Rear End Gears and Torque Converter Question?

[Savage6]

Hey guys, If I want to get more low end torque and a quicker start what would be the best thing I can do?  Should I change to a higher stall converter or change to a higher rear end gear.. or both?  And if you can only do one which would be more beneficial...

[Sublime/Sixpack]

Lower rearend gears (higher numerical ratio) will help, but if you go with too low of gears you'll also need higher stall in the convertor. 

[Savage6]

Ok.. Sounds like I will need both.. going from cruising gear to 3.55 gears.... Thanks for the help

[Sublime/Sixpack]

I don't know what gears or stall convertor you have now, but if you're only dropping down to 3.55 rear gears you may not need to change your convertor. I think I'd just do the gear change and see how it performs. 

[Savage6]

ok... and if i change the gears i will also need to change the speedo gear too right?

[lisiecki1]

correct

[John_Kunkel]

The OP didn't mention what gears he's currently running but a high-stall converter and low numeric ratio gears are a bad combo because the converter will be slipping at normal road speeds.

If given the choice I would go with the gears over the converter.

[Sublime/Sixpack]

Then we agree.

[Savage6]

I am starting with 2.76 and I want to go to 3.55 gears.. I am still learning about how this stuff works and just wanted to hear from someone who has done this before.  I was going to put in the gears and I thought that since I did that I would need to upgrade to about a 2800-3200 stall converter so they would work ok.  It sounds like just changing the gears will be fine so I'll go with that.  Thanks again fellas

[375instroke]

Why would one need a higher stall with lower gears?  If running a higher stall, that may require lower gears to get the RPMs up above the stall speed while cruising, but isn't the stall one selects based on the power band of the engine, and then gear?  If it's the same motor, and it's working well with the current stall, lower gears may give better acceleration, but lower stall?  I guess I understand the concept of stall speed selection, but how does one know exactly what stall to select?

[Runner]

but if you go with too low of gears you'll also need higher stall in the convertor. 

   please explain this part for me. i dont understand.           

[Sublime/Sixpack]

   How embarrassing  For some reason I was thinking bigger cam besides the lower gears.  My mistake.  I PM'd Savage6 to set the record straight.

[Savage6]

I got your message Sublime... thanks for clearing that up for me..  Savage