shouldn`t my stall be helping my time on the strip?
Your motor is not reaching its max torque rpm because of the stall will not go higher then 1100. If you want this thing to run alot better you need to get at least 3500-3800 stall for a small block this would probably get you 2500 on your motor. Remember the smaller diameter converter the less recipricating weight, which will increase torque. Sounds to me like you had the wrong converter and bought the exact same one you had. I run a 5500 stall and I occaisionally street drive it. An old trick we did to save money was put a 340 10" converter behind 440's. This would increase the stall 1000 rpm's. Who ever stated above that converters are checked with using the equasion of the torque of a big block is correct. For a small block to run good it should brake stall at no less then 2800, Looks to me like the converter you bought is a low stall for a truck used for towing. I would send it back and tell them you need a 10" converter for a big block that stall's between 3500-3800. you will then get the right converter. You will not believe the difference in the way the car runs . You'll think someone put a bigger engine in your car. An automatic car will not perform with less then 2800 stall with a stock cam. The bigger the cam the less the cranking pressure do to overlap. This moves the torque up in rpms , so you need to move the converter stall up with it. Converters are the biggest reason for lack of performance I have seen . Alot go to the tune which usually helps alittle . but the right converter really wakes a car up.