Sprag Failure... Converter...?

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Moparious Maximus
Posts: 125
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:05 pm
Location: Iowa

Sprag Failure... Converter...?

#1 Post by Moparious Maximus » Tue Dec 01, 2009 10:22 am

I just have a simple question about sprags in converters.

I have never hurt one myself, and Im not exactly nice to my stuff, and right now we are 3200 lbs and run 8.00s-8.2s in the 1/4, blown alky, pretty fast to my standards.

Now our other car is a front engine dragster with a SBC that weighs half of what my car does with half the power, it runs 8.2 to 8.3s in the 1/4. We had a sprag fail in that car with less than 30 passes on it, in less than a year, the manufacturer did help us out... (some)

I use a different manufacturer on the heavy car than the light one, I run a Bradco behind the blower motor, he said I would NEVER hurt his converter and so far he is right, I will admit I dont have a bunch of passes on it yet so thats not a for sure thing.

The manufacturer of the little car's converter (I dont want to mention names), told us that sprag failures just happen sometimes, and that there wasnt much they could do about it.

Do different converter makers use better or bigger sprags? Or is there something we did wrong to hurt one in 30 passes?
'63 Plymouth, Straight axle, Leaf springs, Drum brakes, 31x10.5wx15 Rears 3215lbs
Best time to date 7.99 @ 170 mph
572" Wedge 8-71 @ 28% OD, ALKY, Glide, Dana

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq-xzFWHtFk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfyZSw59R_o

Marty Chance
Posts: 193
Joined: Fri Sep 19, 2008 6:34 am
Location: Cheney, KS

Re: Sprag Failure... Converter...?

#2 Post by Marty Chance » Tue Dec 01, 2009 12:08 pm

converter sprags have a wide range of prices and quality and every converter company uses something different. if you broke a sprag in 30 passes you had a low quality sprag and you should upgrade it to a higher quality sprag. Spend the money once and never need to replace it is cheaper than installing low quality parts at low prices and hope it gets you by. The biggest problem i see , is the consumer rarely knows how good of sprag they are getting . I recommend you stay with one company that you can trust and build a long term relationship with them.
Neal Chance Racing Converters
Home of the World's Fastest Automatic Doorslammers!
www.racingconverters.com

User avatar
Moparious Maximus
Posts: 125
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:05 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: Sprag Failure... Converter...?

#3 Post by Moparious Maximus » Tue Dec 01, 2009 1:33 pm

I think you hit it on the head, with (The customer doesnt know what he's getting.) line.

We thought we bought at least a respectable name and quality piece, I think it cost around $800, maybe that dont get much of a converter.

I dont have a problem spending money to buy the best parts, but I do have to say the owner (bank account) of the other car is a little cheap.

That puts me in a tough spot.
'63 Plymouth, Straight axle, Leaf springs, Drum brakes, 31x10.5wx15 Rears 3215lbs
Best time to date 7.99 @ 170 mph
572" Wedge 8-71 @ 28% OD, ALKY, Glide, Dana

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq-xzFWHtFk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfyZSw59R_o

Marty Chance
Posts: 193
Joined: Fri Sep 19, 2008 6:34 am
Location: Cheney, KS

Re: Sprag Failure... Converter...?

#4 Post by Marty Chance » Tue Dec 01, 2009 4:50 pm

hey by the way i dig the nostalgia blown 63 , very cool
Neal Chance Racing Converters
Home of the World's Fastest Automatic Doorslammers!
www.racingconverters.com

User avatar
Moparious Maximus
Posts: 125
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:05 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: Sprag Failure... Converter...?

#5 Post by Moparious Maximus » Tue Dec 01, 2009 7:21 pm

Thank you, it really is great to hear that.
'63 Plymouth, Straight axle, Leaf springs, Drum brakes, 31x10.5wx15 Rears 3215lbs
Best time to date 7.99 @ 170 mph
572" Wedge 8-71 @ 28% OD, ALKY, Glide, Dana

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq-xzFWHtFk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfyZSw59R_o

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