3800 Symptoms of a torque converter going or gone??

[imported_PaceCarBoozer]

Just out of curiousity, I was wondering what one would look for as far as symptoms that his/her TC was reaching it's end? When I get my trans (still not sure what direction I am going) I'm curious as to how bad my TC was. The car did seem to lack power on and off and sometimes shift hard, other times not. I heard of fins breaking off and such, but just looking for some more input from experience or education.
Thanks,
CJ

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[Sinister Drag Designs]

a stall upgrade would be nice thing ot do at this time. at least a 3k. if you cant afford it i think the L36 TC is a higher stall and lighter. the flexplate would have to be drilled along with it
dont think this answerd your Q tho....put still a suggestion

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

one of the few things you can check is the diference between engine rpm and input shaft rpm to determin slipage or intermitent slipage, but that only tels a small portion of the story without cutting the converter open.
i dont know if you can tell the converter has ballooned while still in the car, but with it on the bench you could measure it vs a new unit.

and yes the L36 converter will have a higher stall speed when behind an engine that makes more Tq than a NA L36. as a mater of fact stall speeds vary directly with the engine's Tq output, the more Tq the engine produces, the higher the stall speed (brake stall and flash stall)

 

[SaturdaysGS]

FWIW My torque convertor ballooned, and the car spit out tranny fluid all over.