Dear V-8 Buick gearheads, Greg at Orinda Motors put in another Saturday of overtime on my trusty 1965 Buick Special wagon. Sorry, you'all will have to wait for the update pics! :grin: However, Greg threw a monkey wrench into my scheme to build the ultimate lock-up torque converter controller and I need some help in making sense of what he said. Alas, I should have really pushed him for a clearer explanation but sadly - I'm always under a time-pressure and I goofed in this case. Greg has the TCI Auto controller installed on this 57 Bel Air. For late comers here is a link to it: http://www.tciauto.com/tc/200-4r-700-r4-lock-up-wiring-kit.html However, he has it connected to "portal" (Sp?) pressure instead of manifold pressure. Point-blank I have absolutely no idea what Greg is referring to. However, Greg is making some amazing claims about his control. He says that the lock-up never happens at less than 45 mph. Also, he says that when you take your foot off the accelerator the "portal" pressure changes such that the TCI converter releases the lock-up solenoid. Okay, I'm back to being a neophyte and I cannot ask Greg anything more until Monday. Can anybody explain to me what Greg has done? If Greg's scheme really works this is way better than any alternative. The TCI kit is relatively inexpensive and Greg was able to install it - next to the transmission!! No clutter in the engine bay or the dash at all!! Does somebody recognize what this "portal pressure" is and why it might work so nicely as a control for the lock-up solenoid? Is this really a super-clever way to control the lock-up solenoid or can somebody spot a flaw in this approach? Uh, . . . . . . . to put it bluntly - HELP!!! Cheers, Edouard :beer
Re: Using "portal" (sp?) pressure to control a lock-up converter - huh? Does this wor Edouard, He is talking about PORTED vs. manifold VACUUM. A manifold vacuum source is one connected directly to the intake manifold, or a fitting on the carburetor that is sourced under the throttle blades. A ported source is one that is sourced above the throttle blades. Manifold vacuum is there anytime the engine is running, and it drops when you open the throttle and load the engine. Ported vacuum is mostly non existent at idle and closed throttle, but increases rapidly as the throttle is opened. Both ported and manifold vacuum will be at or very close to 0 at full throttle. Ported and manifold vacuum will be equal at part throttle.
Thanks Larry, sounds optimistic (Re: Ported pressure to control a lock-up converter) Thanks Larry and V-8 Buick gurus, Sorry for the distress, but my life is really, really crazy these days Okay, that doesn't sound like the sort of regulating mechanism that I want. It should perform better than manifold vacuum, but it doesn't come close to the logic I was hoping for in this thread: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.p...erter-controller-rig-worthwhile-even-possible It does seem like at least one way to detect that the throttle is being opened up as part of a more comprehensive solution. Oh well, back to the drawing board. Thanks again! :TU: Cheers, Edouard :beer
Re: Using "portal" (sp?) pressure to control a lock-up converter - huh? Does this wor I did not think about ported vacuum. Going to think about that. Since I got blamed for all the stuff in that other thread :laugh: Will have to hook up a gauge to that port and go for drive.
