On part throttle take off the car moves forward very smoothly as the revs climb loosely to over 2000. In terms of gear changes it will not feel like one continuos long gear. The car shifts normally but the rpm will stay high instead of dropping all the way down to 1200 rpm.The rpm will drop from say 2500 at gear change to 2000. Giving the car gas just after a gear change results in instant neck snapping power as your already in the fat chunk of the torque curve past 2000rpm. Really is no better feeling. In terms of torque management a tcu tune will smooth things out even more. I have just ordered one and from what ive read its really the icing on the cake. You launch a car with a high stall from a light, yes you will get wheel spin, you get wheel spin stock, even more with a pulley, but nothing can match how quickly you will be catapulted forward with a HSTC. An M5 will just be taking of and you would already be in second gear at over 4000rpm, metres down the road. Once the car picks up traction it pulls like a rocket. More so then when i just had a 77mm fixed s/c pulley.

 

275 rears minimum and some practice launching i guess that it wouldnt be that difficult on the street. The real test would be comparing the 60fts at the track with street tires vs DRs and high stall converter.

 

From dead hooking no spin on drag radials I gained a tenth spinning with the convertor.

 

I'm a man of my word. Ordered mine just a few short hours ago and already received a tracking number from Team Shardul-Brooke (or Brooke-Shardul???). That's faster than Amazon!

Too bad I won't be home for another ten day. Anyhow, I'm going to do my own install. I've got some basic instructions, but can anyone go in-depth with the instructions? Any words of advice? I plan on taking lots of pictures during the install and making a write-up. I think the install process or cost is keeping more people from doing this mod. Good instructions would help.

Also, I changed the fluid and filter last year and used (rather expensive) OEM fluid. I know there is a cheaper alternative. Am I good to go to fill the converter with that fluid, or should I stick with the OEM until my next fluid change?

 

Cool, please keep us posted on your install because I would like to do my own work when I order one as well - even if I have to rent a lift for a day and beg/borrow/steal specialist tools.

 

Oh man! I can't wait to get back in the driver seat of my Beast! All these new goodies are installed and waiting for me to come home and enjoy

 

I know the basics of the install but not have never done it myself so i wouldnt know details.
You may be good to salvage the fluid from the stock converter and fill up the high stall with it prior to install. Then top up the remainder. These converters are 1 inch smaller then stock, so may take a little less fluid. Our trannies are very sensitive to type of fluid and level, i know many agree to disagree but i would only use MB approved fluid. 236.10 up to 236.14 which is the 7speed fluid that is backwards compatible and is made with better chemical properties. You can also use shell ATF 134 and some other brands but i would stick to MB branded and be safe then sorry. Good luck with the DIY i cant wait to see it and its just what the forum needs on this topic!! Install is a b**** on these. Mine was $900 + i had other work done totalling my arm and leg to be left behind

 

Thanks for the info rawe55!

 

Bad news: Not doing a DIY on this.
Good news: It's at a shop getting the t/c installed now. Found a shop that quoted me a really good price. I went to the dealer and got 4 quarts of fluid just to be safe. I can return unopened bottles.

 

Man, I thought burnouts were already easy, but now they are even easier. This converter made the car feel like it lost a few hundred pounds. Under normal driving, it feels just like the stock converter. I did a "quick" take-off from a stop (not WOT) and the car went forward like it was being pulled by a giant rubber band... nice and smooth. On my stock converter, I could not brake boost past 1200 rpm without either spinning the rears or pushing through the front brakes. I did a quick test and was able to brake torque it to 2000 with no problems. I can't wait to see what this will do for my launch at the track.

And let's not overlook the HUGE reduction in weight. 10 pounds of rotating mass gone with a 1-inch reduction in diameter is definitely noticeable. I haven't done any real scientific testing, but I reset my fuel mileage calc after I left the shop and after 11 miles I showed an indicated 27.2 mpg, more than one mpg better than my previous best. Note that this does not account for my larger injectors so that number is likely closer to 25 actual mpg. Still, it's an improvement.

If you are worried that this mod will affect the way the car drives under normal conditions, do not worry. Perfectly streetable and makes your car faster. Also, this would be a great mod on any stage of your build; from completely stock to built and blown. Go ahead and do it.

 

Good write-up Dennis, Thankss for sharing...

ZAYED,,

 

The more you drive it the more you will say damn how did i drive my car without this.

 

Glad you like it DR

 

Great news! Got my tcu tune arriving in a couple days from Shardul. I will report back but its suppose to be the icing on the cake with this mod!

 

After reading this thread last week I placed an order for one with UPD (excellent customer service BTW) scheduled to arrive tomorrow and installed this weekend. Does anyone know if there is a break in period for this? I hope I experience the same ( catapulted ,rear ended, rubber band) feeling.

 

Is there a similar unit for an 07 e63? Where can I find info? Thanks!

 

we will have one in 2 weeks for the 722.9 transmission

 

Does a higher stall put any additional wear on a transmission or the driveline in general? I've never run a different one.

 

For me, it feels like it smooths out that initial hit when you get on it. It feels like it makes life easier on the rest of the driveline and even makes traction more manageable. With the really aggressive throttle sensor and fixed pulley in my setup, this actually makes it easier for me to pull away from a stop without surging forward too hard unintentionally.

The ten pound reduction in rotating mass is definitely easier on the other parts around it. You definitely feel the weight loss in normal driving. Kinda hard to explain it, but it cruises just fine. I have the stock converter in a box and it's a monster.

 

Denroll I should have given you a bigger discount sold 3 more after you posted your review of the UPD converter!!!

 

 

Haha, just remember that for when I buy from you next time

Oh wait, I think I already have everything...

 

had mine in for a year and 4 months now no issues other then the sob is all over the road. guys if i can get a good tire and prep with dead hook i will show you a 1.60 or a .59 with my stock pulley car as is. My suspension was always down tires spun all through first and Im not hard up on the stall and went 1.64.

 

In this video, a professional driver on a closed course performs a demonstration of the torque converter:

 

^ glad to see you are enjoying the converter, I installed mine last week and seem to be having drive ability issues now. Rpm's fluctuate slightly while cruising steady, trans seems a little confused on shifts (under part throttle). Called EC for a new tcu tune and they said that those issues cannot be resolved and Tourque converters are bad in general and should only be used in drag racing.
Good news is the car woke right up and takes off like a bat out of hell under hard acelleration and if I drive in manual mode there are no issues what so ever. Spoke with Brooke at UPD and told him my issues and he offered me a full refund on the product. I decided to keep it in the car for now because if I pull it out and put back the old I'm still out of pocket around $1000 from shipping costs and labour.