Stock Elim Converter testing .... ?

[Jim Bailey]

Has anybody done back to back testing of Sprag vs.Sprag less Converters? If so, did you notice any performance loss or gain? I'd invite any manufactures to chime in with their sales pitch - advantage / disadvantage. I'm thinking about buying a new one, and just wondering what the flavor of the week is ....!

[Ed Wright]

Just call ATI.

[Alan Roehrich]

In general, spragless converters have more slippage due to how a spragless converter functions.

For the vast majority of cars, a premium sprag is bullet proof, you have to do dumb things to hurt it, or you have to have a nasty engine failure. Even then, replacing the sprag is not terribly expensive.

I don't think there's an advantage to a spragless converter in a class car if you are trying to go fast. If you don't care about going fast, if you use a spragless converter, you'll never break the sprag.

A class car needs the most amount of torque multiplication possible from a torque converter (allows you to run less rear gear and less low gear, for less RPM drop, and lower finish line RPM), with the correct flash stall speed for the engine's power band, and the least slippage on the top end. Not typical characteristics of spragless converters.

[Tom Goldman]

I would never run a spragless in a Class car .
I don't even run one in my Super Gas car .....I have run them in the past and have tested one with the latest stator technology recently back to back with my mechanical diode equipped converter .
obviously the starting line ,early run data was similar, but there is still too much loss down track ,and heat is still a major issue . ....Big concern ,especially since most Class cars don't run coolers.
A sprag is much stronger than the older type roller clutches ,but if you are still worried ,go with a mechanical diode. ....They are as close to unbreakable as you can get.
Talk to the guys at places like ATI ,Dynamic ,and Ultimate , they know Stock converters.

[Jim Bailey]

Thanks guys, I probably should have been more specific with my question. Whether right or wrong. I think of a Mech Diode Converter as sprag less. So I've run both the Mech Diode Converters as well as premium Sprag Converters. I have my race pac data on both. I see very slight differences. I was wondering if others have seen these slight differences? What converter do you prefer? I love my Ultimate, Lenny's great to work with, and my ATI has yet to let me down, and I ran good with my old Dynamic. But as always, just looking for a little insight ( always better/ faster ). Is there something out there better ?

[randy wilson]

Not a pure stocker, but my experience was with 292 in a 3,300 lb. 69 Camaro, and when we tried the spragless with same stall we slowed down .2, and 3 mph.

[Mark Yacavone]

Jim,
Both the diode and the roller sprag perform the same function..That is to allow the stator to freewheel at speed, allowing the maximum window area for the oil coming out of the turbine to be picked up again at the pump center.
On a spragless , the stator will remain in the way , to a certain extent.
Only real difference is that the diode can't possible slip, or fail to hold, due to it's design.
Any possible differences might be seen there.
Otherwise , I doubt you could ever pinpoint the difference in performance, between the two designs.`