Stall for cammed 6.0, 4l80e

[mplex2000]

I have a otherwise stock 6.0 (sold to me as a lq9, I think it's actually a lq4) with a BTR Stage IV truck cam. Little concerned that I should have probably gone with the Stage III but too late..

From BTR website:
Requires around a 3000-3200 converter. Also used in 6.0 and 6.2 truck engines.

Has made 370 in a LS1 Camaro.

Requires a 3 bolt cam gear.

Specs are 224/230 .553/.547 111+2

Sounds like they're giving recommendations based on a slightly smaller (5.7?) engine. IIRC they recommended a 2800-3000 stall for me when I called them last year. This is a 79 longbed C10. Running a beefed up 4l80e. Obviously the combo isn't super special but I've been stressing over the converter. I've mostly done sticks on my faster cars so the stall thing is somewhat new to me.

I know the higher stall will heat things up a bit and I'm thinking about throwing a large Earl's cooler I have laying around the shop on their after the radiator trans cooler. Other than the heat, I want it to be fast, behave well on the street and get great gas mileage. Of course right..little sarcasm there maybe. I have never towed anything but would like to at least be able to trailer a car if I need to in the future, and the way I am with cars I will need to sooner or later. The truck isn't a daily driver but is driven often and I do like to drive it ~30 miles in to the office every week or two.

But seriously, given the truck is 4000-4200 lbs I think and with this combo, should I go 2800 or higher? I just rebuilt the rear and and swapped in a posi with 3.73 gears. tires are 29-30 inches tall, just some 17s nothing crazy.

Also, recommendations on converters would be appreciated. Prices seem all over the place. The Circle D looks awesome and comes in around $600. Seems like a lot of cash for a fairly simple setup like I have, is there a more modestly priced option that will do me right?

[homemade87]

That cam is not very aggressive in that engine . Theres a good chance your stock stall is close to 2500 already . The lower powered engines came with the high stall ( 4.3 5.3 lq9 lq4 ) . The diesel and 7.4 came with a tighter stall for low end torque . If yours happen the be the 2500 I would run it with it .

The converter will have a sticker on it for you to research it if you dont know what it came from . From what you are going to do with it I would run it if it is the high stall .

[mplex2000]

Thanks homemade, I'll have to have a look at the converter. After speaking with Circle D, BTR and others I went ahead and grabbed the Circle D 3000-3200 stall. They mentioned that the stock should be around 1800 stall so if that's not the case, I'll be a bit disappointed. However, the trans was half way dead when I bought it so the stock converter condition is questionable at best.

[homemade87]

If having to buy a converter anyway why not get what you want . I would never run a converter from a trans that had problems . To much stuff makes its way in the converter and can come loose and screw up your new trans .

I had the 3000-3200 in my 82 swb . It was good for my combo . But my power level has gone up and moved to a 3600-3800 triple disc from circle d .

I would plan on doing some tuning on your lock up speed and rpm and Throttle % to keep it from coming in to hard .