Cam refers to the camshaft, a component of an internal combustion engine.
And when selecting cams, the question “Do you need a stall converter with a cam?” is much more crucial than other elements.
Lucky you! I’m here to provide you with a complete response. Scroll down for clarification and more information about choosing the right torque converter for your cars.
Do You Need A Stall Converter With A Cam?
Most street-legal performance vehicles’ stall converters are optimized to work between 2,800 and 3,000 RPM.
Street and strip hot rods with bigger cams and other custom modifications are welcome to enter. The sweet spot for this sort of converter is between 3,00 and 3,500 rpm.
Torque Converter Stall Speed: How Much Do You Need?
The ideal stall speed of a car’s excellent torque converter defines the engine speed at which the drive wheels begin to turn with the brakes engaged and the gearbox in gear.
The stock stall speed must be high enough for the car to launch successfully.
On the other hand, the car will be sluggish off the line in case of the too-low converter stall speed, and high-gear slippage will raise your ET (referring to the term “insertion depth”) if the speed is too high.
Manufacturers of engines benefit from both vehicle weight and dyno data.
The current converter is calibrated to the ratios of the gearbox. Each upshift should reduce the engine speed to a more productive range.
When driving on the street, setting the converter’s stall speed to the same range as the engine’s operating range (in which the car’s engine ‘gets on the stock cam’) is important.
This is because the optimal stall speed for a race car is close to the engine’s max torque.
Converter stall speeds are affected by several factors, including engine size, torque output, camshaft, and weight.
For example, the stall speed of a stock converter is increased in large cubic-inch engines. However, converters fail at higher rpm on low-torque engines.
A bigger car with a larger tire size will have a higher effective stall speed.
In addition, effective stall rpms are higher for heavy vehicles with “tall” (low numerical) rear axle ratios compared to light vehicles with “short” (high numerical) gear ratios.
What Does A High Stall Converter Do?
The term “stall” refers to where the torque converter locks up under pressure.
To put it another way, the ‘rough’ RPM at which the rear tires will begin to spin away is ‘approximately’ 2,500 RPM when taking your car with a stall converter at 2,500 RPM and pushing your foot firmly on the brake while simultaneously applying the throttle (as if you were about to engine power brake).
If the stock converter stalled at 3,500 RPM, that’s about the speed at which the rear tires would fly off.
Remember that the converter’s stall speed will increase with the engine’s torque when installed behind a wicked large block in a heavy vehicle with a strong grip, but it will decrease with a less powerful engine.
Torque, vehicle mass, traction, and rear gearing are all factors. Stall RPM is notoriously difficult to predict.
Stock vehicles often have stall speeds between 1,000 and 1,400 RPM from the factory.
The logic behind the effectiveness of a stall converter is straightforward: at 1,200 RPM, an engine produces about 80 horsepower (on average), but at 2,500 RPM, it may produce 150 to 200 HP, and therefore, launching a vehicle with 150 to 200 HP is easier than 80 HP.
If your engine has a lot of horsepower and a big cam, it requires a higher stall speed to get it into its “power band” sooner during takeoff. Alternatively, it will be a turd and fail miserably.
Matching Stall Converter To Cam
Engines that need to perform at their best have stall converters and cams that are well-matched. The camshaft rpm and the converter’s stall rpm should be compatible.
Because the stall speed is inadequate, the engine may not use the camshaft to its full potential.
When the stall speed was excessively high, the compression engine could not turn fast enough to get the most out of the camshaft.
Maximizing engine performance using a stock converter that works with the camshaft.
How Do I Choose A Stall Converter?
It’s not easy to choose the right stall converter:
- Convertor size is determined by engine size.
- Certain converters may not work with your gearbox because of the brand or kind.
- Some vehicles’ converters will not work.
- Consider how much money you can spend on the stall torque converter.
Consider these details when you shop for a stall converter for your street-driven car.
Perfect torque converters link your vehicle’s engine and gearbox. It’s a measure of RPM before stalling. A 2,000- or 2,400-stall converter should be used for cam durations less than 248 degrees.
Cam cards oil the aftermarket camshaft; larger torque converters provide better-stopping power. Rear axle ratios of 3.08 or 2.75 are common in heavy-duty trucks.
However, you also need to notice that the quake, overheating, and vibrating have damaged torque converter technologies.
How Do I Know What Size Stall Converter I Need?
So, how to choose the right torque converter? Several variables determine the size of a perfect stall converter.
First, examine your vehicle’s engine, gearbox, and performance torque converter. Next, determine your driving style and the performance of your car.
For example, high-performance and large-engine vehicles require stall converters with high torque.
Manual cars need more torque. Hence, a higher stall speed is ideal. Inquire with a technician or a performance shop about the cams with the stock converter size your vehicle requires.
Apply the trans brake and pound the throttle at 2100 rpm without RPM chips in the ignition to determine engine speed or idle and check the currency converter for flashing lights.
It’s tough to see if the vehicle is stuck or not if it’s against the brake and mat. I suggested that you verify the flash time before going to the game.
Select a stock torque converter with the same stall speed and peak torque. If your rotary engine reaches that speed, use a torque converter design with a stall speed of 3,500 rpm.
The torque converter stall speed is calculated using the K Factor formula by dividing the square root of torque in feet by engine rpm.
Fuel engines produce 400 pounds per square foot. The K Factor aids in the selection of torque converters. Increasing engine torque changes the K factor, which determines stall speed.
FAQs
What Are The Cons And Pros Of Higher Stall Torque Converters?
A higher stall speed in your vehicle’s performance torque converter may improve acceleration but may have other issues.
A higher stall torque converter helps a car accelerate more effectively by concentrating power at the engine’s rotational speed.
Avoid driving with a stall converter when commuting since it may decrease fuel economy.
In addition, rear tire wear might be accelerated by the higher stall speed, which would be unpleasant for drivers.
What Happens In the Case of A Lower Torque Converter Stall?
Too low of a stall speed torque converter causes the vehicle to leave the starting line slowly, while too high of a stall speed causes the car to slide a lot of rear gears, both of which are bad for the rotary engine.
Conclusion
All in all, do you need a stall converter with a cam? The answer is that the stall converters in street-legal performance cars typically operate between 2,800 and 3,000 RPM for optimal performance.
I recommend choosing a converter with a 500 rpm stall speed higher than the start of the camshaft powerband but be aware of the potential problems that might arise from going too high.