Circle D Converter Tuning Questions - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Jrowland95 · 12-19-2025, 03:13 PM

'14 Camaro SS. Circle D 278MM 3200-3400, Single Disk, Factory Size Lockup. I'm tuning the car myself with Hp tuners. I've watched more videos than i'd like to admit but never stop learning right? Anyway, Circle D says they recommend only using the lockup when cruising in 5th and 6th. Pretty much every 6l80 video, forum post etc. that I've watched and read pushed towards locking up in 3rd and 4th as well. I'm definitely oversimplifying here but I was curious if circle d's recommendation is shooting for longevity or if the converter should be unlocked until 5TH gear? My car is basically stock aside from LT Headers and the converter so I'm not sending a ton of power through the converter. I just want to make sure I'm not killing my converter with it locking up in 3rd and 4th gear.
I do have it unlocking for gear shifts if that makes a difference for lockup gear recommendations.
I also drive in a ton of traffic where I'm cruising between 2nd and 3rd gear, for 20ish minutes at a time.
Hopefully this all makes sense, and I don't sound like an idiot

just trying to learn the tuning side of things without needlessly destroying parts.

Bonus Question: I've seen opinions going both ways, so figured I'd ask here. Should I be resetting my trans adaptives? If so, when? I haven't reset them because everything has still been running fairly smooth. Should i reset them if I change certain parameters or if it starts shifting crazy after changing something (in this case I'd probably be more likely to reverse whatever change made it act nutty though) or do y'all just not reset the adaptives? sorry if this part is already on the forums, I just thought to ask as I was typing the first question, so I'll be doing more searching on this part while I wait.

1JEWLDSSRS · 12-19-2025, 05:26 PM

Well to start off, I have a Circle D 5C 4500 single disc lockup converter in my Camaro. When they dyno'd my Camaro they left the converter "unlocked" for the runs. When I asked them where it is set to lockup, they told me they have it set to lockup in 6th gear at 55mph. And it does, anything below that it will unlock, above 55 it locks, you can feel it. Also during normal driving, or spirited driving they also to me that they set what he called "manual auto lock" in the tune, so that anytime I use manual mode it will automatically lock the converter in whatever gear I am in, in manual mode, until I put it back in SPORT mode, I use that to drive around town and in traffic so the converter and trans don't get so hot, and it saves on fuel, because it is just like driving a stick car. Also if you haven't yet, get a good trans cooler, makes a huge difference. As far as the "adaptives" you are asking about, not sure what they are. Hope this shines a light on some stuff for ya..

Jrowland95 · 12-19-2025, 10:10 PM

Got ya. I may go that route. Thank you.

1JEWLDSSRS · 12-20-2025, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jrowland95

Got ya. I may go that route. Thank you.

Yes sir, you are welcome! This trans tune has been on the car for 34k miles.. And I don't, and have never raced or abused the car. Good luck with it.

ChibiBlackSheep · 12-22-2025, 01:18 PM

I really liked using the BlueCat transmission tuning tool when tuning the trans.

You put in all of your trans data and it spits out the tables for HPT.

https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=548319 is a spot you should be able to find to download

12-19-2025, 03:13 PM	#1
Jrowland95 Drives: 2014 camaro ss l99 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Louisiana Posts: 42	Circle D Converter Tuning Questions '14 Camaro SS. Circle D 278MM 3200-3400, Single Disk, Factory Size Lockup. I'm tuning the car myself with Hp tuners. I've watched more videos than i'd like to admit but never stop learning right? Anyway, Circle D says they recommend only using the lockup when cruising in 5th and 6th. Pretty much every 6l80 video, forum post etc. that I've watched and read pushed towards locking up in 3rd and 4th as well. I'm definitely oversimplifying here but I was curious if circle d's recommendation is shooting for longevity or if the converter should be unlocked until 5TH gear? My car is basically stock aside from LT Headers and the converter so I'm not sending a ton of power through the converter. I just want to make sure I'm not killing my converter with it locking up in 3rd and 4th gear. I do have it unlocking for gear shifts if that makes a difference for lockup gear recommendations. I also drive in a ton of traffic where I'm cruising between 2nd and 3rd gear, for 20ish minutes at a time. Hopefully this all makes sense, and I don't sound like an idiot just trying to learn the tuning side of things without needlessly destroying parts. Bonus Question: I've seen opinions going both ways, so figured I'd ask here. Should I be resetting my trans adaptives? If so, when? I haven't reset them because everything has still been running fairly smooth. Should i reset them if I change certain parameters or if it starts shifting crazy after changing something (in this case I'd probably be more likely to reverse whatever change made it act nutty though) or do y'all just not reset the adaptives? sorry if this part is already on the forums, I just thought to ask as I was typing the first question, so I'll be doing more searching on this part while I wait.

12-19-2025, 05:26 PM	#2
1JEWLDSSRS Drives: 2011 SS-RS Join Date: May 2011 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 14,034	Well to start off, I have a Circle D 5C 4500 single disc lockup converter in my Camaro. When they dyno'd my Camaro they left the converter "unlocked" for the runs. When I asked them where it is set to lockup, they told me they have it set to lockup in 6th gear at 55mph. And it does, anything below that it will unlock, above 55 it locks, you can feel it. Also during normal driving, or spirited driving they also to me that they set what he called "manual auto lock" in the tune, so that anytime I use manual mode it will automatically lock the converter in whatever gear I am in, in manual mode, until I put it back in SPORT mode, I use that to drive around town and in traffic so the converter and trans don't get so hot, and it saves on fuel, because it is just like driving a stick car. Also if you haven't yet, get a good trans cooler, makes a huge difference. As far as the "adaptives" you are asking about, not sure what they are. Hope this shines a light on some stuff for ya.. __________________ TSP STAGE 3 CAM,231/246 @112 LSA 614/641 LIFT, CIRCLE D 5C-4200-4500 CONVERTER,LOD INTAKE.CORSA EXHAUST. DSS 1 PC DS. PEGASUS SOLID CRADLE MOUNTS. 486RWHP/475RWTQ.LOTS MORE.

12-22-2025, 01:18 PM	#5
ChibiBlackSheep Drives: 2012 2SS/RS, 1968 SS Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Southeast, PA Posts: 2,117	I really liked using the BlueCat transmission tuning tool when tuning the trans. You put in all of your trans data and it spits out the tables for HPT. https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=548319 is a spot you should be able to find to download __________________ LS3 Crate Engine Swap \| CSP Custom Cam 232/240 .615/.615 113 +3 \| Stainless Power LT Headers \| Z28 Intake \| Borla S-Type Exhaust \| FTI Triple-Disc Billet 3200 Stall 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS \| 1968 Camaro SS \| 2020 Cadillac CT5 Premium Luxury \| 2021 Spark LS

12-19-2025, 10:10 PM	#3
Jrowland95 Drives: 2014 camaro ss l99 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Louisiana Posts: 42	Got ya. I may go that route. Thank you.