Hello,
I've got a '70 Chevelle with a 408bbc, with Edelbrock RPM cam and Air Gap intake.

http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_new/mc/valvetrain/pdf/150-153.pdf

The GM heads are ported, polished, gasket matched, and have larger stainless steel valves with 5 angle valve job. Its got 10.5:1 CR and is currently backed up with a TCI Streetfighter TH-350 transmission with a Sizzler torque convertor ( approx. 1000 rpm total ).

http://www.tciauto.com/converters/index.htm

As is, it won't idle well in gear, and I am thinking of buying another torque convertor with a higher stall. My goal is to make it a street strip car, but right now the peg-leg 2.73 gear open diff rear is holding me back from really enjoying the engine from a stand still. So, I would appreciate if you could recommend a torque convertor/ stall speed for me. With the previous sbc, it was 3450lbs, so with the (small) bbc, I would guess it's about 3700lbs. When the funds allow, i plan on upgrading the 10 bolt rear with an Eaton posi and 3.55 or 3.73 gears. All help/ info/ recommendations are appreciated. Thanks!

A Sizzler is pretty much a hair over a stock replacement convertor..a stock TH400 convertor is about a 1600-1800 stall,and the sizzler is rated to about 400 rpms more than stock.

IMHO, a TCI Breakaway (1000 rpm over stock) or a 2400 B&M Holeshot would be good choice.I have the B&M behind my torquey 454,and if I whack it hard,it will flash to max of 3100 and behind a stock 454,it will go to 2800...I think it would be a good match.
These are obviously off the shelf reccomendations.If you have some money to spend,call someone like ATI or Trans Specialties and get a custom built convertor.
I kinda stay a little conservative with convertors on mild street/strip combos,but a Sizzler or Saturnight Special TCI is too mild for my tastes and a 10" B&M or TCI is too much

Just so you know, a 10" converter will be more loose right off idle than a comparable stall speed from a larger converter. My 10" TCI Streetfighter originally stalled at 3500+ behind my 408BB. I had it freshened up and modifed to a 3000 stall. Now it is real loose to 1500 RPM then acts normal, but will flash to 3000 - 3200 before it really tightens up. If you can get a 10" unit, it would be your best move with the 408, but better get some gears in there soon.

personally i learned my lesson on torque convertors. pay the extra money and get a quality convertor. imo, the torque convertor is the single biggest factor in the drivetrain. you could get a cheapo B&M 2400 and it PROBABLY would work great, but they're reliability behind any big block is suspect, imo. if you never take it to the track and never have sticky tires on it or any power adders such as nitrous it would likely be fine. i've used a Torkmaster 3000 behind a 396 before and it worked perfectly, until we took it to the track with sticky tires a few times. and this wasn't a great 396 or anything, it only ran 13.00's with a 3.73 gear. but the weight and the traction finally got to the $200 convertor.

So what did it do to the converter? Disentegrate it or something?

I wouldn't use a Torkamster behind a big block either..mine is the Holeshot series

Patrick,
Do yourself a favor .... pick a manufacturer that you like, and then call them and ask them which one of thier converters will work best for your application. There are so many variables involved from car to car that it is almost impossible to pick one on your own. The manufacturers spend a lot of money on research, and want you to be happy with thier product..... they will know which one is correct.

Thanks for the replies, guys. Before posting this question, I was looking at the TCI Breakaway, b/c it would allow me to idle better in gear and be able to put me just inside the 1500-6500 rpm power band of the cam with out loosing too much drivability/ being a little too radical. But, I do think that contacting TCI would be the best decision. Thanks for the help. I appreciate it.

71Malibu406/ Anyone,
If I'm going to spend the money, I'd prefer to get the "right" convertor the first time, so when you suggest getting a quality convertor, who did you have in mind, and what might one cost? Thanks.

i agree with above. my own question is when do you (REALLY) need anti-baloon plate converter????? does anybody run a converter without the anti-baloon plates on a big block with n.o.s.???

personally i don't like B&M or TCI but that's just one opinion. some have had luck with them, some have not. i know it would be pretty expensive, but i prefer Coan or ATI. there are other good quality brands out there too. Bill's advice is probably the best, call the manufacturers and ask them. a TCI break away would probably be ok, but i've just not been to impressed with TCI's stuff in the past. and to answer the question about the Torkmaster 3000, yes, it exploded. inside of the convertor was in a million little pieces. :(

I'd use a 11" Holeshot or call ATI,COAN,BTE, they all make a lower end street converter that are usually within 100.00 of B&M or TCI.