Sitting here in the ice and cold so naturally I start thinking stupid stuff..

Question. Is it possible to make a glide into a lock up?
They do it to a turbo so I figure someone smarter than me should be able to make it happen.
I would think it would be useful to get rid of the converter slip on the top end.
What do you think smart idea or stupid?

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by David Covey:
Sitting here in the ice and cold so naturally I start thinking stupid stuff..

Question. Is it possible to make a glide into a lock up?
They do it to a turbo so I figure someone smarter than me should be able to make it happen.
I would think it would be useful to get rid of the converter slip on the top end.
What do you think smart idea or stupid?

Dave

I did a quick google search & they seem to already do this!

2BKING

https://www.hughesperformance.com/xp5/

ATI has one also.

2BKING

Cool but I think for bracket racing loose is better. Lock it up and I think you will see more variation in ET.

Years back I bought I "looser" converter from a friend. Here the stall was for a SBC and I was running a BBC. The thing left and never changed RPM the entire way down. The car was a turd leaving, sounded like a chainsaw WOT, but repeated better than any car I ever drove to that point. Went to the finals that night but the valve train would not have lasted.

Definitely would MPH better lockup

I believe ATI is the only that will sell the parts to builders. Lock up is fast, and some of speed is because you lose weight in the pocket book...LOL

Also, I am not sure if lock ups are legal in NHRA racing.

quote:

I think for bracket racing loose is better. Lock it up and I think you will see more variation in ET.

Agreed, 100%

I know it is used in some of the lightweight comp classes with a 7" converter. It is controlled with a timer or an RPM switch. It locks at the top of low, then unlocks at the shift, then locks again near the finish line.

Dang something weird is happening. I could not open the reply box..

Anyway. Thanks to all who has responded to my post.
I was not aware anybody had done it. Good to know.

I hadn't thought about it being less consistent. I was only thinking of it making the converter more efficient (?) It has bugged the heck out of me seeing 15-18% slip and FTI telling me the only way to reduce it is to tighten the converter or change the rear gear. So in my ignorance I thought a lockup converter might be the ticket. Turns out after reading the comments I could be shooting myself in the foot.

Or maybe not.
I'm getting old enough that I will probably not be as competitive in the driving department when I get back out. Especially in a door car. I've been thinking of becoming a Friday night test and tune professional..

Thanks for the information and for allowing an old idjit to entertain you guys..lol

Dave

Dave, Im glad to see you still kickin it at the track! I hope all is well, young man!

While I think a lock-up converter/trans is mainly for heads-up type racing. I like to keep an open mind about how it could be used in bracket, .90 or index racing. I would venture to say some are already doing it. In this day & age racers have to think outside the box!

2BKING giving room for thought.

quote:

Originally posted by FastLane:
Dave, Im glad to see you still kickin it at the track! I hope all is well, young man!

Thanks Lane. I haven't been out in over a year. Sold the dragster to Joe and now putting the Avenger back together for this year. Gonna be a season of first round runner ups..lol

Dave