Broken Torque Converter

Greg Gay · 05-30-2015, 06:41 PM

First, thank you for everyone who has been trying to help me with this problem. I took the car to Lebanon Valley today. I have an MSD 7AL2 ignition box, with built in two step (2 ports for chips). I use an MSD dial for the low rpm, with a range of approximately 3000 to 4600. I unplugged both ports. I tried to foot-brake it to 3000 rpm, but it pushed through the beams. Still, I floored it, and it once again left like a slug.

On the second run, I hooked the low rpm dial back up. I thought about the secondary air door. Years ago, with the 318, we took the hood off the car, and I had my cousin run the car up on the transbrake/two-step while I watched the carburetor from beside the car. I noticed that the secondary door was opening on the two step. That being the case, I wired the secondary door open, and cautiously started the car. It actually seemed to idle a bit better. It ran a slightly better 60' (still .25 slow), and matched its best run last weekend, but with slower mph (worse air this weekend).

For the third run, I put the 318 carb on (small T-Quad). About the same 60', still running like a slug, but with a slower ET and MPH.

After staring at the car, trying to decide what to try, for half an hour, I put the big T-Quad back on. I disconnected the dial rev limiter, and put a 3400 rpm chip in. When the tree started down, I stopped watching it and focused on the fuel pressure to verify what I have posted. It stayed rock steady; no varying by more than 1/4 of a pound. The car once again left like a slug, although I can't say that it was necessarily breaking up on any of this week's runs. As soon as I had verified the fuel pressure, I let off the throttle, pulled it into 3rd gear, and stabbed it again. It slowly climbed from below 4000 rpm to just above 5000, then seemed to come to life and start running well. It wasn't breaking up. It was almost like lugging a diesel engine. Based on everything that has been said, I'm thinking torque converter again. Comments?

05-30-2015, 06:41 PM	#12
Greg Gay Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Vermont Posts: 388 Likes: 22 Liked 286 Times in 73 Posts	Re: Broken Torque Converter First, thank you for everyone who has been trying to help me with this problem. I took the car to Lebanon Valley today. I have an MSD 7AL2 ignition box, with built in two step (2 ports for chips). I use an MSD dial for the low rpm, with a range of approximately 3000 to 4600. I unplugged both ports. I tried to foot-brake it to 3000 rpm, but it pushed through the beams. Still, I floored it, and it once again left like a slug. On the second run, I hooked the low rpm dial back up. I thought about the secondary air door. Years ago, with the 318, we took the hood off the car, and I had my cousin run the car up on the transbrake/two-step while I watched the carburetor from beside the car. I noticed that the secondary door was opening on the two step. That being the case, I wired the secondary door open, and cautiously started the car. It actually seemed to idle a bit better. It ran a slightly better 60' (still .25 slow), and matched its best run last weekend, but with slower mph (worse air this weekend). For the third run, I put the 318 carb on (small T-Quad). About the same 60', still running like a slug, but with a slower ET and MPH. After staring at the car, trying to decide what to try, for half an hour, I put the big T-Quad back on. I disconnected the dial rev limiter, and put a 3400 rpm chip in. When the tree started down, I stopped watching it and focused on the fuel pressure to verify what I have posted. It stayed rock steady; no varying by more than 1/4 of a pound. The car once again left like a slug, although I can't say that it was necessarily breaking up on any of this week's runs. As soon as I had verified the fuel pressure, I let off the throttle, pulled it into 3rd gear, and stabbed it again. It slowly climbed from below 4000 rpm to just above 5000, then seemed to come to life and start running well. It wasn't breaking up. It was almost like lugging a diesel engine. Based on everything that has been said, I'm thinking torque converter again. Comments?