Weight and the converter
 

Does the weight of a car change the stall of the converter? For example if a converter stallls at 4800 in a 3400 lbs car and you remove 200lbs does it change or stay the same?

Re: Weight and the converter
 

The stall of the converter has to do with the horsepower supplied by the engine to the converter and nothing to do with the weight of the car until the car is launched when the converter starts to do its work.
My 2 Cents
Rick Cates

Re: Weight and the converter
 

Yes, but even though the flash rpm would stay the same, once the car is moving the converter would "act" tighter in the lighter car.

Re: Weight and the converter
 

Sho 'nuff!

Re: Weight and the converter
 

x2

Re: Weight and the converter
 

Billy, Well said!
It will also change the way it works if you change gear ratios. A deeper low gear will make it act like it is tighter.

Re: Weight and the converter
 

Is this because the weight of the car affects the 'force' the converter 'sees'? Or that if the car is heavier, the converter is 'forced' to work harder and will therefore be looser?

Re: Weight and the converter
 

The converter would be loaded for a slightly longer period of time in the heavier car. (200 lbs heavier, same car)

Re: Weight and the converter
 

If I understand what you're asking, the answer is > both.
A good running Powerglide car does so, in spite of having such a high 1st gear ratio, because the converter is forced to "work harder".

As another example pertaining to weight; A street and strip car with a high stall converter,cruising along on the freeway, comes to a hill or rise in the road.
The effect of the hill is that the car thinks it's "heavier" and the RPMs will rise, while maintaining the same MPH.
You've got to remember,unless it's got a lock up clutch it it, it is a fluid coupling

Re: Weight and the converter
 

This is something that has always made me wonder. What are the actual physics involved to cause a converter's stall?

At least in our cars, the engine goes past the torque peak then settles down at a lower torque value for flash/stall. And keeping everything equal with gearing and weight, in good air it will flash at a higher rpm with increased torque.