I was at drag expo this weekend had two tables with used converters. Prices seemed high as hell for used/ 1200 to 1800 2000 plus for bolt-together steel and 4000 for one aluminum bolt-together. Aluminum one may have been in line.

Is 1200 to 1800 the normal price for a used converter now? I paid that for new one few uears back,but damn for used nothing special one?

Everything is higher nowadays. I need a new set of slicks but dang they’re high.

Understand everything high,but used more than new few years ago. Plus haven't they heard racing is dying Everything is worth less.LOL

You didn't stop and say hello Chris. Guess what, they carried those over priced converters home. I bought something for $20 that had never been on a car and someone else had 3 of the same used for $100 each. But there were some good deals there. Some nice cars also. I saw a lot of old friends, Jim Howard, Alvin Dildine, Bob Harris, just to name a few. It was a good day.

yea I saw that to, and I just brought a new one from FTI for 1400 this past summer but I did call Slack and he wanted 2500 for a new one.

For used? That's stupid.
Of course, the used market it often stupid. Look at diesel trucks. Kids got into that market and will pay stupid prices.....so the market goes up.

Most used 8 and 9 inch bracket converters I see go for $500-$600. I paid $1300 for a new 9 inch Abruzzi.
I have a used 9 inch FTI I will take $600 shipped If anyone is in need

quote:

Originally posted by Big Steve: I paid $1300 for a new 9 inch Abruzzi

Does that include a re-stall if needed?

Bolt together are always higher. Plus it is just another potential leak and I do not trust used converters. For me I only use Hughes converters and they have been right on the money.

If you go to a good converter company like Hughes and you are able to give them dyno sheets on your motor and complete combination, gear ratio, weight, tire size etc they can get it perfect and no need to change it thus no need for bolt together IMHO.

Supply chain for everything was really bad for a while part of the reason for high prices. That is getting better so some prices should be coming back down some but they will probably never be what they were.

quote:

Supply chain for everything was really bad for a while part of the reason for high prices. That is getting better so some prices should be coming back down some but they will probably never be what they were.

I don’t expect to see prices reversing. Just ordered lifters last week and had sticker shock.

$1300 for a new converter is a fair price imho. I paid $1150 for an 8” in 2019, and they had to re-stall it 2x to get it to what they agreed to prior to building. The converter shop is local to me which helped.

heck the last new one I bought was 4900, but it has been excellent so far so well worth it.

A torque converter of today is a completely different beast compared to 25 years ago - the standard was to fab up stock OEM Opels or whatever with plates, a bolt ring, maybe a steel stator if the combination was exotic - but largely stock modified converters. Today, everything new for most drag racing converter shops - the stampings for the impeller, pump, the forged covers and so on. (Due to extinct OEM cores and the overall increased horsepower requirements)

All racing torque converters in the used market should depreciate pretty badly - I use the example of buying a secondhand tuxedo at a thrift store. It is specialty product configured for a specific person (or car in our case) - and they paid the tailor a premium for them to look great. The value added is the service the specialist provides to match to the needs of the individual. Buying that used converter is like buying someone else's britches and praying that you can button the waist.

Glad I am not only one who thinks the price for questionable useable parts at that rate is ridiculous. Toom many factors and too many parts you can not see.

Hell I am broke dyck as have been told and doubt I would risk buying used torque converter unless knew the saler very well and pretty much every detail about it. Seems the only thing to come out of it would be more broke dyck.LOL

I don't pay more than 50% of new price on used stuff.

The used electronics gets me. People trying to sell a used dated 7AL for 75% the cost of a Grid. uhh, no.

I think what Brandon@BTE posted about used converters is good advice.

If I were to purchase a used converter, I’d want to do a try and buy or at very least be able to have it cut open at the original builder to do a re-stall which is very likely to get it right after purchase. Having 50% or less from new invested in a used one for everything after a needed re-stall would be fair to me.

If purchasing new, I want a free re-stall included if not correct.

quote:

Originally posted by markemark:
I think what Brandon@BTE posted about used converters is good advice.

If I were to purchase a used converter, I’d want to do a try and buy or at very least be able to have it cut open at the original builder to do a re-stall which is very likely to get it right after purchase. Having 50% or less from new invested in a used one for everything after a needed re-stall would be fair to me.

If purchasing new, I want a free re-stall included if not correct.

Say a new one is $1200. Find it used for $600. Then if it needs a stall change for your combo you'll spend another 250 or so plus shipping both ways so call it an easy $900 invested. At that point you might as well just buy a shiny new one and not take the risk on used.

On the other hand, if you already know that an FTI 96BA or whatever works good behind your engine (or your buddy's twin engine) and you want another one, finding a used one at half price from a trusted seller like Big Steve would be a good deal!

quote:

Originally posted by 183N:

quote:

Originally posted by markemark:
I think what Brandon@BTE posted about used converters is good advice.

If I were to purchase a used converter, I’d want to do a try and buy or at very least be able to have it cut open at the original builder to do a re-stall which is very likely to get it right after purchase. Having 50% or less from new invested in a used one for everything after a needed re-stall would be fair to me.

If purchasing new, I want a free re-stall included if not correct.

On the other hand, if you already know that an FTI 96BA or whatever works good behind your engine (or your buddy's twin engine) and you want another one, finding a used one at half price from a trusted seller like Big Steve would be a good deal!

And I am pretty sure its a 96BA too

quote:

Say a new one is $1200. Find it used for $600. Then if it needs a stall change for your combo you'll spend another 250 or so plus shipping both ways so call it an easy $900 invested. At that point you might as well just buy a shiny new one and not take the risk on used.

Agreed. Even if it’s re-stalled and still not correct, then what?

If I’m purchasing new, I want a re-stall included if not correct. I supply dyno sheet, on track rpm data chart and all other pertinent specifics, I’m expecting the converter to be very close to what I requested. If not, I supply actual on track data of results and have them correct with re-stall.

How they do this is VOO-DOO to me. But that’s what I expect for what I paid.