Kevin,Your choice of convertor stall is dependant on the amount of camshaft you are running. Everything must work together as a "package." If your 383 is a stock four barrel engine with stock or very mild cam then run a stock convertor or just enough stall to match the High Performance Camshaft needs.
There are misconceptions about "High Stall" convertors and just because it is a 3500stall does not mean it will slip adversely till it reaches 3500rpm. The "advertised" stall is not the actual stall. Actual stall depends on the torque output of your engine. A quality convertor will slip a determined amount under light throttle and may not be noticeable to the "feel" while driving. However, under full-throttle it will "flash" to its full stall potential and lauch much like a manual trans. My 340 Dart with low gear set, 3.91's, and short tires runs a 3500 stall 10" Continental convertor and you cannot tell/feel it has a "High Stall" convertor as it will idle down the street w/o throttle pressure and will instantly respond to light accl. pedal pressure with the commensurate torque response one expects in a "stock" engine. If I am cruising or go from a standing start by "flooring" the accl. pedal, it will flash and launch like a rocket.
I will be running a "quality" 9.5" 3800 stall Dynamic convertor in my Poly Stroker Plymouth given the excellent road manners and longevity of the Continental unit which I have driven for approx. 15yrs. now.
Bottom line; stock engine - stock convertor; and a HP engine must match the convertor stall to your cam/engine's requirements (intake design can play a part but it is not germane to this discussion) and final gearing determined by rear end ratio, tire height, and auto trans gearing in low (ie. low gear set or not).
Gary Pavlovich----- Original Message ----- From: "Kevin Merkley" <krmerkley@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2010 3:30 PM Subject: Torque Convertor
Hi folks, The transmission that is destined for my wife's 64 Polara 500 ragtop (coupled to a 383) has a 3500 stall convertor in it. The previous owner of the tranny said that it will drive just fine and, of course really launch if "Ol what's her name" firmly presses the accelerator pedal to the floor. What symptoms am I going to encounter running a convertor with that high of a stall? Will I still get reasonable gas mileage or will the convertor be slipping? Apparently the input shaft has been changed so it is possible to shove in another new convertor and sell this one. On another twist to the same sort of topic, will a lock up convertor work on a noncomputer car? Like perhaps a convertor from a 78 or 79? Thanks for your advise. Regards, K. Kevin R. Merkley Thunder Bay, Ontario 64 Dodge 440 2dr HT (Cdn) 64 Dodge Polara 500 Convertible (Cdn) ----Please address private mail -- mail of interest to only one person -- directly to that person. I.e., send parts/car transactions and negotiations as well as other personal messages only to the intended recipient, not to the Clubhouse public address. This practice will protect your privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and fine tune the content signal to Mopar topic. Thanks!1962 to 1965 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines:http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html and http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/general_disclaimer.html.
---- Please address private mail -- mail of interest to only one person -- directly to that person. I.e., send parts/car transactions and negotiations as well as other personal messages only to the intended recipient, not to the Clubhouse public address. This practice will protect your privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and fine tune the content signal to Mopar topic. Thanks! 1962 to 1965 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines:http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html and http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/general_disclaimer.html.