Drag Racing Overview With respect to drag racing the use of an our company automatic transmission virtually eliminates the chance of missing a shift and better more consistent launches on a variety of strip conditions. In addition the torque converter "cushions" the extreme shock loads and allows for a more even distribution of power. An automatic transmission setup can actually provide performance improvements because an automatic can better utilize available power in a typical chassis and it does a superior job of getting that power to the ground. A closer concentration of weight, in relation to the centerline of the crankshaft, allows for quicker acceleration.

An automatic transmission requires a coupling between the engine’s crankshaft and the transmission’s input shaft. And while in a few special applications, like in oval track and marine setups, a direct coupler is used, the majority of all automatic transmission installations utilize a torque converter. In addition to functioning as a fluid coupling between the newbeetleaccessories engine and transmission, a converter provides an additional benefit through multiplying the torque input, much like a gear set. There are a number of parts in a torque converter, three of which give it the basic operating characteristics… the pump, the turbine, and the stator. The pump has rows of curved vanes arranged inside a bowl-shaped casing. The turbine is the part that actually is responsible for turning the transmission-input shaft. Like two electric fans facing each other, one with the power on, and one with the power off working in unison causing the internal rotation. When a car is just beginning to move from a dead stop the pump will be rotating much faster than the turbine. Therefore the oil will be working against the turbine blades with a great deal of force. In the process of passing through the stator, the direction of the flow of the ATF is reversed. If this fluid were simply allowed to re-enter the pump, it would have a tendency to work against the pump’s direction of rotation. Instead the fluid is forced though the stator section of the converter which uses the special shape to reverse the direction of flow.

The 9" converter comes in varying degrees of looseness and tightness to maximize the applications. our company ‘s 5000-stall converter is intended for heavily newbeetleaccessories modified engines with high rpm capabilities. Under no circumstances should you use a 9" converter with a late model "smog" newbeetleaccessories motor that is incapable of making usable power past 4000 rpm. Make sure a transmission cooler is used as well. Each converter we manufacture shares many of the same features as our company’s famous 8" competition converters including furnace brazed fins, a specially matched stator, a heavy-duty sprag, needle bearing thrust washers, hardened races and complete leak testing and electronic balancing. Competition Converters Our 7" and 8" converters are recommended for big block combinations usually up to 600 cubic inch requiring stall speeds up to 8000 rpm. The our company 8" converters are ideally suited for the serious E.T. racer.