Sometimes people get "sheepish" about asking a question which it seems so many already know. I am one who does not know Can someone please tell me what these are, and what they do? I know enough that they are associated (in order) with transmission and rear end, but I have never seen either, or driven a car with either. I see these terms thrown around so often, and as much as I hate to ask, I'd sure like to know. My knowledge level is "dangerous", >not< "well informed". Many thanks! Chris
Stall converter is the part that goes inside the bell housing on an Automatic tranmission that is filled with fluid and fins allows the car to come to a stop when you put the brakes on and the engine drops below a certain RPM it keep the transmission from continuing to push the car down the road agains the brakes. Basically a stock "stall" converter is called a "torque" converter a "stall Converter" normally requires a higher than normal RPM range before the car will actually move. looks like this... notice the fins inside. I higher RPM Stall has less fins and a low RPM stall has more fins, the fins pushing against the trans fluid is what make the tranny turn Just think about it this way, when you are sitting at a stop light with your foot on the brake and the engine RPM is down around 650 - 700 RPMs and the car is stopped, the light turns green and you take your foot off the brake the car "normally" doesn't go any wear until you give it a little gas and the RPMs hit around 800. With say a 2500 "STALL" converter you actually have to get the RPMS up to 2500 RPMs before the car will start to move. Kind of like letting the clutch out all at once. It makes the car launch in it's power band. Mini Spool is just basically a piece op pipe with splines on the inside that match the splines on the ends of your axles and it ties the axles together at all times to make both wheels pull all the time ie. Positraction looks like this.
you can get a lot better explaination on a Stall converter/Torque converter here http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/information/torque-converter.htm
Dont get the idea that a stall converter doesnt start to move the car until stall speed is reached. The car starts to load up and move gradually just like any converter. It just feels like your slipping the clutch a bit longer than normal with a manual trans. If you had a converter that didnt move till stall speed it would be a disaster to drive. Like dropping the clutch every start. Stall speed for my 302 with a 3500 stall was 3200. Exactly what the Manu. told me. It all has to work as a package.
