime warranty :beers2:. I find out in @ 3 weeks when Tyrone's 2 currents jobs are completed in his shop ... "what's REALLY wrong with my TH400. Thanks VERY much, Bruno-D "The King," and Larry "The Wizard" for tuning my Holley 850 and H.E.I. distributor CORRECTLY, as I've almost seriously lost control leaving you and Bruno that day when I shocked the tires ... and now ... alleged torque converter failure LOL. My Buick has been on STEROIDS since the day you two "KINGS" gave it some serious BLESSINGS. Have a great weekend, Sir. :3gears:
UPDATE: I spoke with Mr. Jim Wiese on (9-21-2016), regarding a torque converter for my 10.3 (?):1 compression combo, and he suggested one of his custom built 9.5-inch TH400 3-speed automatic transmission converters that stalls between 2800-2300-rpm. I am heavily considering ... and I've been told/have read about Mr. Wiese's "Lifetime Guarantee." :TU::TU: Special thanks to Bruno-D & Larry "The Wizard" for tuning my H.E.I. distributor and for setting my total timing to 34 degrees (my Buick's 1st time in history ... since day-1 of breaking in the TA290-08H cam over 6 years ago), and my Holley 850 carburetor. Since that day ... my Buick is a monster ... especially in 1st gear manually. :beers2: Update to follow.
... adamantly recommended to me by very happy customers, my own research, my (5-true Buick-Buddies), and 2 separate conversations on two separate days over the phone with Mr. Jim Wiese of Tri-Shield Performance ... :TU::TU:. Mr. Wiese, after the tech data I gave him regarding my 1987 Stage-1 Buick 455 Regal's drive train, suggested one of his custom-built TH400 automatic transmission torque converters that stalls between 3000-3200-RPM. Mr. Weise, as we ALL know, is The-Man, and it's a pleasure looking forward to NO headaches/issues/worries/doubts after the converter is installed next month. My buddy Tyrone Taylor is going to remove the TH400, and totally rebuild everything prior to installing the Jim Wiese 9.5-inch 3000-3200-RPM converter. The 6-year old converter my engine builder provided me with over 6-years ago with my 455 engine, is a 9-inch converter with @ 2800-RPM stall ... and no anti-ballooning plate. Tyrone said the 1st thing he's going to do, is check my fluid level and condition (as I did already ... everything looked, smelled, and felt normal), then remove the oil pan (looking for metal shards/strips) ... take my TH400 completely apart, then rebuild everything completely before the "Jim Wiese Torque Converter" go in and get bolted up. Apparently, my "manual shifting with 4200-RPM on the MSD Rev-Limiter" killed the torque converter ... in the streets/on the highway fooling around with the street tires on. Thank God it didn't happen on a highway, nor far from my home/garage. :3gears:
