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Converters can get
confusing. Here are some questions
answered... |
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Frequently Asked
Questions...
1.
If I get a Fuddle, can I
still drive it on the street? You Bet! When
looking into stall converters many people have heard silly
things from uninformed friends. One misconception is that if
you install a converter with a 3400 stall speed, the car won’t
move until 3400 RPMs. Consider that stock is close to 1600
RPM and you have no problem moving at idle
with the stock unit. The same is true for the higher stall. It
will take a little more throttle, but the car will still move
at low throttle and RPMs. In fact, the vast majority of the
time, even with very high stalls, the car will still move off
of idle.
Fuddle
converters actually generally more streetable than the stock
converter! You will get a better throttle reaction, and a
more linear feel on the throttle itself. The car will be more
fun to drive.
--a. With a Fuddle, will I be able to drive in the
rain and snow? Located in
Salt Lake City, Utah, we see our fair share of snow and rain.
Those of us who daily drive our cars find that with the
Fuddle, and the slip that is introduced, it is considerably
easier to drive the car in poor weather.
I don't know of anyone who would go back to stock after
a trip in a stalled covnerter in bad
weather.
2. What do they mean by
loose? This refers to the different
throttle feeling after installing a torque converter. After
installing a converter, the car will no longer jerk forward
when you tap the throttle. It will have a much more linear
feel to it. It gives you the ability to roll into the throttle
more effectively.
Most people get used to this
new feel after a day or two, and more still like the feeling
much better than stock.
3.
Do I need a
transmission cooler? Yes. The extra
heat created by even low stall speeds can damage a converter,
and transmission very quickly. A top quality cooler is simply
good insurance at a cheap price to ensure that the covnerter
ant transmission stay working at all
times.
4. Do I need a shift
kit? While most
customers get away without using a shift kit, we do recommend
the use of one. Primarily it will restore any wear in the
valve body that can cause more noticable Pulse Width
Modulation. Perhaps a better name for a shift kit is a
transmisssion life extension
kit.
5. Should I use a synthetic fluid? No! We cannot stress this one enough.
Synthetic transmission fluids are great for keeping
temperatures down, but you should accomplish that with a
proper cooling system. Synthetic transmission fluids simply do
not have the viscosity to hold clutches like traditional
fluids do. This can lead to converter clutch failure, and
internal transmission failure, or at the very least, show
signs as though you have PWM. If you insist on using a
synthetic, you must add a viscosity enhanser to the fluid to
make the mixture thick enough to hold the clutches
properly.
6. What
causes shuttering if it happens? Shuttering is a sign of Pulse Width Modulation. The
more severe it is, the worse the shape your valve body (inside
the transmission) is. Each time the converter shutters, you
come that much closer to burning the clutch material and
frying the converter leading to costly repairs. It can be
fixed, see
below...
7.
How do I get
of Pulse Width Modulation (Shuttering)? The number
one thing you should do when installing the converter to help
prevent PWM is to get rid of the check ball in the input
shaft. It will go a long way toward holding the clutch as hard
as it needs to be held. Since PWM is a computer controlled
program, can be addressed by simply tuning the car to not
pulse. Additionally, most shift kits will get rid of PWM
completely. Occasionally an overhaul on your valve body might
be needed, and stepping up to the Fuddle HP/Street will
tend to remove PWM as the clutch is so huge that it
simply won't move when it is being pulsed. Finally, moving to
a lower gear (higher numerically), particularly if you
are running a 4l60e with 2.73's, can also eliminate
PWM by always running the line pressure at a higher pressure
from the raised RPMs. | 
