[hill461]

I have 4 ptc converters in 4 different cars . 1 converter stalls at 5000 what i ask for . 1 stalls 3500 asked for 5000 . 1 stalls to 3000 asked for 4500 . 1 stalls to 7000 asked for 6000 . Sent the last 1 back because it made a squeeling noise they left a snap ring out . My question is am i the only one having to send them back to have adjusted. . Ive used only ptc for 20 years never had this problem till the last couple years . I always give them all imformation on the setup .

[72projectbird]

Never had any issues with them, but I haven't bought one in a couple years.

[John Langer]

Converters are voodoo, especially with Pontiacs. If they did a converter for you and say you wanted it to stall at 6000 and it goes 5000 in the car. They can adjust that one to get it right. PTC always did good to me.

[Scott Stoneburg]

Not a PTC converter, but I've had 2 converters that had to be sent back once to have the stall speed adjusted. I don't think it's that uncommon. One was a Coan converter the other a Transmission Specialties.

[PAUL K]

I've come across this issue dozens of times. Most manufacturers offer one free adjustment. You are usually better off taking advantage of that adjustment rather than letting another company take a guess. I won't buy converters from businesses that don't offer a free adjustment.

The quality of most things are going down the pooper.

[slowbird]

Originally Posted by PAUL K

The quality of most things are going down the pooper.

Quality severely sucks on most parts. Just ridiculous how bad it is and how most companies just don't care it seems.

[ta man]

What gets me is most companies should have enough data on builds to get close. UCC built one for me a few years ago, I had great confidence they would build it close to perfect because I knew other with similar builds that had great results with them. They also knew I was replacing a Continental which was flawless and knew Kris. Why so far off? I don't get it? A buddy of mine had Hutch in London Ontario build a hybrid or as Hutch calls a Frankenstein convertor and he nailed it first shot. Voodoo yes. That is my next convertor coming out of a car with almost the identical engine as mine same relative weight and gearing and works great.

[Curious George]

My first PTC was pretty much right on but was expecting to have to send it in once because of the voodoo.

[Matt1970gto]

Originally Posted by hill461

I have 4 ptc converters in 4 different cars . 1 converter stalls at 5000 what i ask for . 1 stalls 3500 asked for 5000 . 1 stalls to 3000 asked for 4500 . 1 stalls to 7000 asked for 6000 . Sent the last 1 back because it made a squeeling noise they left a snap ring out . My question is am i the only one having to send them back to have adjusted. . Ive used only ptc for 20 years never had this problem till the last couple years . I always give them all imformation on the setup .

We ran PTC years ago and they worked great. They just got to where they were missing the mark. We live about a 1hr20 mins from their shop & I would drive down there. After 5 trips with the same converter we switched. I switched from free PTC to full price Hughes & haven’t looked back. I’ve been dealing with Kevin Kleinweber with Hughes since 2014, he’s probably one of the most knowledgeable converter guys out there.

[Dragncar]

Looking at the Hughes website, I do not see any prices ?

https://www.hughesperformance.com/frc-conv/

[Money Pit]

Lots of guys in my part of NY are using Circle D and sware by them.

[Matt1970gto]

Originally Posted by Dragncar

Looking at the Hughes website, I do not see any prices ?

https://www.hughesperformance.com/frc-conv/

Call them & ask for Kevin.

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by Money Pit

Lots of guys in my part of NY are using Circle D and sware by them.

A lot of guys in the Corvette world use them. I've been looking into one for mine, and have read a lot of positive things about them.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Money Pit

Lots of guys in my part of NY are using Circle D and sware by them.

The WORST converter I ever had was a custom $1,200 Circle D. A buddy who did a lot of LS work introduced us.

It was a lock-up, supposed to stall at 4,000, to replace another converter that stalled at about 3,500 (from another source).

I took the old converter to Chris at Circle D (he is somewhat local), to see if he could tweak it for more stall. He sneered at it, talked about how ugly it was, and how I REALLY NEEDED one of his custom billet converters.

I had times slips, chassis dyno printouts, and all sorts of info to help him dial in the converter.

First installation - it was so tight that the car would not idle, WAY tighter than the old converter. I thought maybe the clutch was dragging. After discussing it with him, I pulled it and took it back. Claimed the clutch was fine, did some tweaking, gave it back to me.

Second installation - I couldn't tell he did anything, Still dragged the motor down, did not perform as well as the old converter, still. Didn't feel like pulling it again, so lived with it for awhile. Had some unrelated tranny problems, took it to a shop and they pulled the tranny to repair. While it was out, I sent it back to Circle D again.

Third Installation - Chris charged $200! He said that he gives on free 're-stall' with his converters, and charges 200 after that. I contended that it never performed even close to what it was supposed to, so more of a warranty issue than a tweak to the stall speed.

After 3 shots to get it right, his converter STILL did not perform as well as the "ugly" converter I started with. I ended up selling the car soon after, so never did get the converter sorted out.

I had actually bought TWO converters from him at the start. The other project was delayed, and I had never installed that converter. After all those issues, I sold the other Circle D and bought a Hughes for the project.

I'll never spend another dollar with Circle D. Hughes has been great for me, in comparison - they just aren't local. Hughes missed my target stall one time, and NAILED it on the second try.

[Dragncar]

Originally Posted by Matt1970gto

Call them & ask for Kevin.

I was just curious. IMO they would sell more stuff if they had basic prices online for all to see. I am sure they make good stuff.
I have 2 very nice converters right now, 8" TCI with all the bells and whistles and a 9" PTC that was perfect the first time out.
I had a 1.39 600 foot with the TCI and can't wait to give the PTC a try this season. I bought the PTC because Langer said they were very good, and he was right.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Dragncar

I was just curious. IMO they would sell more stuff if they had basic prices online for all to see. I am sure they make good stuff.
I have 2 very nice converters right now, 8" TCI with all the bells and whistles and a 9" PTC that was perfect the first time out.
I had a 1.39 600 foot with the TCI and can't wait to give the PTC a try this season. I bought the PTC because Langer said they were very good, and he was right.

Find what you want, then go to Summit to get a price. Summit will ship for free, but you'll pay shipping if you order from Hughes. Unless you are getting a custom converter, it is cheaper to order through Summit. If you want custom, then you'll have to talk to them anyway.

At one time I had an account with Hughes. I just didn't buy enough to maintain it.

[Money Pit]

Originally Posted by Lee

The WORST converter I ever had was a custom $1,200 Circle D. A buddy who did a lot of LS work introduced us.

It was a lock-up, supposed to stall at 4,000, to replace another converter that stalled at about 3,500 (from another source).

I took the old converter to Chris at Circle D (he is somewhat local), to see if he could tweak it for more stall. He sneered at it, talked about how ugly it was, and how I REALLY NEEDED one of his custom billet converters.

I had times slips, chassis dyno printouts, and all sorts of info to help him dial in the converter.

First installation - it was so tight that the car would not idle, WAY tighter than the old converter. I thought maybe the clutch was dragging. After discussing it with him, I pulled it and took it back. Claimed the clutch was fine, did some tweaking, gave it back to me.

Second installation - I couldn't tell he did anything, Still dragged the motor down, did not perform as well as the old converter, still. Didn't feel like pulling it again, so lived with it for awhile. Had some unrelated tranny problems, took it to a shop and they pulled the tranny to repair. While it was out, I sent it back to Circle D again.

Third Installation - Chris charged $200! He said that he gives on free 're-stall' with his converters, and charges 200 after that. I contended that it never performed even close to what it was supposed to, so more of a warranty issue than a tweak to the stall speed.

After 3 shots to get it right, his converter STILL did not perform as well as the "ugly" converter I started with. I ended up selling the car soon after, so never did get the converter sorted out.

I had actually bought TWO converters from him at the start. The other project was delayed, and I had never installed that converter. After all those issues, I sold the other Circle D and bought a Hughes for the project.

I'll never spend another dollar with Circle D. Hughes has been great for me, in comparison - they just aren't local. Hughes missed my target stall one time, and NAILED it on the second try.

Pete Nichols was the man at Hughes. He is now the man at Circle D. All the no prep guys love there converters.

I myself been using PTC. Last converter was way off. Had it restarted for the new 528. Haven't been out to test yet. Hope it's in the ball park.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Money Pit

Pete Nichols was the man at Hughes. He is now the man at Circle D. All the no prep guys love there converters.

I myself been using PTC. Last converter was way off. Had it restarted for the new 528. Haven't been out to test yet. Hope it's in the ball park.

THAT is interesting, I'll have to ask around.

Chris was the main guy at Circle D (owner, I believe) when I had my bad experience.

[Money Pit]

Beater Bomb uses Circle D and there ain't many people faster, if no one at what he does.

[Dragncar]

I am sure all of the converter companies of note have some very fast guys in their stables.
Pontiacs are a mid range torque engine and some companies seem to be better at taking maximum advantage of it. Just my opinion.