in 'drive' idle rpms

[74 DART SWINGER]

Hi,I cant seem to change the idle rpms while I put the car in drive. Even though I can change the idle rpms to 1200 or 900 while the car is in park or neutral it still drops the same amount if I put it into drive which is around 650rpm. How do I increase the 'drive' idle rpm? Thanks

[Tarrbabe]

a loose torque converter. I'm sure threre are tc's that will increase your idle speed by permitting less lockup.

[ehostler]

If you don't have enough initial advance, the RPMs will have a considerable drop.

[Tarrbabe]

But most non-performance cars and trucks came with (tight) converters that were built for low slippage at all rpm's. Even some that seemed to stall at 1600 to 2000 rpms had a tight stall at idle. When cars came with carbs, the idea was that they would idle at 450 rpm and that was all the slippage that was considered in building the cars. The Big Block cars were known for having tight converters because they had higher torque and could overcome the low rpm's to get rolling. The cars that came with the towing package came with a little higher stall to aid in in launching the cars without excessive wear to the trans but often came with trans coolers. That was the compliant by most car guys in the 60's and early 70's when they changed cams and had to idle at 600 to 1100 rpms, that the cars were pulling them against the brakes too hard and wouldn't idle.
Yes, in most cases the problem can be overcome by tuning, but long life suffers if you don't match the parts to what you expect.

Sorry, just thinking out loud.

[74 DART SWINGER]

Ill try bumping the initial timing up a bit while someone is in the car with the brakes on. I'm also doing this because I want to launch at a higher rpm if i'm drag racing. Foot braking makes it have slower e/t and stomping it from idle makes it a little faster. So i'm trying to increase the idle a little bit.

[clark3033]

What is your combination? Stock or mild Mod's I've had good luck going to a 11in converter in the 2200-2400 range. But then again what's your combo?

[74 DART SWINGER]

My setup is 318, stock 318 heads,comp cam xe262,eddy intake/carb,headers. 904 with transgo shift kit stock torque conv. 8 1/4 with SG 3.21.
WOT from the line I have no low end what so ever,so i have to wait till its at about 2500 then it moves out well. I just need it to launch at a higher rpm then what its out,that should help out quite a bit

[racer1967]

a good 11 inch or evn a tight 10 inch converter would make this an all together different car

[clark3033]

Go to manciniracing.com check out their catalog , they have a tech line and sell several brands of converters, M.P.,DYNAMIC,TURBO ACTION. They are Mopar and have really helped me. I too believe a different converter would help if the engine is sound.