[71 T/A]

Does this converter help idle quality? Or does it stay about the same/get worse?

[71 T/A]

Does this converter help idle quality? Or does it stay about the same/get worse?

[Goatman]

If you match the converter to the rest of your combination, you won't have any problems-----no matter what kind of converter you use.

[Black 65 GTO]

Your idle quality is directly related to your carb and ignition tuning. Even if your converter is stock. However, the smaller or looser converters will cut down on the "creep" when the car is being held at a stop.

Most of the idle quality problems, especially with higher overlap cams, come from a too lean idle mixture. The more overlap, the more the exhaust is mixing with the fresh intake charge. This requires a richer idle mixture to compensate and provide an acceptable idle. This adjustment usually is within the idle feed circuit of the carb. Or if your idle seems correct, try opening the mixture screws out a 1/4 turn, put the car in gear and check idle quality.

[Cliff R]

The 13" Pontiac Special converter from Continental is very tight. I have not used the 10" unit so cannot offer any feedback on it. You will notice very little difference between it and a stock converter when the car is placed in gear. It loads the engine about the same as a stock converter during normal operation. With the idle speed set at 750rpm the car will creep forward in gear. With the brakes held the tires break free about 1800rpm. Full throttle launches yield right at 3200rpm stall behind my 455, they were closer to 2850rpm with the previous 428 engine. As mentioned above converters are not chosen with idle quality in mind. The 13" unit from Continental is far and above the best converter I've seen to date for a strong running Pontiac that will occassionally see some dragstrip action. They are however somewhat expensive when compared to other brands.