Torque converter lock-up not working for drag racing FIXED!!

[@BurnoutsandRotorblades]

I think I need a 9" torque converter with a "triple disc" lock-up that stalls around 3500rpm.

The Car:
I have a 1983 Malibu Wagon. It is stock weight or heavier, according to this website would put me around 3600-3800lb, over 4000lb with me and gas in it.

Engine:
It has a SBC with a blower that is at 400hp and climbing. The Cam is a Comp Cams 08-301-8 Nitrous HP roller cam. and the heads are blueprint H8002K heads with upgraded valve srpings. The dyno sheet below shows max torque at 460ft/lb on dang near a flat torque curve from 4200 to 4600rpm. Graph looks funny because I was in the middle of chickening out on the dyno with the fresh built engine at rpm. I know it makes power up to about 5400rpm.

The rearend:
ford 8.8 posi with 3.73 gear.

Tires:
Hoosier 26 x 9-15 drag slicks.

Transmission:
a rebuilt and beefed up 4L60 (non-E). Its got kevlar clutches and bands and a bunch of other stuff the trans guy told me he put in it. Running the converter lock-up is a B&M adjustable lock-up controller. However, it has the stock lock-up converter thats be "loosened up" by a converter shop to stall at 3000 with the old engine but now stalls around 3300-3400 with the current set up.

The problem:
When I'm cruising around town/on the highway I can get the converter to lock-up where I want, in any gear, with the B&M controller. But when I'm at the track, I can only feel the converter lock up if I set it too low a speed and it bogs the engine. Ironically the car ran it's best time when the converter locked up right after the 1-2 shift. However, if lock-up comes in on the big end the RPM doesn't drop at all. The light comes on the B&M box. I cross the traps at 72 mph and run high 14's with the engine screaming at 5200RPM. I'm pretty sure the converter isn't locking up because when I let off after the traps I don't get that engine braking feel like I would on the highway with the converter locked up.

A torque converter in not an insignificant amount of money. I just want to make sure I'm not wasting money. I would still like to be able to daily this thing, but please weigh in and tell me what you think or if I missed some bit of information I should be considering.

Thank you

 

[lilbowtie]

Something very wrong - even if you are going through the traps in 3rd gear (1/1) your rpms are way to high. 400HP in a 4000lb car has the capability of 12's. There is some terrible slippage going on!

 

[melloelky]

try taking that lock-up controller out of line and try a simple toggle switch to see if anything changes.if nothing else it's a process of elimination.

 

[Canon_Mutant]

Factory ECMs don't lock the converter under full throttle in 4th, much less 3rd. Even with your aftermarket controller, I doubt it's going to do it in 3rd either. Sucks since it costs you some top end. I think my 200-R4 on factory ECM code had a top speed of only 111 governed without lockup.

 

[TURNA]

Why would you want it to lock up while drag racing in the first place???

 

[hoffa65]

Scrap that TC. You need a TC with an HD clutch to handle 400HP and TQ. Depending on what OEM TC it was before it was massaged the clutch is rated for 330 lbs max, and that D5 came in the Turbo Regals with the BRF trans. Most other HP 2004r TC's were rated at 300lbs like HO/442/SS etc. The plane jane TC's were only rated at 190 lbs.
If you run power directly to the TCC solenoid the 700r4 will lockup in 2nd, 3rd and 4th, no fluid is sent to lockup circuit in 1st gear.
I have a TCI lockup that would be perfect for you had in my ElCo behind a 69 325 HP 327.
Trans has a Transgo shift kit, i went big on the firmness because of the 3k stall speed. It would go right up to 3k and pull like a train. Last run i did i had it locked on the 2-3 shift hit so hard i broke the rear mount and lost the drive shaft.

StreetFighter Converter, GM, 1981-84 700R4, All 200C, 2004R, 27-Spline, 1.703" Crank Pilot, 10" Converter with 12" lock-up assembly

1981-84 700R4, All 200C, 2004R, 27-Spline, 1.703" Crank Pilot Lock-Up StreetFighter® Torque Converter

www.tciauto.com

 

[@BurnoutsandRotorblades]

This is the lock-up controller I'm using B&M Converter Lock-up controller

Something vary wrong - even if you are going through the traps in 3rd gear (1/1) your rpms are way to high. 400HP in a 4000lb car has the capability of 12's. There is some terrible slippage going on!

That's what I'm thinking. The guy that build my trans is going to do some magic and wizardry with the TV cable to see if he cant get more out of it. The trans seems OK otherwise.

[/QUOTE]

try taking that lock-up controller out of line and try a simple toggle switch to see if anything changes.if nothing else it's a process of elimination.

The trans controller works at all speeds above 30mph as advertised. I can physically feel the converter lock up at wherever MPH I turn the controller knob to if I'm just cruising. Just not at WOT. I'm thinking the converter can't physically hold if at WOT. I'm not unwilling to try that, it just seems like it's working with the exception of under max power.

[/QUOTE]

Factory ECMs don't lock the converter under full throttle in 4th, much less 3rd. Even with your aftermarket controller, I doubt it's going to do it in 3rd either. Sucks since it costs you some top end. I think my 200-R4 on factory ECM code had a top speed of only 111 governed without lockup.

I don't use the factory ECM. The Lock-up controller will lock up at 45mph if i turn the knob down. It doesn't care what gear its in. It doesn't even know what gear it's in.

[/QUOTE]

Why would you want it to lock up while drag racing in the first place???

watch this video on the subject. converter lockup video

Scrap that TC. You need a TC with an HD clutch to handle 400HP and TQ. Depending on what OEM TC it was before it was massaged the clutch is rated for 330 lbs max, and that D5 came in the Turbo Regals with the BRF trans. Most other HP 2004r TC's were rated at 300lbs like HO/442/SS etc. The plane jane TC's were only rated at 190 lbs.
If you run power directly to the TCC solenoid the 200r4 will lockup in 2nd, 3rd and 4th, no fluid is sent to lockup circuit in 1st gear.
I have a TCI lockup that would be perfect for you had in my ElCo behind a 69 325 HP 327.
Trans has a Transgo shift kit, i went big on the firmness because of the 3k stall speed. It would go right up to 3k and pull like a train. Last run i did i had it locked on the 2-3 shift hit so hard i broke the rear mount and lost the drive shaft.
TC has about 500 miles on it.
Im pretty sure it this one, ill have to check the PM

StreetFighter Converter, GM, 1981-84 700R4, All 200C, 2004R, 27-Spline, 1.703" Crank Pilot, 10" Converter with 12" lock-up assembly

1981-84 700R4, All 200C, 2004R, 27-Spline, 1.703" Crank Pilot Lock-Up StreetFighter® Torque Converter

www.tciauto.com

I was thinking about something like this FTI converter

 

[TURNA]

Ok I watched it.

Is your engine making the required power for it to work correctly?

These racing lockups are made to work with a High powered car

 

[@BurnoutsandRotorblades]

Ok I watched it.

Is your engine making the required power for it to work correctly?

These racing lockups are made to work with a High powered car

If not today, I’m hoping one day. I’ve ordering a smaller pulley for the supercharger. Taking compression ratio to near 12:1 and I have a boost timing retard. So I’m about to max out this set up.

 

[lilbowtie]

You need to worry about more than locking up! If you do the math on your run your only putting down about 250HP, you know you got more than that - do the math, 5200 RPM w/ 3.73 gears and 26 tall tires going through the traps in 3rd gear (no overdrive) should be around 107 mph. There is some terrible slippage going on.