Hughes fuel miser converters?

[jckkys]

When my C4 needs another rebuild, I may try one of these 1200 RPM stall speed converters. Has anyone used one?

 

[rguest3]

Would be compatible with a completely stock 302. More cam than that and it may jump into gear when put in drive.

Call Hughes, they will set you up with the best convertor for your application.

After talking with them, I went with their 42-20 in a 351w with a Mild Cam. Worked out VERY well.

 

[jckkys]

My engine is a stock 351w that idles smooth at 500-550 RPM. I have no interest in trying to have a high revving engine in a truck. What is the stall speed on a 42-20? Hughes saw no problem with a 1200 RPM stall in my application. The transmission shops I spoke to don't like do deal with Hughes. They say Hughes doesn't care about small shops since they started selling through Jegs. My concern is about quality since past rebuilds failed because of bad torque converters.

 

[DJs74]

I purchased a 42-20 initially for my '74 build because I was looking for 2000 stall. The 42-20 was supposed to be a 2000 rpm converter but it had no higher stall than the stock unit a replaced so I took it out after 50 miles and installed a 42-25 (2500 rpm). I wish now I would've went with the 42-30 but the 42-25 is sufficient. The bottom line is, I think Hughes makes a good converter and I have no complaints other than their advertised stall seems lower than it should be. Prior to this build, I've used countless B&M and TCI converters and the Hughes unit performs just as well for less cost.

DJs74

 

[broncnaz]

It will probably work fine. But I would be a little concerned about it possibly idling thru the brakes. Escpeailly if you use low Range. So you may want to inquire on that possiblity.
Lower stall converters are good for heavy vehicles or if your running large tires. But in lighter weight vehicles and smaller tires then you could have issues. Of course this all ties in with axle gearing as well. Lots of factors to consider.
Id also be a little concerned that it seems the mileage misers seem to be more for bigger engines than a 351. Of course this may be why they say it would be fine on your application. As stall speed will probably be higher than what they advertised when its behind a smaller engine.
Advertised stall speed is a nominal rating lots of factors can make it higher or lower.
I believe the broncos got convertors that had a low lower stall than the cars had from the factory. While Im sure that hughes knows what works and doesnt I think Id want a slightly higher stall. I wouldnt really count on mileage gains although a well built tighter convertor should help in anycase.

 

[jckkys]

My '77 shop manual states that the same 12" converter is used with both the 302 and the 300 straight 6. With the 302 the stall is 1350-1630 RPM. With the 300 the stall is 1490-1760. Hughes say's the 300 has a higher stall speed because the 300 has better low end torque. The even higher low end torque from my 351w would bring the stock converter closer to 1800 RPM. The high stall speed converters have more friction loss and produce more heat. I don't want either. A cam that moves the torque curve higher, has less low end torque so a high stall speed is needed. My engine was built with low end torque as my goal, so even at 1000 RPM, I have plenty. If I thought I needed more power, I would stroke it. High RPM HP is for racing. Trucks work better with a low and wide torque curve. Again my concern is with the quality of Hughes converters. If the fuel miser has a stall speed of 1200 RPM, as they claim, it should work for me.

 

[broncnaz]

The 300's torque is about the same as the 351's so I doubt youd see the stall go up that much if at all.
Ive never really heard anything bad about hughes convertors. I imagine that like anything else they have a few failures now and then but Id bet they far less frequent than the mass rebuilt units you have been using. Plus there overall toleranecs should be tighter so that helps.

 

[jckkys]

My bad luck with torque converters was the result of decisions made by a transmission repair chain. They wouldn't say where they got their converters from. They also refused to make good on their warranty until my lawyer pointed out their vulnerability. After 3 rebuilds in a month they finally got it right. I just don't want too go through that again. Now I have a transmission shop that will work with me to do a quality job. Since the torque converters were bad twice in a row, I want to make sure I get a good one.

 

[needabronco]

I run a Hughes torque converter and I've been very happy with it. Even if Hughes doesn't build their own (most don't), I'd call them and run what they recommend. They build quite a few transmissions for Bronco's, Driven uses them as they are right down the street from them.