I was just reading Hot Rodding and there are some guys mating manual trannies with torque converters instead of clutches, can someone explain to me how this works and why it would be good for dragging? Obviously it would prove to be utterly worthless in daily driving.

 

I would assume clutchless shifting, as in, no using the clutch from gear to gear, as even some clutch manual drivers do.

As for good for dragging, it would probably be smoothing out the power application. Clutches have quite abrupt power application transitions between on and off, while a torque convertor, that uses hydraulic couplings will be MUCH smoother, and is WAY more adjustable.

Notice how with a GOOD auto tranny, when shifting from gear to gear, it's still pretty darn smoothed even when the shifting is pretty quick? That's because the shock of the change in gearing is taken up by the torque convertor.

Now think about a 800hp drag car. Think about applying that much power, then dropping rpms and going from 800 or so hp, then none, then back around 800 again? A lot of transition right?

It's basically for VERY high torque drag application. Not something a Maxima guy should be worrying about.

 

i am not considering this, i am just wondering how it works

 

Use torque converters to launch the vehicle and then lock-up the rest of the way?