torque converter for 4.8l silverado

[vortecforever]

hey guys i got this 2000 chevy silverado 4.8l with a custom tune,headers, posi and so on.. ive noticed that i seem to need to get more power to the ground im wondering if a stall 3000 would help to do that????..it will smoke the tires and go nuts but i feel it should go 0-60 better it will do it in about 7 seconds if i get a good hook up..im also going to be putting in a transgo shift kit and complete rebuild at the same time..or should i just leave the stock stall??? i want more low end and i already have 3:73 gears so thats not the problem..any suggestions for this??
Thanks alot

[96ImpSS]

Go here:
www.converter.cc
Read up on the street/strip and truck converters and give them a call.
I've used a lot of converters in various vehicles. Yank is not the cheapest, but between the quality of the converter and their attention to getting it right for your application, I don't think they can be beat. Don't cheap out with a budget brand when it comes to a truck. We're harder on them than a lot of quick cars running around.
Your guess of 3000 stall is going to be pretty close. Unless you don't plan on putting sticky tires on it and hitting the track, then you may want milder.

[Jrluz14]

Call Circle D, they'll hook you up with exactly what you're looking for.

[vortecforever]

ya i want to put better tires on right now i have cooper tires and they wont get a hold of nothing it will spin with ease...so ya ill go to canadian tire here they can order in good torque converters...and im thinking of general tires new uhp grabber street truck tire for a 16inch rim anybody ever try these??? and the truck is a just a weekend summer truck so i think ill go with 3000 stall...but it will still get some long trips on it how will it affect my drivability??

[Badass69]

A good quality convertor won't, period. It's not like with a 3K stall you have to rev the engine to 3K to make the truck move..... it doesn't work that way. With a decent convertor, and a small one at that being 3K it will drive just like the stock one until you hammer on it and flash it. Personally I would go looser than 3K on a 4.8 myself, more like 3200 minimum. It would really wake the truck up and probably get some pretty good times for you.

Canadian Tire..... okay. They can order brand name stuff in but just take the catalogue and get the part number for yourself from it for them. That and honestly with the way our dollar is look hard at some of the US vendors for pricing after you get a quote.... it's probably cheaper from the States. I order most of my stuff stateside because honestly most outfits up here can't even come close to touching them cost wise..... I try my Napa occasionally ( they deal with a big performance warehouse as well) and even with my very hefty discount..... usually cheaper shipped, duty and all from the US for performance stuff. Regular OE style parts is a totally different story.

[vortecforever]

so i could still drive normall with the 3200?? i like the sounds of that...and i got my long tube headers from canadian tire for 10 bucks more then summit so i thought it would be easier but ill check into summit again and see maybe its changed..is there anywhere else in the states i can get parts cheap in the US? that is still trustworthy?

[vortecforever]

what does everybody think of boss hog torque converters????

[Badass69]

Stick with brand names like Yank, Precision Industries, Circle D, etc. They are a bit more money but a better end result. You can buy right from the manufacturers website in most cases. I don't usually bother with Summit, usually find them overpriced.

[vortecforever]

ok thanks guys i think ill go with the circle D 3200 its 395$ or something like that and should i put a big cooler on it to??

[silverado_lover]

Yes, the biggest cooler you can get.

A 3200 will be fairly loose, if I were you I'd probably stick with a 3000. For behind a 5.3 with a 216/224 cam I plan on running a 3200 stall, also a stall doesn't affect driveablitly/MPG on the highway at all.

[Badass69]

Yes, the biggest cooler you can get.

A 3200 will be fairly loose, if I were you I'd probably stick with a 3000. For behind a 5.3 with a 216/224 cam I plan on running a 3200 stall, also a stall doesn't affect driveablitly/MPG on the highway at all.


Okay... well actually define loose. I have had a 3500 stall in an over 4000 pound ride that was anything but "loose"...... But what is your definition? Again, rated stall speed means nothing in how "loose" it drives around town. A cheap convertor will drive like a POS and have a crappy STR....... a tight one will have a better STR than stock and drive great, even with a higher stall speed rating.

3200 would be perfect behind a 4.8..... and even better if he chooses to cam it. In fact 3600 would be a better choice probably then.

[silverado_lover]

Okay... well actually define loose. I have had a 3500 stall in an over 4000 pound ride that was anything but "loose"...... But what is your definition? Again, rated stall speed means nothing in how "loose" it drives around town. A cheap convertor will drive like a POS and have a crappy STR....... a tight one will have a better STR than stock and drive great, even with a higher stall speed rating.

Also true, it's just 3200 stalls tend to be a tad smaller. OP I've talked to one of my friends who's a tuner, he prefers the Yank stalls over the Circle D stalls since the Yank is usually tighter.

Edit: Just checked and the Circle D TC is actually tighter than the Yank I was looking at...seems I'll go with a Circle D and save ~$300

[vortecforever]

haha ya ill go with circle d to and i do plan on doing a torque cam after but i have had no luck finding a cam that makes good torque...any ideas?? or would i still make crazy torque if i did a 3600 and like a 220 cam with 111lsa??...also has anybody else ever felt like there 4.8 just feels more powerfull then some we had a work truck with a 4.8 one time that was a dog and both my uncles have 5.3s and stock mine would smoke them..did i just get lucky or something?

[bigbob6988]

Those 3200 Circle D's are TIGHT! They're like the Yank TT3000's, which are also very tight. BUT, for the money they do perform well and are MUCH MUCH better than stock.

If I had a mildly modded stock cam 4.8 it would get a 3600 converter.

Now a cammed 4.8, with something like a TR220 cam would need a 9.5" 38-4000 rpm converter to really kick ass, imo.

[vortecmax]

Just had the Circle D 2600-2800 RPM converter and cooler installed. It has been about a week. Here are my impressions. Really improved the driveability of the DD truck. Acceleration from dead stop is much better and the engine is at its sweet spot. And the truck really has no serious mods at 160k miles. Chris at Circle D answered most of my questions via email. After consideration, I went with the 2800 RPM converter over the 3200 RPM converter. I cant speak for others who have different brand converter and stall speed and other mods, however with the 2600-2800 Circle D converter, I am at a very comfortable "loose" feeling with the 2800 on the daily driver. I can't imagine going any higher on a daily driver. Some may disagree, but this is my BUTT DYNO speaking if you will. Chris if your reading this, I mean nothing negative by it although you did recommend the 3200. If your on the fence about getting a Circle D converter, or any other reputable converter, just do it, you will love it.

[1989K1500]

ok thanks guys i think ill go with the circle D 3200 its 395$ or something like that and should i put a big cooler on it to??
That converter wont stall to 3200 behind a stock 4.8. My friend has that converter in his 03 2wd gmc and its maybe a 3000. The truck definitely needs a looser torque converter, especially if he wanted a cam.


I can't imagine going any higher on a daily driver. Some may disagree, but this is my BUTT DYNO speaking if you will.
Thats up to the person. I daily drove a 3600 and would do it again.

My friend with the circle d 278mm wishes he would have gotten something looser and he daily drives his. Another friend of mine just bought a Circle D 2c that we are putting in this coming weekend. Its a 07 ecsb Z71.