Thread: Torque Convertor talk ...

Not sure on its suitability for this sort of thing - remember that if you go down this road, the engine will always have to rev higher to get you off the mark - if acceleration only is what you are after, it may be ok, but you may find that your engine doing 2000rpm every time you take off gets a bit tiresome - and you fuel economy will suffer for this - especially around town. I had a similar converter in my dunny door years ago to get it to move off the line a bit quicker - which it did, but I only managed to live with it as a daily driver for a couple of months before I ripped it out and put a standard one back in.

Cheers - Gav.

Thanks Disco Balls for raising the subject on Torgue Convertors.

I have a D1 3.9 and I have often though about upgading the torque converter.

How ever this is where we differ. I would like to have more lock up.
So when I need to snatch another 4by I can pull them with out the auto tranny going into the stopped mode or when I am trying to drive over a big rock from a stand still. And without the smell of a hot clutch.

I dont think it is so much as the converter is stuffed, because sitting at the traffic lights in D with one foot on the brake and the other pushing the gas peddle half way down she is definately fighting against the bakes and wants to go.

My disco 1 is 51% nice 4by and 49% pure bitch and if I am not kind to her the stakes reverse.


I have a mental problem. I have a split personality. I kne I should have listened to my other half.

At risk of stating something obvious, shifting the transmission out of 'D' and into '3' will solve this problem with zero money spent. You wouldn't drive a manual up hill at 80km'hr in overdrive, no reason to do it in an auto. In 'D', you either have the engine labouring in overdrive or have your foot virtually flat on the accelerator to keep it kicked down. Pull it down into 3rd, drive comfortably up your hill, then knock it back into D as you top the crest.
A high-stall convertor is not intended for this purpose, rather to allow fast starts off the line with engines that produce power at high RPM.

Originally Posted by POD

At risk of stating something obvious, shifting the transmission out of 'D' and into '3' will solve this problem with zero money spent. You wouldn't drive a manual up hill at 80km'hr in overdrive, no reason to do it in an auto. In 'D', you either have the engine labouring in overdrive or have your foot virtually flat on the accelerator to keep it kicked down. Pull it down into 3rd, drive comfortably up your hill, then knock it back into D as you top the crest.
A high-stall convertor is not intended for this purpose, rather to allow fast starts off the line with engines that produce power at high RPM.

Once above 80, it's the gap between 4th locked and 3rd unlocked that is too great (ie labouring or overrevving).

The solution is a 3rd gear lock up. About $700 work.

Would adjusting the boost compensator on your fuel pump help fill the low rpm hole?

More fuel = more boost = more go sooner.

Originally Posted by B92 8NW

Once above 80, it's the gap between 4th locked and 3rd unlocked that is too great (ie labouring or overrevving).

That is exactly it mate! The disco just revs it's nut off kicking back into 3rd and labours when its .... Ahh crap, I'll just change my driving style!!


Might look into the 3rd gear lock up idea a bit more, in any other case, what other benefits are to be had by doing the mod? I guess it'd be more useful when towing?


I could always twin turbo it!

save the money...

give the boost aneroid a tweak (assuming it hasnt already had it)

tighten the throttle position sensor cable so the box thinks its getting a touch more throttle than it thinks and see what that does for you.

ECU upgrade all the way. Will solve your issue.