TCI SF3000 drops over 8 tenths off my ET?!?
07-13-2004, 12:20 PM
#1
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TCI SF3000 drops over 8 tenths off my ET?!? I took this '04 Corvette to the track about a month ago with only the "zip-tie" mod done to the stock airbock. NOTHING else. I made about 7-8 passes with a best of 13.49 at 101.53 MPH. Traction was not a problem. Every pass netted a dismal 2.05-2.06 60ft time. I was fairly pleased with my 13.49 considering the weather. It was 95 degrees. 
As most of you know, I usually recommend stall converters between 3500 and 3800 for most street/strip cars. Well, this time I wanted to keep the car VERY stock feeling and I wanted to see just how much a tight 10" converter could help. This is a fairly low STR converter (2.2 I think.) Why? Because I have no plans for ET Streets or slicks. Since I won't have the traction to take advantage of a high STR, the lower STR helps the shift extension and efficiency a bit. I also have later plans for some serious power so traction is going to be an even more SERIOUS issue. Presently I am running the stock "Goodyear Runcrap" tires. These tires are reputed to be some of the worst hooking tires that money can buy. Many new Corvette owners replace them on day one.
Friday night I went back to the track with my TCI 3000 installed. The track was having technical difficulties so I ended up only making one pass. I intentionally left the line soft since I know these tires are crap and since I figured the track to be slick since it was streetcar night (ricers dragging water to the line) and the dew had fallen. The timeslip read 12.64 at 107.29! That's a difference of .85 second and 5.76 MPH with only ONE PASS made! I couldn't believe my eyes.
That's about twice the gain I expected in ET and almost three times the gain in MPH that I expected. Granted, the weather had something to do with it too. It was only 78 degrees instead of 95. Still, the converter is obviously a winner. 12.64 on stock tires in warm weather is pretty dang good, IMO, for having added only one aftermarket part.
I wish I knew what the 60ft was on that pass. The timeslip didn't show it. Maybe next time.
With some really good weather, some drag radials, and some tweaking (maybe a ram-air kit and a ported TB), I think 11s will happen this fall.
I know some of you are wondering about the drivability of this converter. Well, as you would expect, it drives better than stock. At low throttle positions it's not much different than stock and at moderate throttle positions it certainly gets rid of the bog. At WOT the shift extension with 6100 RPM shifts is 4500 as opposed to 3400 stock. It is truly a converter that requires no computer tuning for great drivability. Your grandmother would even love it.
As most of you know, I usually recommend stall converters between 3500 and 3800 for most street/strip cars. Well, this time I wanted to keep the car VERY stock feeling and I wanted to see just how much a tight 10" converter could help. This is a fairly low STR converter (2.2 I think.) Why? Because I have no plans for ET Streets or slicks. Since I won't have the traction to take advantage of a high STR, the lower STR helps the shift extension and efficiency a bit. I also have later plans for some serious power so traction is going to be an even more SERIOUS issue. Presently I am running the stock "Goodyear Runcrap" tires. These tires are reputed to be some of the worst hooking tires that money can buy. Many new Corvette owners replace them on day one.
Friday night I went back to the track with my TCI 3000 installed. The track was having technical difficulties so I ended up only making one pass. I intentionally left the line soft since I know these tires are crap and since I figured the track to be slick since it was streetcar night (ricers dragging water to the line) and the dew had fallen. The timeslip read 12.64 at 107.29! That's a difference of .85 second and 5.76 MPH with only ONE PASS made! I couldn't believe my eyes.
That's about twice the gain I expected in ET and almost three times the gain in MPH that I expected. Granted, the weather had something to do with it too. It was only 78 degrees instead of 95. Still, the converter is obviously a winner. 12.64 on stock tires in warm weather is pretty dang good, IMO, for having added only one aftermarket part. I wish I knew what the 60ft was on that pass. The timeslip didn't show it. Maybe next time.
With some really good weather, some drag radials, and some tweaking (maybe a ram-air kit and a ported TB), I think 11s will happen this fall.
I know some of you are wondering about the drivability of this converter. Well, as you would expect, it drives better than stock. At low throttle positions it's not much different than stock and at moderate throttle positions it certainly gets rid of the bog. At WOT the shift extension with 6100 RPM shifts is 4500 as opposed to 3400 stock. It is truly a converter that requires no computer tuning for great drivability. Your grandmother would even love it.
Last edited by Colonel; 07-13-2004 at 01:23 PM.
07-13-2004, 01:27 PM
#3
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Woo-hoo! I guess I'm in the 12s too!
I have this same converter, and agree about the
drivability; haven't been to the track in the year
or more since it went in. Glad to know I can expect
something nice out of it.
I have this same converter, and agree about the
drivability; haven't been to the track in the year
or more since it went in. Glad to know I can expect
something nice out of it.
07-13-2004, 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Colonel
I took this '04 Corvette to the track about a month ago with only the "zip-tie" mod done to the stock airbock. .
07-13-2004, 01:31 PM
#5
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The zip-tie mod is simply removing the top lid (restrictive) and instead using zip-ties to hold the filter assembly together. It's easy, quick, perfectly safe, and has to help. The only downside to this mod is asthetics, IMO (meaning, an open flat panel filter isn't so purty under the hood of a C5.)
07-13-2004, 02:35 PM
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Now this is a TC I can start to consiter!! This is the kind of discription I've been wanting! Thanks Colonel, now I know what to start counting my pennies for. The SSF3500 video I saw really scared me away from the TC thing, but this sounds do-able. 
Thanks Again! 
Thanks Again! Trending Topics
07-13-2004, 02:47 PM
#8
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hows drivability on this TC? does it liven up the car enough during normal driving conditions....also...hows it feel nice comfy driving? and would any Dry/Wet tire for instance BFG KDW's and Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3's do good on this....how would it compare with those tires to the TCI SSF 3500
07-13-2004, 03:11 PM
#9
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Thread Starter
This converter drives VERY nice to say the least. I like it much better than the stock converter for around town driving. The stock converter is too boggy while the SS4000 in my '02 Z28 is just a bit on the loose side, while still being OK, for daily driving, IMO. This TCI converter is not boggy and it's certainly not loose. It's responsive. 
It's a simple fact that the more traction you have, the harder hitting of a converter you can go with. The SSF3500 is of course a harder hitting converter than this one...give it more traction and it'll beat this tighter converter down the track. No doubt about that. I recommend AT LEAST drag radials for a SSF3500 even with stock gears and ET Streets are HIGHLY recommended to see best results. For regular radial tires or even drag radials, this SF3000 should work great.
It's a simple fact that the more traction you have, the harder hitting of a converter you can go with. The SSF3500 is of course a harder hitting converter than this one...give it more traction and it'll beat this tighter converter down the track. No doubt about that. I recommend AT LEAST drag radials for a SSF3500 even with stock gears and ET Streets are HIGHLY recommended to see best results. For regular radial tires or even drag radials, this SF3000 should work great.
07-13-2004, 03:48 PM
#10
I have not seen anyone post that kind of gain from a 3000. That's like the gain from a high STR 3500 stall on 2.73 geared f-body. I also have a hard time believing that you saw over 5 mph from that converter unless the stock unit was broken. Thus while I believe that the converter no doubt helped you run quicker and maybe 1 - 2 mph faster, I still have to waive the 
on drawing any conclusions here. I realize that you have a disclaimer on DA differences, but the bandwagon is forming.
I realize this is dangerous to do in public with the boss, but i must post.
Coming soon:
me --->
<---- Colonel
on drawing any conclusions here. I realize that you have a disclaimer on DA differences, but the bandwagon is forming. I realize this is dangerous to do in public with the boss, but i must post.
Coming soon:
me --->
<---- Colonel
07-13-2004, 04:19 PM
#11
air quality is a major factor in that. i bet an easy 3 mph difference in just air density. i could see as much as a 2 mph difference from a better convertor. overall, a great writeup steven. i personally hate the feeling of a stock convertor in a performance car.
07-13-2004, 04:28 PM
#12
Originally Posted by Ragtop 99
I have not seen anyone post that kind of gain from a 3000. That's like the gain from a high STR 3500 stall on 2.73 geared f-body. I also have a hard time believing that you saw over 5 mph from that converter unless the stock unit was broken. Thus while I believe that the converter no doubt helped you run quicker and maybe 1 - 2 mph faster, I still have to waive the on drawing any conclusions here. I realize that you have a disclaimer on DA differences, but the bandwagon is forming.
I realize this is dangerous to do in public with the boss, but i must post.
Coming soon:
me ---> <---- Colonel
on drawing any conclusions here. I realize that you have a disclaimer on DA differences, but the bandwagon is forming. I realize this is dangerous to do in public with the boss, but i must post.
Coming soon:
me --->
<---- Colonel
... only one run would not justify the dramatic reduction. If it was backed up (like what is required by NHRA for new world records ) then I would accept it without reservations. Still, any converter over a stock is a great improvement. That being said, congrats Colonel on a nice improvement.
07-13-2004, 04:42 PM
#13
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What kind of technical difficulties was the track having? Lights? If you get the same results with a few more passes then I will believe it. I'm guessing this was a fluke run. No disrespect though.
07-13-2004, 06:26 PM
#15
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Hey guys, no need to call , I just report the results. YOU draw your own conclusions. Don't miss the part where I clearly stated that the weather SUCKED the first time out. I wouldn't dare try to understate that. I mean, afterall, wouldn't you say that 101 MPH SUCKS for an '04 C5? Believe me, I wish it would have run quicker. WeatherUnderground.com said 95 degrees that day. The humidity was 47% and the barometer wasn't exactly outstanding either at 29.95. That makes for a density altitude of 2778 ft. Ok, this time out it was 78 degrees, 89%, and 30.11. That makes for a density altitude of 1592 ft.
One more possible factor. The car had like 2000 miles on it the first time out and about 3800 this time. Maybe a little more breakin helped.
I'll give it another shot this weekend.
, I just report the results. YOU draw your own conclusions. Don't miss the part where I clearly stated that the weather SUCKED the first time out. I wouldn't dare try to understate that. I mean, afterall, wouldn't you say that 101 MPH SUCKS for an '04 C5? Believe me, I wish it would have run quicker. WeatherUnderground.com said 95 degrees that day. The humidity was 47% and the barometer wasn't exactly outstanding either at 29.95. That makes for a density altitude of 2778 ft. Ok, this time out it was 78 degrees, 89%, and 30.11. That makes for a density altitude of 1592 ft.One more possible factor. The car had like 2000 miles on it the first time out and about 3800 this time. Maybe a little more breakin helped.
I'll give it another shot this weekend.
Last edited by Colonel; 07-13-2004 at 06:36 PM.
07-13-2004, 06:30 PM
#16
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Thread Starter
"What kind of technical difficulties was the track having? Lights? If you get the same results with a few more passes then I will believe it."
So you find 12.64 that hard to believe with a ~3330 raceweight? I don't.
I don't know what their exact problems were. All I know is that none of the equipment worked from the time I got there until late in the night and then they had some of it working in the right lane only. No one else mentioned their times being funny. Anyway, I'll be going back to the track soon.
So you find 12.64 that hard to believe with a ~3330 raceweight? I don't.
I don't know what their exact problems were. All I know is that none of the equipment worked from the time I got there until late in the night and then they had some of it working in the right lane only. No one else mentioned their times being funny. Anyway, I'll be going back to the track soon.
07-13-2004, 07:51 PM
#19
1 mph more effecient converter,4 mph better da. 4 mph =4 tenths, so too equal things up more like a time of 13.04 with just a converter swap, if you ran on the same day, same conditions. 95 degrees and only 101 mph ,ill bet you were getting some knock retard?
07-14-2004, 07:20 AM
#20
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Colonel,
Congrats on the good run. Just so everybody knows, the computer shows that a change in DA from 2778 to 1592 is worth exactly 3 tenths and 2.5 mph. I wouldn't be surprised to see a Street Fighter 3000 converter pick you up 5.5 tenths.
Kevin
PS. We'd like to see some pics of your new car.
Congrats on the good run. Just so everybody knows, the computer shows that a change in DA from 2778 to 1592 is worth exactly 3 tenths and 2.5 mph. I wouldn't be surprised to see a Street Fighter 3000 converter pick you up 5.5 tenths.
Kevin
PS. We'd like to see some pics of your new car.