Converter for towing

[mtl_dmax]

I've been running my truck for a while and it's done great thus far, but I've started to feel it lag a bit when I get on it and I have a feeling that it's not the engine's fault. So at some point I'm going to have to pull this tranny out and do a rebuild. I imagine most of the internal parts are going to be fairly standard when doing a built tranny (clutches, Transgo, pump shim kit, lockup valve), but my real dilemma is on the converter side because it seems like this can really make or break how the truck behaves after.

So my question is assuming my truck will be around 40% heavy towing and 60% unloaded, what would be the best converter choice in my situation?

Any advice is most appreciated.

 

[duramaxdiesel]

Will you be hotrodding it at all? Or is this strictly a workhorse?

 

[yellowchevy]

I personally have an MLG that has worked great for 3+ years now.
If you do some search on the forum here you'll read people are very happy with Mike's new MLG-K.

I would give him a call
http://www.duramaxdiesels.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=50

Here's a thread about the 2
http://www.duramaxdiesels.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51426

Yellowchevy

 

[mtl_dmax]

Will you be hotrodding it at all? Or is this strictly a workhorse?

Definitely no drag strips at all but perhaps the occasional jack rabbit start from a stoplight though......to keep injectors clean of course

Yes, primarily will be a workhorse and I want to make sure it won't fail under heavy useage such as towing a big 5th wheel.

I personally have an MLG that has worked great for 3+ years now.
If you do some search on the forum here you'll read people are very happy with Mike's new MLG-K.

I would give him a call
http://www.duramaxdiesels.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=50

Here's a thread about the 2
http://www.duramaxdiesels.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51426

Yellowchevy

I'll definitely be calling Mike but was just curious what others thought as well.

What are the conditions you're using your MLG under? (percent towing/dd/drag/etc)

How did it do when heavily loaded?

 

[yellowchevy]

Definitely no drag strips at all but perhaps the occasional jack rabbit start from a stoplight though......to keep injectors clean of course

Yes, primarily will be a workhorse and I want to make sure it won't fail under heavy useage such as towing a big 5th wheel.




I'll definitely be calling Mike but was just curious what others thought as well.

What are the conditions you're using your MLG under? (percent towing/dd/drag/etc)

How did it do when heavily loaded?

I probably tow 10% - 20% of the time, rest of the time I just daily drive it. I do occasionally push the skinny pedal down from a stop light, haha.

Heaviest I've towed with it was 27,500lbs and it did great. I really like the converter. I've read people that have his MLG-K and love it.
I'll be switching from an S366 to twins so I'll probably be asking Mike if I should switch converters.

Yellowchevy

 

[plowboy_lbz]

1056 has been a good all around converter for me.

 

[LWATSON]

With a stock turbo I doubt it makes much difference which converter you have when it comes to towing. The converter will lock around 25 mph anyway. I'd choose a converter that suited me for daily driving and playing around. I towed fairly heavy with a tight 1057 and an S475 charger and my problem was not getting the load moving it was at 55-60 mph when I needed to pass. At that speed the converter was locked and it doesn't matter what stall you have you still have to downshift. The only real benefit I see of having the high stall I have now is building RPM's and boost at the line when racing with this big single charger.

 

[NC-smokinlmm]

MLG is gonna be your best bet, they couple well and spool stock turbos like a stock converter but can actually lockup...

 

[mtl_dmax]

With a stock turbo I doubt it makes much difference which converter you have when it comes to towing. The converter will lock around 25 mph anyway. I'd choose a converter that suited me for daily driving and playing around. I towed fairly heavy with a tight 1057 and an S475 charger and my problem was not getting the load moving it was at 55-60 mph when I needed to pass. At that speed the converter was locked and it doesn't matter what stall you have you still have to downshift. The only real benefit I see of having the high stall I have now is building RPM's and boost at the line when racing with this big single charger.

I agree, seems like a lower stall would be better because it will get the load moving fine and then I can down-shift up a hill with a big load to get the RPM's up if need be. I definitely won't be racing at all so I think the MLG sounds like the better converter since I don't need huge spool up time.

If I understand right these are the RPM stalls on each:

MLG = 1850
MLG-K =2650 (racing)

1054 = 1900
1055 = 2600 (racing)
1056 = 2000
1057 = 1800
1058 = 2300

It sounds like a toss up between the 1056 and the MLG with the 1056 giving a tad bit more spool up time.......might need it if I ever did twins.

I know alot of people like the MLGs (heard nothing but good things) but are there any negatives to running a 1056 as well? just curious?

 

[LWATSON]

You wont go wrong with either of those you mentioned. I personally would try the MLG. I had a suncoast 1057, it was a great converter but lockup was a little harsh. I have a PI now and it locks smooth as silk. If I was to try something different now even though I'm 100% satisfied with what I have I'd get a MLG, probably the K series for my charger setup.

 

[mtl_dmax]

Sounds good, where's the best place to get an MLG?

Does Dave sell them directly or do you need to go through other vendors?

 

[LWATSON]

I'd check with Mike L. He helped with testing and development of that converter.

 

[Evan@InglewoodTrans]

Sounds good, where's the best place to get an MLG?

Does Dave sell them directly or do you need to go through other vendors?

Give Mike L a call he can get one headed your way.

 

[henery97]

What about the new ML-R converter?

 

[ikeG]

What about the new ML-R converter?

A ML-R is going in my tow rig this week with a transgo. I can report back. I had a 1056 in my last tow rig.

 

[WolfLMM]

Hard to go wrong with a 1056.

 

[NC-smokinlmm]

What about the new ML-R converter?

What pretell is an ML-R?

 

[ryan415]

I'm also looking for more info on the ML-R. From what I've heard so far, it's looser than a G and tighter than a K. It also has a billet stator.

 

[Mike L.]

A converter for towing needs a lot of tq multiplication on a take off to get the load moving. After the load starts moving, we want the converter to start coupling gradually to keep control of the load.
A lot of things need to be considered choosing the right towing converter such as tire size, turbo, tune and load. Stock tire size and turbo with a good tune can use a SC 1056, Goerend C ( ML ). There are many other combinations that will work depending on your trucks power and mods.

 

[mtl_dmax]

A converter for towing needs a lot of tq multiplication on a take off to get the load moving. After the load starts moving, we want the converter to start coupling gradually to keep control of the load.
A lot of things need to be considered choosing the right towing converter such as tire size, turbo, tune and load. Stock tire size and turbo with a good tune can use a SC 1056, Goerend C ( ML ). There are many other combinations that will work depending on your trucks power and mods.

Mike do any of these converters have a billet stator?

My setup will be stock tires, stock turbo (for at least the foreseeable future), ATP tuning (stock, 20+ tow, 70+ MPG, 120+ DD, max effort) and the most I'd be towing is around 14k (toyhauler).