1990 K2500 TH400 stock stall torque converter, or different stall?

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justified07

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The tranny in my truck barely moves in forward. reverse still works, but forward is gone. I am going to be swapping in another TH400, and was going to replace the converter. Truck is a K2500, single cab, 8ft. bed. It also has 350 HO in it, 333 horse, 381 ft.lbs torque, headers, 2-1/2" exhaust, little more than stock.
The question is, should I put a stock stall, converter back in? If so, what is the stock stall? Or should I put a different stall converter in? The truck will primarily be used for hauling, wood, trailers, etc..
Any recommendations of brand, or ones to stay away from?

Thanks in advance!
 

Pro439

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You can do a heavy duty street converter with 24 - 2600 stall speed it’s barely noticeable and will act more like a standard converter when you’re at speed. You would only really notice it on takeoff or when you’re trying to move something heavy there you’d have more rpm’s than a stock converter
 

justified07

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I searched online, and all I can come up with is that the stock stall is 1200-1400. Does that sound right? Does anyone have a recommendation for a TC they used?
 

L31MaxExpress

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I searched online, and all I can come up with is that the stock stall is 1200-1400. Does that sound right? Does anyone have a recommendation for a TC they used?
My TH400 had an 1,800-2,000 by the letters on it from GM. I still have the stock unit in mine. It is OE for a 1987 G20 van with a TBI 305 and 3.08 rear gear. 305 needed the stall speed to overcome the overall 1st gear ratio. The reman companies list that converter as B3HS. B3 being a TH350/400 style 3 bolt converter and HS standing for high stall. Drives really nicely without being too loose in nornal driving.
 

justified07

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My TH400 had an 1,800-2,000 by the letters on it from GM. I still have the stock unit in mine. It is OE for a 1987 G20 van with a TBI 305 and 3.08 rear gear. 305 needed the stall speed to overcome the overall 1st gear ratio. The reman companies list that converter as B3HS. B3 being a TH350/400 style 3 bolt converter and HS standing for high stall. Drives really nicely without being too loose in nornal driving.

Thanks! That is helpful. That along with what Pro439 said, makes me think I would be best with a stall somewhere between 2000-2600. Should work good for normal driving and hauling. I'll also look and see if there are any letters on my converter, I didn't see any, but honestly I was not looking either.
 

L31MaxExpress

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Anything 1800 RPM up will be a huge improvement with sacrificing drivability.

I use Transmission Specialties converters, excellent product for the money.

You wouldn't need anything over 2500 RPM with a stock engine.

He does not have a stock engine, but low 2000s should be acceptable with the 212 @ 0.050 intake duration of the 350 HO cam.
 

justified07

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Ok. so obviously I am a newbie here, but I see in L31MaxExpress' post that he quoted DamHoodlum... why am i not seeing DamHoodlum's post? Is there a setting somewhere that I am not seeing all the posts?
 

pressureangle

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I put a Circle-D behind my 400; I asked for as close to stock stall as possible. It stalls about 1800 and flashes to about 2000. For 4x4 and hauling you don't want excessive stall as it isn't as controllable, and with low range multiplication isn't necessary even with small motors.
 

L31MaxExpress

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I put a Circle-D behind my 400; I asked for as close to stock stall as possible. It stalls about 1800 and flashes to about 2000. For 4x4 and hauling you don't want excessive stall as it isn't as controllable, and with low range multiplication isn't necessary even with small motors.

Not following on how it is not controllable. If anything a looser converter offers more control. I tow with a converter that stalls 2,900 rpm in my 4L85E. I would not run that much converter in a non-lockup trans but the factory TH400 converter in my 87 G20 was stalling about 2,400 rpm behind a gutless 6.0L, I expect it to stall a bit higher behind the L31 350 I am replacing the 6.0L with. An 1,800 rpm converter would be less than the stock 87 G20 converter.
 
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