Replace the torque converter on a fresh rebuild?

[Jbott]

So my 72 F100 is in the engine shop getting the 390 rebuilt fresh. It has a C6. It all shifted fine before the rebuild, but I'm curious if I should bother to replace the torque converter now that the engine is out and it would be an easy swap.

How often do they go bad? I believe the bump has around 182k miles on it.

Is it worth replacing it now versus later? What to look for to replace it with? I know nothing about TC, so it's all Greek to me when I look up specs.

Not planning to haul much or race.

The engine will have an edelbrock performer intake, shaved oem heads, and a Holley 650 CFM carb.

[Ranchero50]

At 182k I feel the TC has done it's job and should be replaced during the rebuild. There are bearings that wear and I'd suspect the clearances between the fins will erode some over time.

[Jbott]

At 182k I feel the TC has done it's job and should be replaced during the rebuild. There are bearings that wear and I'd suspect the clearances between the fins will erode some over time.

Thanks Ranchero. Should I just look for OEM replacement?

[Jbott]

I was just going to get a Pro-King FM128 torque converter - http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/pro- ... +converter

Does that make sense?

[Ranchero50]

I would talk to your rebuild shop and see what they suggest. Do some price shopping to compare with them as a happy vendor usually does a better job. Per the setup I'd base it on your intended use and duty. Stock most likely or maybe a little tighter if you are hauling a lot of weight.

[Jbott]

I would talk to your rebuild shop and see what they suggest. Do some price shopping to compare with them as a happy vendor usually does a better job. Per the setup I'd base it on your intended use and duty. Stock most likely or maybe a little tighter if you are hauling a lot of weight.

Thanks. I pretty much just need stock. Don't plan to haul anything larger than some furniture or 2x4 from the store.

[colnago]

What should you look for in a new or rebuilt TC? The link above was for an $80 TC, but Summit Racing wants $420 for a B&M to fit to a C6. What's the difference? Is the B&M for street/strip racing?

Joseph

[Jbott]

What should you look for in a new or rebuilt TC? The link above was for an $80 TC, but Summit Racing wants $420 for a B&M to fit to a C6. What's the difference? Is the B&M for street/strip racing?

Joseph

I could be wrong, but from what I gathered online and from speaking to the engine builder, the ones by summit and others are for racing or high torque uses like crazy heavy towing. The ones with higher stall limits mean that you can rev to that rpm with the brakes and then go.

My engine builder said the parts store ones (oem replacement) are fine for my application.