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Valuable Insights Into Torque Converter Technology From Hughes Performance


Valuable Insights Into Torque Converter Technology From Hughes Performance

The torque converter technology implemented in modern automatic transmissions has gone through decades of modifications and improvements, becoming an extremely efficient solution for smooth transmission of torque from the engine to the drive wheels. There is, however, a lot of misunderstandings related to torque converters, their operation and maintenance peculiarities not only among racers or auto enthusiasts, but also among young and inexperienced technicians. It is not a problem to find some basic info about torque converters on the internet, but there are not so many reliable sources, which provide structured and visual data on this piece of automotive engineering. Fortunately, experts from Hughes Performance came up with a series of educational videos, providing insights into the main features, operation principles, and peculiarities of torque converters with a focus on performance-oriented applications.


The whole series named “Torque Converters 101” includes 7 episodes, in which the host Pete Nichols describes different aspects of automotive torque converters in easy-to-understand terms - from general overview of this technology and its design peculiarities to stall speed characteristic, torque converter ballooning, and its installation details.


Become familiar with basics of torque converter technology


The first 20-minute video explains the torque converter design, its structural components, and some principles of operation. From the pump seal to the cover that bolts to the engine, Pete covers every component that makes up a torque converter and explains its function in a clear and concise way.


Pete Nichols talks about lock-up torque converters


In the 2-nd video you will learn about lock-up torque converters from the OEM perspective and how the lock-up technology contributes to increased fuel efficiency, basically acting like a manual transmission clutch.


Pete Nichols takes a closer look at the various one way clutch variants


If in the first 2 episodes Pete talks about general construction of the torque converter and some basic operating theory, and functioning of the lock-up technology, the 3-rd episode revolves around the topic of one-way stator clutches in torque converters. In this episode you will learn about different variations of this clutch, their functioning peculiarities, and other interesting material.


Pete Nichols talks about different types of stator designs used in performance-oriented torque converters


In the next video, we take a closer look at different types of stator designs used in performance-oriented torque converter builds, materials used in stator design and construction (aluminum, steel, billet aluminum, fabricated steel) as well as their performance capacities and tuning flexibility.


Amazing video about torque converter stall speed


The 5-th episode addresses such an interesting characteristic of torque converters as stall speed. In this video you will learn the correct definition of this mysterious term and its variability in torque converters depending on their field of application. The thing is that stall speed is not a fixed number and there are several factors that contribute to the maximum amount of stall speed that can be achieved with the torque converter: torque output of the engine, the vehicle weight, the gearing in the rear axle, the rear tire diameter (or front tire diameter in case with a front-wheel drive vehicle), and gear ratio. This video will certainly help you to dispel numerous misconceptions surrounding stall speed and torque converter functions.


Pete Nichols explains the issue of torque converter ballooning


The pre-last episode will address the issue of torque converter ballooning. Here you will learn more about this problem in racing torque converters, its possible consequences, and about anti-ballooning properties used in Hughes Performance converters.



In the final episode, Pete Nichols will explain how to properly install a torque converter into an automatic transmission. All in all, thanks to this brilliant series of extremely helpful and informative videos provided by Hughes Performance, all admirers of automotive engineering will be able to fill in their knowledge gaps on the torque converter technology.

Popular articles

Probably every transmission repair specialist was keen on LEGO constructions or at least enjoyed making some minor things with their hands. Here's the game taken to a new level of creativity!

Modern auto industry is full of sophisticated drivetrain technologies which are supposed to make your driving experience even more pleasant and trouble-free. Despite a great abundance of sophisticated technical solutions, it is highly likely that very few people know a transmission solution operating like a manual CVT.

Over recent years engineers developed a lot of gear shifting solutions for different car brands, which may seem a bit unusual for oldtime drivers. In this article we will review the most peculiar gear stick technologies and provide video materials related to these technologies.

Only few people know about transmission concepts which were popular 70-90 years ago. For men of today, these gearboxes may seem very unusual and weird, but even now some gearboxes that date back to those years are quite competitive in comparison with modern transmissions.

Nowadays Extroid CVTs are commonly known as “toroidal” due to the fact that the working surface of driving and driven discs in this transmission has the form of a torus. Extroid CVT is not a V-belt transmission, but a friction drive CVT.