#1  
Old 08-17-2019, 10:18 AM
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TCSGTO TCSGTO is offline
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Default 9.5” TSP Converter

Been busy with work lately and haven’t had much car time lately but I got a chance to get some seat time with the new converter I got through Cliff.

I sent a copy of the dyno sheet to Jim Weise and told him what I wanted it to do. I wanted a 4000 flash stall and tight driving at part throttle. I had tried a 4200 Continental with the 455 engine and wasn’t real happy with its street manners. It stalled up fine but was a little too slushy below the stall speed for my taste and with the wide power band that engine made it didn’t make a big difference in performance.

The converter the TSP replaced is a Jim Hand 10” Continental that most here are familiar with. They are good converters but it just wasn’t a perfect match for what I wanted and felt it was holding back the new combination. It flashed to 3200ish where the dyno sheet showed in the mid 540’s for torque. Torque ramps up to just over 650 at the 4600 peak.

In high gear at 30MPH the TSP flashes to exactly 4000 where dyno torque is just past 600 ft lbs and climbing fast toward the peak. Getting this engine into the fat part of the torque curve at the hit has totally changed the character of the car. The converter is noticeably smaller and lighter than the 10” units and seems to accelerate to the 5900 shift point quicker. The best part is it is much more driveable than the 4200 Continental I had tried before. You can feel the part throttle shifts and while it is looser than the Hand converter it is not overly soft below the flash point. If you goose it in high gear the rpms flare up but at low speeds it pretty snug. Going from park to drive is softer also.

Next is some dragstrip runs since it’s been way too long since that has happened.

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68 GTO,3860#
Stock Original 400/M-20 Muncie,3.55’s
13.86 @ 100
Old combo:
462 10.75 CR,,SD 330CFM Round Port E's,Old Faithful cam,Jim Hand Continental,3.42's.
1968 Pontiac GTO : 11.114 @ 120.130 MPH

New combo:
517 MR-1,10.8 CR,SD 350CFM E's,QFT 950/Northwind,246/252 HR,9.5” 4000 stall,3.42's
636HP/654TQ
1.452 10.603 @ 125.09
http://www.dragtimes.com/Pontiac-GTO...lip-31594.html
  #2  
Old 08-17-2019, 12:11 PM
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Please update this after you track test it. I'm probably in the market for a converter in the foreseeable future. I know these folks are good with Buicks, would like to know your full opinion how they do behind your Pontiac.

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  #3  
Old 08-17-2019, 02:20 PM
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Cliff R Cliff R is offline
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Thanks for the update and progress. That's pretty much what we saw here testing them, and we've been getting excellent feedback on them as well. They are lighter/smaller and have improved torque multiplication over the 10 Continental units. The tighter versions still will not go much past 2000rpms applying the throttle while standing on the brakes, so plenty tight and efficient at lower RPM's with "normal" throttle.

Looking forward to some track results and further street testing.....Cliff

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73 Ventura, SOLD 455, 3740lbs, 11.30's at 120mph, 1977 Pontiac Q-jet, HO intake, HEI, 10" converter, 3.42 gears, DOT's, 7.20's at 96mph and still WAY under the roll bar rule. Best ET to date 7.18 at 97MPH (1/8th mile),
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Old 08-17-2019, 02:55 PM
Steve C. Steve C. is offline
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"I sent a copy of the dyno sheet to Jim Weise and told him what I wanted it to do"

A dyno sheet. Very positive when ordering a custom converter.


.

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  #5  
Old 08-17-2019, 04:58 PM
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The TSP is the third converter I’ve had in front of this engine and by far the best match. I had an Ultimate 10” Lenny C. made that was nearly identical in behavior to the Hand unit. Maybe a touch looser. Again a very good quality converter but not the best fit for my purposes.

__________________
68 GTO,3860#
Stock Original 400/M-20 Muncie,3.55’s
13.86 @ 100
Old combo:
462 10.75 CR,,SD 330CFM Round Port E's,Old Faithful cam,Jim Hand Continental,3.42's.
1968 Pontiac GTO : 11.114 @ 120.130 MPH

New combo:
517 MR-1,10.8 CR,SD 350CFM E's,QFT 950/Northwind,246/252 HR,9.5” 4000 stall,3.42's
636HP/654TQ
1.452 10.603 @ 125.09
http://www.dragtimes.com/Pontiac-GTO...lip-31594.html
  #6  
Old 08-17-2019, 06:06 PM
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Cliff R Cliff R is offline
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We've had several other recent customer send us some very positive feedback on them, but I'll let them put up their own comments if they choose to do so. We've been averaging close to 100 converter sales per year dating clear back to 2003. The TSP units are selling themselves and we appreciate any feedback on them, good or bad. Even the bad helps us come up with a better product for the end user......Cliff

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73 Ventura, SOLD 455, 3740lbs, 11.30's at 120mph, 1977 Pontiac Q-jet, HO intake, HEI, 10" converter, 3.42 gears, DOT's, 7.20's at 96mph and still WAY under the roll bar rule. Best ET to date 7.18 at 97MPH (1/8th mile),
  #7  
Old 08-17-2019, 07:51 PM
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Half-Inch Stud Half-Inch Stud is offline
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Please ask Supplier to tune-up a 4L80 Converter like that.

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Old 08-17-2019, 08:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Half-Inch Stud View Post
Please ask Supplier to tune-up a 4L80 Converter like that.

Ditto.

  #9  
Old 08-17-2019, 11:00 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Half-Inch Stud View Post
Please ask Supplier to tune-up a 4L80 Converter like that.
I did and they provided. Pontiac 455 with 4l80e and the TSP converter.

  #10  
Old 08-18-2019, 07:17 AM
Slick Poncho Slick Poncho is offline
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I am going to give them a call. I went with a local company that I had several phone calls with and I was very specific on how I wanted my converter to work/ flash and they haven’t met the mark. I gave them the dyno sheet initially, sent back to “reflash” it and still comes off the line well under 3k. Converter is a 10” 4l80e with lock up. I’m going to call him and see if he can fix this slug.

  #11  
Old 08-18-2019, 08:57 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by yahooskidoo View Post
I did and they provided. Pontiac 455 with 4l80e and the TSP converter.

Lockup?

  #12  
Old 08-18-2019, 11:21 AM
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We tried one of these TSP's through Cliff on the Firebird I'm building with a 455 that dyno'd 507/571. I have to say the converter is everything that Cliff says it is. It couples very nice while driving normally, and will flash up nicely with throttle input when you want it to, yet foot braking doesn't go beyond 2,000 rpm before it pushes the car through the brakes, so it's snug down low. What I like is the nice in and out of gear with very little rpm drop (150 rpm difference) yet it will idle on it's own and pull it's self around at 750 rpm without throttle input. Very nice piece.

Ordering one for dads car that has actually had the very same problems that TCSGTO has had. Running a 10" Continental that was built as tight as Kris could make it for this combo and unfortunately it still drives very mushy and actually never really couples well enough at any time. He's turning 600 rpm more than he should be at cruise speed, and on the street as well as the track the rpm really never changes during upshifts, at the track he was just blowing right through the converter. Kris warned to not drop the rear gear any less than 3.50's, and we are experiencing these issues with 3.73's. Less gear would only be worse. The torque curve doesn't dip below 700 ft lbs. on this one so looking forward to having this new TSP unit done that should change the character of the car on the street and on the track.

Glad you like it TCS. Since he nailed yours I'm anxious to get dad's swapped out.

  #13  
Old 08-18-2019, 02:32 PM
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How do I get in touch with TSP to get a quote for a converter?

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  #14  
Old 08-18-2019, 02:35 PM
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You can get in touch through Cliff here or directly with Jim at Tri-Shield if you wish.

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Old 08-19-2019, 06:32 AM
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Okay thank you.

Cliff, can I pm you some details or do you have an email address I can use?

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69 Firebird
472, KRE 85cc, Victor, 850xp, TH400, TSP 9.5" 4800, 3.90 10 bolt, Viking DA rears, QA1 single fronts, 3558lbs. best to date 10.90 @123
  #16  
Old 08-19-2019, 06:40 AM
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PM or email at cliffshp@embarqmail.com

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73 Ventura, SOLD 455, 3740lbs, 11.30's at 120mph, 1977 Pontiac Q-jet, HO intake, HEI, 10" converter, 3.42 gears, DOT's, 7.20's at 96mph and still WAY under the roll bar rule. Best ET to date 7.18 at 97MPH (1/8th mile),
  #17  
Old 08-19-2019, 07:50 AM
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Thanks Cliff I'll email later

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69 Firebird
472, KRE 85cc, Victor, 850xp, TH400, TSP 9.5" 4800, 3.90 10 bolt, Viking DA rears, QA1 single fronts, 3558lbs. best to date 10.90 @123
  #18  
Old 08-19-2019, 08:28 AM
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I have one too, specced by Cliff. Have been very pleased with it. One of the side bar things that I liked is it came with a message that they would re-work it for a very reasonable price if your combination changed. It really is a buy once, cry once kinda deal

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  #19  
Old 08-19-2019, 10:55 AM
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I should be ordering 1 Wednesday. What is the time frame Cliff for delivery.

  #20  
Old 08-22-2019, 02:48 PM
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Got it ordered today from Cliff.

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