["Puddles the Pontiac"]

this is my issue, i like to drive my Lemans cross country. but i love having 3200rpm stall at the strip. i was given a 2004r out of an SS Monte Carlo. i have read, here and there, that lockup converters give up some durability (not counting the big dollar units). now i expect my torque to be upwards of 500lbft at around 3200-3400 (not for sure till i hit the dyno). i still have the 3.23 gear and will step up to 9" ford for easy gear changes.

lets say i put the 2004r in and use a stall converter (32-3400rpm). will this negate the whole reason to have over drive (my th400 already gives me about 3000rpm at 70mph)?

i guess i am woundering if i WILL need the lockup to get full advantage of overdrive without overheating my tranny fluid. or if driving at rpms below stall has any effect on trans fluid temp at all, or even if i can get my rpm below stall while on the interstate (i know i can do it cruising at about 35mph).

i wish i knew it all like i thought i did about 10 years ago