Can a torque converter cause a surge?

[71RR]

I have a 64 Belv with a 426 wedge. She is new all over. Pulled one of the weber carbs to check for gummed or wore out or something, and it is like the rest of the car, new. An old mopar man told me about 9 things it could be, but when he told me that it could be the torque converter I seem to feel that it is a possibility the way the car surges. Starts and idles and revs great but when you take off and get to rolling 20 or 30 mph it starts surging, and my foot never moves the gas pedal from where I am holding it. If I put her to the floor she stands up and goes hard, but at a cruising speed she does the surge. Hope I have explained it enough for you to know how it is acting. Any ideas on the converter or anything else to try. Thanks guys.

 

[Red63440]

What gear ratio are you running???

 

[Big Jim]

If you have the combination of too much stall and not enough gear, it can surge; caused by the stall convertor not generating enough line pressure to keep the clutches engaged at part-throttle. JMHO

 

[Cranky]

Since the TC is not an easy check, I'd start elsewhere and eliminate other easier things first like is it running lean at cruise. Lean surge is something that I've experienced before. You say you have Weber carbs on it? What's the setup? Side draft, down draft? I've never messed with them but I know they can be a royal pita to tune. I'd be looking at those before I'd be looking at a torque converter. Generally when you have too much stall for the gear, you end up generating a lot of heat in the transmission. Yeah, it can act up. So, without more info, it's kinda hard to help with your problem. Do you have a temp gauge on the transmission? Do you have an O2 sensor on your exhaust to monitor if you have a lean condition? What's your timing set at...both initial and total and at what rpm's? The more you gives us, the better the help.

 

[lewtot184]

there really isn't enough information here to make an informed suggestion, but more than likey its the tune-up thats off. too much cam for the converter can cause some low speed issues. this is probably edelbrock carbs on a cross ram. a run down on the engine build, converter specs and gear ratio are needed.

 

[71RR]

Let me get as many answers as I can for you. First, there is no stall in the trans. Just straight up 727. The cam had some purple on it when I pulled the dist to check it, and I dont know if purple designates a specific cam or not but I didnt build her. No lope at idle that i can feel. The gears I am not sure of now. Will need to see if there is a tag. The timing is advanced, as she pings when I step on her. Need to retard some. Thanks for the interest, and I realize that diagnoseing in the drivers seat is hard, so this is really a challenge.

 

[71RR]

Oh yah, the webers are the simplist carbs I have ever dismantled. The only jets there are that I can see are 2 in the bottom of each float bowl. You could stick a #2 pencil lead thru them. Not sure where the idle jets are even located. I could not ever find these carbs on the web