help me decide: converter or gears

[Dan95-5.0]

i need everyones opinions.

I have a AODE but have 3.27 gears. i need to know whats going to get me the biggest seat-of-the-pants gain.

i'm either going to install a torque converter or gears this summer. maybe both if i can get a deal later on but for now it's one or the other.

It's either:

A) 3.73 gears

or

B) 3000 stall torque converter (with a cooler)

i know the converter is going to cost more then the gears but if i can feel a bigger gain with the converter i'll be happy.

what do you guys think would be the best choice.

thanks

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Normally I say "GEARS"..but you already have 3.27s (at least something)
but, If you are going to build on in the future, I say go for the converter.

Now, financially, the most immediate gratifying bang-for-the-buck would be the gears.

If h/c/i or power adders are in the future, start working on that AODE..

Not an easy call...let's get some other opinions.

RC

 

[Badlilstang]

Get gears now.. get converter later.. a 3.27 gear is harder on a converter then a 3.73 gear is.. I think you would get more converter life with a 3.73 gear already on the car.. just my own opinion.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Get gears now.. get converter later.. a 3.27 gear is harder on a converter then a 3.73 gear is.. I think you would get more converter life with a 3.73 gear already on the car.. just my own opinion.

If you get a good converter, I dont really think it matters what gears you have. I highly doubt a PI Stallion's life is gonna be affected by the gears...maybe a cheaper TC.

Not saying not to do the gears, but I dont think this is the reason to go with gears.....

IMO, I think the factors to help decide are:

Cost,
Immediate gratification.
Future plans with the car.

RC

 

[Badlilstang]

If you get a good converter, I dont really think it matters what gears you have. I highly doubt a PI Stallion's life is gonna be affected by the gears...maybe a cheaper TC.

Not saying not to do the gears, but I dont think this is the reason to go with gears.....

IMO, I think the factors to help decide are:

Cost,
Immediate gratification.
Future plans with the car.

RC

Any converter... Ive been told this from a few performance shops including panhandle performance who told me my 3.55s behind my 410ci was gonna be hard on the converter and will effect conveter life.. and my converter was 800$ so I dont consider that cheap. I understand he doesnt have that much motor but he is still moving a heavy car with a 3.27 gear. If you get a 3000 converter do your self a favor and get a good trans cooler. The cooler will help the converter life.... not always a must but a good thing to have.

 

[SuperStang83]

I would say converter, but if it is gonna wear out faster without gears then definetly do gears first!

Jakob

 

[Black95GTS]

while I'm not a big AODE guy, just from reading around the posts it seams to me that 4.10s might be better for your auto trans. Just something to consider.

 

[Nagash01WS6]

Converter.

 

[95snoozer]

Converter!!!!!

and pick what you think you will be comfortable with and go a step bigger.

 

[Mrgreen94gt]

Thinking back, I wish that the first thing that I had done was a converter. I say do the converter, cooler, along with a shift kit or valve body with the proper firmness level for the converter. Follow that up with gears and whatever else is to follow. 4.10 does very nicely.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

IM assuming that he will do the cooler automatically when he puts in the converter.. That is the cheapest insurance possible.
RC

 

[Badlilstang]

IM assuming that he will do the cooler automatically when he puts in the converter.. That is the cheapest insurance possible.
RC

Wish someone would have told me that back when i was 16 LOL... Had an S10 with a small block in it.. burned up a 3,200 stall in about a month. Ive used the B&M coolers after that and had good luck with them.

 

[Mrgreen94gt]

Another piece of cheap insurance is a deeper pan. One from from a later 4R70W is a good option, and cheaper than the B&M or PA ones. But, those are very good too, but very pricey.

 

[Dan95-5.0]

thanks for all the replys and tips guys.

the reason i would choose 3.73's is because i plan on doing a vortech supercharger in the future.

i think i'm going to go with a 3000 stall converter first. the same time as the converter, i will be doing a cooler and maybe a trans temp gauge to keep an eye on things just in case.

What size coolers are you guys using?

before the converter i will be doing a transgo shift kit along with the 4r70w deep pan because those pans are a hell of a lot cheaper then those B&M pans ive seen.

I plan on setting up the transgo shiftkit to stage 2 because my tranny shifts a little hard already going into 2nd and i dont want to set it up to hard to have my teeth smashed out when it his the steering wheel lol

any other opinions???