well,it looks like i'll be putting the 350 back together til the 383 is done.the combo is as follows;
4 bolt .040 over,
speed pro coated flat tops,
vortec heads,
comp274xe,
1.5 comp rockers,
rpm vortec manifold,
proform 750 vac sec,
700r4 pioneer shift kit,corvette servo,th400 vaccum modulator,
stock lockup convertor,
2.73 pegleg
i found a good deal on a tci 2000-2600 lock up converter and am on a pretty tight budget,is it worth the 130 bucks with my combo or should i look for a higher stall with this cam/engine?
a gear change is definately in the near future (3.73)along with an eaton posi or more likey a ford 9",but i am looking for better manners and a better launch for now.
is the tci worth it?
thanks!
Eric

Sounds like a good combo. How are you using a th400 vacuum modulator on a 700r4? Is that some sort of special mod? I've never heard of that one. On the converter, it sounds like a good price. The stall will be okay with the 2.73's if it's on the upper end of the range you gave. Mine's a 2000 with a Comp 280 mag but I've got more gear, perhaps not optimal for the strip but great on the street.

Don't know specifically how the converter will match the cam, since I am not that savy on cams. But the converter will lock up at the higher end of that range, I would expect, with a 383. Torque affects the lockup to a large degree. Your 383 should have above average torque which will skew the lockup toward the high end of the scale.

do i have to use a lockup converter with the 700r4?what changes are needed to use a non lockup?

don't have to use a lockup

I also wanna know how to use a 400 modulator on a 700

not to pick but 2000-2600 is a big range
remember it'll stall higher with more power in front of it

ditch the pioneer shift kit and pick up a transgo
get a cooler too

130 bones it's prob'ly worth it
another thought for ya: pick up a 7.5" 3.42 posi from SLP for cheap

lata and good luck

dammit where's my sig at
lol
just to show I have a 4l60e (beefed up electronic 700r4)

thanks for the replies all!
guess i should have been more specific about the trans setup,it's actually a vaccum lock up kit from tci that allows automatic engagement of the torque converter clutch during stable engine operation via a vaccum signal,when the vaccum changes a given ammount,it unlocks the converter.
sorry to mislead on that,although i remember reading about that trick here several years ago.it's been installed for a while and when you get to my age..... graemlins/clonk.gif
fast,b&m and tci both have similar controllers for the 4l60e but they cost a bit more as they are electronically controlled as opposed to vaccum.
oh and i looked at the tci converter again,it's a breakaway and rated at 2600-3200 which sounds about right for my cam as it realy starts working right about 3000.i will definately get a cooler hooked up!i'll be looking at posi once the car is back on the road,thanks for the tip about slp!
Eric

[ 10-23-2004, 07:54 AM: Message edited by: SLEEPER 86 ]

after more research it looks like the tci breakaway will stall at 2200-2400,ok but my cam doesnt feel powerful at all til 3000 rpms,i also found an art carr non lockup converter that is quoted as being a 3600-3900 stall for a good price.
well from what i understand here,the better the converter,the better the street manners.
any guesses on the difference in mileage and manners between the two?
also wondering about the average life expectancy of street vs race style converters(i've always been a clutch kinda guy)
thanks again!
E

also found a tci super street fighter rated at 3500-3800 with lockup!hmmmm decisions decisions!

Just something else to think about. I had a 2200 stall built from a local shop and has worked great for years without a problem. Thing is, behind my 406, it has flashed to 2800+ with a dead hook. More torque = higher stall.

If you want to go with a TCI lockup give me a shout via email....there is nowhere you will find a better price on TCI stuff! (Or BTE and JW) smile.gif

Perhaps Oldlani can confirm or deny this... I believe if you opt to go without lockup, there is a modification that is recommended to improve lubrication. I think it involves drilling out a passage in either the separater plate or oil pump assembly. Some of those 700's (early models perhaps) would suffer from oil starvation when a non-lockup converter was used.

the budget is running light geting her back on the road,so i am postponing the converter,headers and gears in favor of a good balance job and needed incidentals,but only temporarily!
steve,i have heard good things about bte,i'll be in touch as soon as the balloon fills back up a bit!
Eric

I was told the same thing by many trans shop guys about the non lockup deal. You have to modify the trans...a additional hole somewhere .

As for the stall it probably won't be as bad as you think because of the 3.06 1st gear, compared to the 2.48 or 2.52 of the turbo 350 and 400's.

BTW go to corvetteforum.com in the c-4 for sale section/ parts wanted see if anyone with an 85 vette has their stock one laying around. their 2K stall. Their 30 spline