It's time to order the new convertoer for the Chevelle, and I have decided on an ATI. The tech at ATI recommended the 8" treemaster. I was just wondering if any of you guys were using one of these and what you thought of them.

an 8" converter behind what? strip car only I presume?

Call back and ask for Charlie Plott. Give him all you info and also you intended usage. Go with what he recommends...he's VERY good at specing out a converter for the application. He's the only one I will talk with when calling ATI. He has my 8" Treemaster right now for reconfiguring for a new motor combination.

Yeah, strip only car. (maybe the occassional blast to the local burger joint)

71 chevelle with fiberglass hood and bumpers
4.11 12 bolt rearend
turbo 400 with reverse pattern full manual v/b
electric fans, waterpump and fuel pump
454 punched 60 over
10.5 to 1 pistons
AFR 305 heads with CNC chambers
Victor JR intake
Lunati 288/296 solid cam
HP950 Holly

Speak with Charlie plott ONLY, and i agree i think the 8" converter would be best in a strip only car, with minimal street driving.

What kind of stall would the 8" have? I'm guessing it would get pretty close to 4000?

in a footbrake car we/they call it a "flash" rpm, and that's the main concern is where it will flash too.
Where it flashes will be dependant on the fin angles. I'd guesstimate about 5000-5400.

I didn't talk to Charlie, but still got a pretty good response. They recomended the 8" converter and mine flashes to 4500...I typically check it on the return road about every 50 passes...put the car in third gear, and cruise at about 2-3mph...and then floor it...while it doesn't give me true flash...it does tell me if the converter is starting slip.

Chevy 69 , More detail on your return road test please. When you do this test on the return road what are you looking for to determine the flash? I'd like to try this to test mine.

Originally posted by TWC:
Chevy 69 , More detail on your return road test please. When you do this test on the return road what are you looking for to determine the flash? I'd like to try this to test mine. What you will see on the tach is the rpm will rise or spike real quick, then pause for a moment, then continure climing at a slower pace. The pause moment or rpm is your "flash" rpm.

I picked up close to .2 in the 1/8th when I went to the 8" ATI treemaster from a 10" TCI. TCI flashed to 4500, and 8" ATI flashes to 4900. I would guess they will set you up between 5000-5500. I even gained about 1.5 mph.

Like already mentioned, talk with Charlie only. If he's not there leave a message. He is sometimes hard to get a hold of, so have all you info ready when you talk to him. He is very thourough and easy to deal with.

Thanks for all the advice guys! I will try to get a hold of Charlie today. Do you guys run the regular treemaster, or the MRT treemaster. The MRT is about $100 more, so I was just wondering if the added expense was worth it.

As much as I have sank into this little project so far, $100 probably isn't worth worrying about! :D

Exactly what 10secBu said smile.gif

If it is a footbrake car then all you should need is the regular old treemaster. If you are leaving of a transbrake or you plan on doing so you may want to spend the extra money on the MRT since it has ATI's investment cast cover which is much stronger.

I use the treemaster and have a friend that used a treemaster in his Chevelle with a 509 Shafirof that runs 6.30's with high 1.30 60 ft times. Never had a problem, but ATI finally talked him into the MRT on his last freshen.