High-Stall Converters in Detail
A torque converter is a fluid coupling that connects the engine to the transmission. Instead of a clutch, it uses transmission fluid to transfer drive so the vehicle can sit in gear at idle and move off smoothly.
Inside are three main components: the impeller (or pump) welded to the converter cover and driven by the engine, the turbine splined to the transmission input shaft, and the stator mounted between them on a one-way clutch. As the impeller spins, it throws oil outwards into the turbine blades, creating torque that turns the gearbox.
At low vehicle speed there is a big difference in speed between the impeller and the turbine. The stator redirects the returning oil back into the impeller, multiplying torque and helping the car launch. As road speed comes up and the turbine speed matches the impeller, the converter behaves more like a direct coupling and the multiplication effect drops away.
A custom high-stall converter changes the internal stator, fin angles and clearances so the engine can reach its power band before the car leaves hard off the line, while still retaining street manners for normal driving.