TCI vs VIG vs YANK
02-20-2003, 10:48 PM
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TCI vs VIG vs YANK For the past few years I've read great things about Vig and Yank verters. I've finally decided to go ahead and do this mod with some tax return money. Lately I've been reading some things about TCI and have been considering there verters because the price is right. However, on yank's website there is an article about the TCI tc's. The link is here. http://www.converter.cc/tci_exposed.htm
This has me a little concerned. There is also a well known houston guy that has a similar piece about the TCI tc's on his web page. I won't mention his name without his permission. Does anyone have any valid experience with these tc's, so that they can speak from experience. I don't want this turning into a slamfest. I want honest opinions from people with first hand knowledge. I don't want to drop a bunch of money on something that I'd have to replace. My car is a daily driver, so I need durability and dependability. If it comes down to it, I'll pay more for quality, but I want to see if people feel the same way as Yank and others.
I was looking at TCI 3500, Vig 3200, or a Yank ST3500/SS3600.
What would you suggest. Again, price is a factor, but not the deciding one. Quality, Performance, Reliability are most important. Does TCI tc's miss these important points?
This has me a little concerned. There is also a well known houston guy that has a similar piece about the TCI tc's on his web page. I won't mention his name without his permission. Does anyone have any valid experience with these tc's, so that they can speak from experience. I don't want this turning into a slamfest. I want honest opinions from people with first hand knowledge. I don't want to drop a bunch of money on something that I'd have to replace. My car is a daily driver, so I need durability and dependability. If it comes down to it, I'll pay more for quality, but I want to see if people feel the same way as Yank and others.
I was looking at TCI 3500, Vig 3200, or a Yank ST3500/SS3600.
What would you suggest. Again, price is a factor, but not the deciding one. Quality, Performance, Reliability are most important. Does TCI tc's miss these important points?
02-21-2003, 08:11 AM
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK TCI has been in business for a very long time. If they didn't have a good product then they wouldn't still be around. Do a search on which converters have had the most problems and I think you will have your answer. Also check the posts from a customer service point. That will really tell you. I had issues then YANKED the converter out and used a PI Vig3200 and all my problems went away. Great converter, I am now stepping up and am going to try a TCI Comp 4400.
02-21-2003, 09:16 AM
#3
Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK The Yank SS3600 is a nice converter and probably what I would choose.
The vig 3200 has a history of putting up good numbers.
There are several folks who have had good success with a TCI 3500 and higher stalls, but only a couple people with long term results.
TCS, another sponsor, also makes a good product too.
The vig 3200 has a history of putting up good numbers.
There are several folks who have had good success with a TCI 3500 and higher stalls, but only a couple people with long term results.
TCS, another sponsor, also makes a good product too.
02-21-2003, 04:02 PM
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK While you are doing your research I would suggest you give Derek a call at TCS. He was extremely helpful to me. I just got my TCS convertor in and it looks bulletproof. I'm taking out a Yank to install the TCS.
02-21-2003, 04:10 PM
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK I would like some input from one of the K's from TCI. Was the converter yank took apart a freak? I have to be honest, if I bought anyone's tc and it looked like that it would be immediately returned.
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02-21-2003, 04:20 PM
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK It wouldn't surprise me to see some prototype
thrown together to try things out, end up in
the Ugly Baby Photos section of the competitor.
All I care about is the guts of the SF3000 and
SSF3500, which are converters manufactured on
the main factory floor (one hopes) with some
QC inspection. Haven't seen anyone calling
those any bad names yet.
thrown together to try things out, end up in
the Ugly Baby Photos section of the competitor.
All I care about is the guts of the SF3000 and
SSF3500, which are converters manufactured on
the main factory floor (one hopes) with some
QC inspection. Haven't seen anyone calling
those any bad names yet.
02-21-2003, 06:11 PM
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK Think about it.. how accurate can that comparison be on a competitors web site.. even thou if it wasn`t true TCI should be suing for slander..who knows what the truth is.
Vig. has never given anyone problems, that`s the safest bet if you ask me.
I love mine...
Vig. has never given anyone problems, that`s the safest bet if you ask me.
I love mine...
02-21-2003, 10:15 PM
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK I have had less issues with the TCI than I did a fresh Yank. I have said all along...not many of us have run them hard in this setting for any decent period of time, so who does know. I won't be talking crap about any other verter till I get some life out of this one.
That being said, I did cut a better 60' and have enjoyed a little tighter verter for daily driving, but also like the higher STR of 2.85 to get it out of the hole.
.02
That being said, I did cut a better 60' and have enjoyed a little tighter verter for daily driving, but also like the higher STR of 2.85 to get it out of the hole.
.02
02-21-2003, 10:32 PM
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK https://ls1tech.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ulti...&f=19&t=003487
I have ZERO HP loss thru my 3800 vigilante proven on MTI's Dyno...
PI ROCKS!! <img border="0" alt="[driving]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_driving3.gif" />
I have ZERO HP loss thru my 3800 vigilante proven on MTI's Dyno...
PI ROCKS!! <img border="0" alt="[driving]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_driving3.gif" />
02-21-2003, 11:46 PM
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK I have the ST3500. This thing is perfect for street use. I got 20000+ miles on this and not one problem. I would assume the SS3600 would be similar. Defenitely a mod to have. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
<small>[ February 21, 2003, 11:52 PM: Message edited by: TransAm98 ]</small>
<small>[ February 21, 2003, 11:52 PM: Message edited by: TransAm98 ]</small>
02-22-2003, 10:11 AM
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK i'd stick with vig or yank...
no issues with shifting, tranny, or anything else in about 3 years with my 3600vig.
TCI, im very iffy on still. Ill see how they hold up in about 2 years <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> Just because they built one or 2 that have put down good numbers hasnt sold me to them yet..
<small>[ February 22, 2003, 10:14 AM: Message edited by: 98TAauto ]</small>
no issues with shifting, tranny, or anything else in about 3 years with my 3600vig.
TCI, im very iffy on still. Ill see how they hold up in about 2 years <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> Just because they built one or 2 that have put down good numbers hasnt sold me to them yet..
<small>[ February 22, 2003, 10:14 AM: Message edited by: 98TAauto ]</small>
02-22-2003, 04:24 PM
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by JoSeY:
<strong> https://ls1tech.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ulti...&f=19&t=003487
I have ZERO HP loss thru my 3800 vigilante proven on MTI's Dyno...
PI ROCKS!! <img border="0" alt="[driving]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_driving3.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'm glad your happy with your result, but both your dyno runs are unlocked. You can see that in the shape of the torque curve.
Additionally to loose zero HP would violate basic physics. Converter fluid gets hot (hence the need for a tranny cooler on a high stall). The heat energy comes from eating up some of the engine's HP. Even PI will tell you that to expect 100% efficency on a pumping mechanism is not feasible.
<strong> https://ls1tech.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ulti...&f=19&t=003487
I have ZERO HP loss thru my 3800 vigilante proven on MTI's Dyno...
PI ROCKS!! <img border="0" alt="[driving]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_driving3.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'm glad your happy with your result, but both your dyno runs are unlocked. You can see that in the shape of the torque curve.
Additionally to loose zero HP would violate basic physics. Converter fluid gets hot (hence the need for a tranny cooler on a high stall). The heat energy comes from eating up some of the engine's HP. Even PI will tell you that to expect 100% efficency on a pumping mechanism is not feasible.
02-24-2003, 01:55 PM
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK Turk01ss,
I haven't seen that particular converter personally, so I can not say if it has been tampered with or not. I think that most anybody that has one of our converters will tell you that as far as external appearance...we have some of the best welds, paint, and polished hubs in the industry. However, aesthetics is only part of the equation. Nobody purchases a $500-$1000 high perf. torque converter just for the looks. It's all about the performance improvement. I spent months on the torque converter dyno working on maximizing the efficiency and performance on our combinations. I wonder if our converter has a percieved quality problem because of the lower price or possibly some seeds planted by one of our competitors? I have several of our competitor's converters in my repair dept, because they didn't hold up. Most of these have horrible looking welds and all of them had stock 4cyl used bearings inside. (Don't ask whose they are...I'm not saying.) We've been building LS1 converters for two years now. They've proven to be very durable.
Take Care,
Kevin
I haven't seen that particular converter personally, so I can not say if it has been tampered with or not. I think that most anybody that has one of our converters will tell you that as far as external appearance...we have some of the best welds, paint, and polished hubs in the industry. However, aesthetics is only part of the equation. Nobody purchases a $500-$1000 high perf. torque converter just for the looks. It's all about the performance improvement. I spent months on the torque converter dyno working on maximizing the efficiency and performance on our combinations. I wonder if our converter has a percieved quality problem because of the lower price or possibly some seeds planted by one of our competitors? I have several of our competitor's converters in my repair dept, because they didn't hold up. Most of these have horrible looking welds and all of them had stock 4cyl used bearings inside. (Don't ask whose they are...I'm not saying.) We've been building LS1 converters for two years now. They've proven to be very durable.
Take Care,
Kevin
02-24-2003, 04:14 PM
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by 98TAauto:
<strong> i'd stick with vig or yank...
no issues with shifting, tranny, or anything else in about 3 years with my 3600vig.
TCI, im very iffy on still. Ill see how they hold up in about 2 years <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> Just because they built one or 2 that have put down good numbers hasnt sold me to them yet.. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Totally agree with this post.
<strong> i'd stick with vig or yank...
no issues with shifting, tranny, or anything else in about 3 years with my 3600vig.
TCI, im very iffy on still. Ill see how they hold up in about 2 years <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> Just because they built one or 2 that have put down good numbers hasnt sold me to them yet.. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Totally agree with this post.
02-24-2003, 04:15 PM
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by 98TAauto:
<strong> i'd stick with vig or yank...
no issues with shifting, tranny, or anything else in about 3 years with my 3600vig.
TCI, im very iffy on still. Ill see how they hold up in about 2 years <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> Just because they built one or 2 that have put down good numbers hasnt sold me to them yet.. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Totally agree with this post. I would like to see some cutaways of the TCIs done by TCI to see the quality of part in their converters compared to the yanks.
<strong> i'd stick with vig or yank...
no issues with shifting, tranny, or anything else in about 3 years with my 3600vig.
TCI, im very iffy on still. Ill see how they hold up in about 2 years <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> Just because they built one or 2 that have put down good numbers hasnt sold me to them yet.. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Totally agree with this post. I would like to see some cutaways of the TCIs done by TCI to see the quality of part in their converters compared to the yanks.
02-24-2003, 05:12 PM
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK I really could care less what the converter looked like on the outside or inside. Long as it performs and has no issues, I could care less if it was made out of bubble gum and duct tape. Yank has a very nice web site and seems informative, but do a search of all the converters with issues and his tops the list. I had one of his converters and had nothing but grief from his converter and his company. How can people try to discredit a company like TCI which has been business for 20+ years. You don't stay in business building junk. Lets see if Yank is around in 20 years...
02-24-2003, 08:05 PM
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK turk just go with the TCI so you can have $ for the tires you'll be needing, It is a GREAT product. You will just need some way to keep traction. HEHE!
<img border="0" alt="[evil]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_devil.gif" />
<img border="0" alt="[evil]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_devil.gif" />