[gata79]

I have a 69 firebird. It weighs 2650 with driver. It has a powerglide, 488 gears and an 8" converter. Fairly high horse power 535. The converter people say it's not them and the transmission people say it's not them. Where to turn? Transmission guy says I need a 9 or 10 inch converter. What size converter do cars like mine run.

[Dragncar]

Generally in not the converter unless something is horribly wrong.
You are building heat somewhere. Have you pulled the pan ? Do you have shinny stuff in the oil ?
If your trans fluid smells just like burnt toast, it is. You could have hurt the pump, not enough pressure will smoke clutches. You could have damaged seal somewhere causing the same thing.

[Probird]

I run an 8" behind my Glide. 529" but probably not quite as much hp as yours. I weigh 3275. My guess is transmission. Does it seem like its slipping in 1st or 2nd? Only way to know for sure is to pull it out and take it apart. Check the band and clutch pack. How many clutches in the high gear clutch pack?

[gata79]

Raced first week, 8 runs. All new parts.Transmission fluid was black and stunk. I watched him take the trans apart. All clutches and bands look brand new. He rebuilt it anyway to make sure. Found nothing. Sent the new converter back. They said couldn't find anything either. But the converter they sent back was not the one we sent them. We ran the car another 9 rounds. The fluid isn't as bad but it's still burned. I'm not sure how many clutches but it's a BTE case with with every upgrade. Doesn't seem to slip.

[Dragncar]

Might want to call Lane at PTC, talk to a real converter guy.

[Jim Zeek]

what is trans temperature? transbrake? et? mph? 9 rounds in 1 day? checking fluid between rounds?

[gata79]

Transbrake. 5.40's. 125. 3 practice rounds. 6 rounds for the win.

[chiphead]

Do you stage on the brake for an extended time waiting for the lights to come down? Any trans cooler? The converter makes a LOT of heat when on the brake.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Burnt smell is typically from Poweering through an applied clutch or Band. I would ask about the 'Glide having a Band.

And ask about that Band having an adjustment or not.

[BruceWilkie]

If clutces and bands look ok and trans doesn't seem to slip... It's getting too hot. Not likely the pump or convertor. It's not getting cooled. Restrictions in lines or cooler or simply cooler not effective enough... Size and or placement make a difference.

Deb's street car ran high water temps and trans ran hot too. Has a fairly large B+M plate style cooler. But only 3 row(original radiator) factory radiator. I moved auxillary cooler off radiator and put it where it didn't block air to radiator yet had plenty of airflow to the cooler. Water and trans temps dropped...about twenty on water and around fifteen on the trans. At some point I'm putting a better radiator without internal cooler and will add a second plate cooler.

[cgeise]

you didn't get a pump that was modified to eliminate the cooling circuit did you ????

[Half-Inch Stud]

Lord Joule figured the rise in liquid vs stirring. So Converter shears the fluid and makes the fluid hot. Just geeking out.

[madokie]

some people run John Deere Hy-Gard fluid,wont burn, keeps trans clean inside..made for use in a wet clutch trans.

[gata79]

First race today with a new 10 inch converter. Hottest day of the year. 1.20 60 foot. Was 1.23. 5.45 at 126. Old best 5.48 at 125. Fluid looks good so far.

[johnta1]

Hope it works.

Who's converter did you get?
Same brand as other one?

Possibly the converter was not locking up at the higher stall and creating a ton of heat.

Sounds like you might have got the answer, at least so far.

[gata79]

We were pretty sure it was the converter. This one is from BTE.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Originally Posted by Half-Inch Stud

Lord Joule figured the rise in liquid vs stirring. So Converter shears the fluid and makes the fluid hot. Just geeking out.

Lord Joule was right on this one.