I'm about to buy a new converter for my car and was curious if I should have them put both bolt patterns on the converter so that six bolts would hold the converter to the flex plate instead of three. I have heard of this before, but I'm not sure if its overkill or not.

I currently have a 496 bbc that makes 1038 hp to the tires, but eventually I want to build a 540 for the car. I know that I'll have to send the converter in for an adjustment for that big of a change, just curious what you guys thought.

Thanks.

 

My first converter only had 3, on disassembly you could see the bolts had worn into the flex plate.
6 bolt would be way safer .

 

That's what I was thinking, I'll go with the six bolt flange.

 

The first time I saw a Ford converter and it only had three bolts it concerned me. I did the clamping force calculations and it turns out that the three bolts if properly torqued are way overkill. This was for a 10.5 bolt circle if my memory serves me. My converter now is a 11.5 bolt circle so I am really good.

 

I just ordered the converter today (265mm), ordered the six bolt flange. Why risk it??

Thanks for the input guys

 

Usually it isn't the 3 bolts that are the issue, its more on the 3 bolt holes through a thin stamped steel flexplate. If its a nice thick, possibly billet flexplate with only 3 bolts, I see no issues

 

Does the JW the wheel flexplate fall in that category ? as being thick enough not to worry about.

 

The next motor I plan to build for the car (540) I will definately go with a better flex plate.

 

I'm pretty sure is nice and thick.