Torque Converter Stall Speeds

[1969_Mach1]

Does anybody know, or have an internet link to stall speed specs for original Ford torque converters?  The application is for a 390 FE motor and C6 trans in an old 1956 F100 pickup.  I am using a Comp Cams 280 magnum and Comp recommends a 2000 RPM stall speed torque converter for it.  I don't know if it needs to have that high of a stall speed for the way I drive.  I see TCI has a Street Rodder torque converter that has a 1700 RPM rated stall speed and Hughes has one rated at 2000 RPM.  My primary concern is I don't want the truck to lunge hard when put into gear and then want to creep.  Ford (like Mopar) may have used torque converters with different stall speeds for different cars or trucks.  But, I haven't been able to find any info on them.

[Mustangmike]

Mike,
I have no experience with automatic transmissions but will search around the internet for you.  You are better off hearing it first hand from someone who has experience in this area.

Mike

[JTS71 Mach1]

I agree with Mike, I never messed with torque converters. Back then it either moved, or it didn't. I couldn't afford to mess with things like that. Keeping one going down the road was "Job One" at that point in time. The stall was what ever Ford had deemed necessary. I remember trying to figure it out, and realized when you brake torqued it, and it started to spin the tires. That was pretty much the stall speed (about 1200RPM). Other then that, I had a friend with a 76 Monte Carlo with a high stall converter I think 2500RPM, and I didn't like the way he had to rev the heck out of it, to get it to move. Once it got to the stall speed it went like crazy. So I could tell there was something to the Idea of a high stall speed. But I didn't like the feel of it.

JTS

[1969_Mach1]

I don't want something with too high of a stall speed for the reasons JTS described.  The drivability goes down.  Plus you have to make certain your cruise RPM will be higher than the torque converter stall speed.  If not, the converter never reaches it's "almost 1:1 lock up RPM" and creates a lot of heat in the trans.


Just don't want the truck to lunge fairly hard when dropping it into gear and then need a lot of brake pedal force to stop it from creeping.  I've had that happen when I was much younger.  Hoping Ford offered different stall speed converters for different vehicles before going with an aftermarket converter.

[JTS71 Mach1]

My 71 Mach1 with the 500+hp Cleveland Loped really heavy. 520 Lift --288-Intake, and 292 Exhaust, Sig Erson Cam I kept it Idled at right around 1000 RPM, and didn't have much trouble with it pulling against the brake, It would lock up, and spin the tires at about 1200 RPM. So just from the "seat of your pants engineering" 200 RPM was enough to maintain near normal drive ability, with the stock converter. It was better then stock taking off, but once it past 3000 RPM it came up on the cam, and got NUTS!!!!! The only issue I had was not quite enough vacumn, to work the power brakes. But it wasn't unmanageable.

JTS