Ordered a TCS vindicator, 2800 stall 2.1 str. Derek was great, friendly and shipped my converter in a hurry. It was at this point that a made a complementary posting. https://ls1tech.com/threads/showflat...rue#Post690001
I paid a local shop $250 and got it installed. After the install I drove it around and didnt notice any difference, I did the second gear brake stall thing and it stalls at 2100. The stock unit stalled at 1800. I called Derek right away and he said take it to the track youll see a gain. I also noticed a vibration; it didnt dawn on me till later when I saw that it would vibrate in park that it was the converter, it must not be balanced correctly. I took it to a local track and made a few passes anyway. The car runs consistent on motor and my slips with the new converter where within a couple of hundredths in all categories so there was no improvement. This converter is a new model for them; it obviously needs some more R&D. I feel as though I shouldnt have to pay multiple installation charges to help them work out the bugs in their product. I talked to Derek on 9-8, updated him on the track results and asked if I could give him more money and have him upgrade my converter to another model. I also said the price of the new converter should be discounted to compensate for my addition installation charges. I additionally told him I have a club drag day on the 9-22 so I need the converter soon, he said okay email him what I needed. I have repeatedly emailed, called and left messages, nobody will return my calls or emails. I wont continue to drive the car with the converter out of balance. I wont be able to go to Norwalk on 9-22 unless I reinstall the stock converter. If Derek decided the upgrade I proposed was not acceptable to him, then he should say so, they cant even show the decency to take two minutes and email or call me. 99% of all problems can be resolved through open communication. Sorry about the long post and the rant but I needed to vent.

 

That sucks to hear, man. Hopefully there will get your problem fixed for you. I wouldn't leave that in there for long if its out of balance like that.

 

I hate that this is happening, supposively they are in the middle of a move but I would think they would have made a post or at least put that in their message on the machince. To call one day with success, but to call the next and no one is there really sucks. All my experience with Derek was very good. I actually had to deal with him many times. I First ordered a Pheonix 4200 w/2.5 str. Got the converter in, installed it and the car would not shift Called Derek up right away, said there could be air in there, so he told us exactly what to do and after we did it it shifted fine and drove good. Went to the track with it and didn't see the gain I was hoping to see over the Vig3600. I emailed Derek the results just to let him know how I did. Derek is bad about emails, he never replied back, so I called him, he was actually looking at my email when I called. All the sudden he says "I'm going to get another converter out to you, something must be wrong, it's not performing as well as I hoped" So I was shocked, I didn't ask or expect that to happen. Patiently waiting the new (4200 w/2.7 str) one comes in, I install it, everything works out great, no problems. Went to the track with the ATAP this time and did some runs. We watching timing being pulled from launch and all through out the pass. Got some tuning done and went back out the track and you can see from my sig it performed very well with the TM deleted. The funny thing was I thought about it and most likely there was nothing wrong with the first one at all, I just wasnt aware I had tuning issues so bad. Oh yeah, and BTW when Derek said he was going to send another one out to me, one of the first things he wanted to know was if we installed in ourselves or had a shop do it...which tells me if we had a shop do it maybe he would help out with the uninstall/resinstall charge, but since that wasn't the case I can't say for sure.

It really bothers me that this is going on right now. Seems the timing is just bad for all that is going on (recent GP's) to have a move or whatever. Hopefully when they get settled in Derek & Vanessa will spend time calling people.

 

I think you will end up eating the install costs. That is par for this hobby, but you shouldn't be out a dime for parts. You got sold a piece of junk. They need to rebuild and balance that converter with some different parts to give you what you paid for if they expect anyone to purchase parts from them. I'll be in the market soon for a new one and right now they are out the window as far as consideration goes.

 

2 Things to keep in mind:

1) a 2800 will not brake stall to 2800. Your brakes simply will not hold it.

2) the vibration is minor may not be the fault of the converter. It is smaller and lighter than stock. Therefore it doesn't absorb the engine harmonics as much as the stocker.

3) I have seen the install contribute to vibration. Of the people with minor vibration issues, probably 1/3 find they solve the problem by disconnecting the flexplate and rotating it 180 degrees and then bolt it up again.


I would like to see your ET's broken out. I assume that the weather was similar. You didn't list your tires, so is spinning or needing to launch at less than full power a factor here?

 

Ragtop:
1- I was able to fully stall the car with no wheelspin. further evidence stall is not correct.
2- the converter is a full size reworked oem converter
3- I thought about doing the rotate thing to possibly help the vibration but it seems mute as the converter does not perform.
the weather was actualy better on the day i ran the new converter. traction is no issue on motor I have nitto drag radials, i have spohn tq arm,lca's,SFC
spinning is no problem Slips are as follows:
stock converter 60'2.154-330'5.932-1/8 9.005@80.65
-1000' 11.543-1/4 13.717@104.87
TCS converter 60'2.107- 330' 5.901-1/8 8.995@80.18-1000' 11.552- 1/4 13.743@104.11
Im not a hater as evident by my original post. I can be only ignored so long without speaking up.
I tried to handle this privately. I emailed PSJ I talked to one of TCS's dealers (another board sponsor)and asked him to talk to Derek. All with no success. Its all a mute point now, as of an hour ago i ordered a TCI converter from thunder racing. Ill have it thursday. I can only hope for a refund from TCS

 

Are you saying you sent a stock GM or OEM converter to be restalled? IF so then you need to stress that to the people looking at your post. IMO moving a stock converter up to a 2600 stall is not going to get you much ET but it should gain a little. I have had 3-4 TCS converters in the last 7 months with ZERO problems.

I am sure Derek will make it right for you and like you i have not been able to get in touch with him on my gains from the TCS 4200 to the new TCS 4400 and im a test car for TCS,so your not alone on the calls. If im correct he told me last he was moving into a new shop that would do transmission,converters,driveshafts and thinking of doing 12 bolts but that was when i talked to him last.

 

Not sure what TCS changes about the stock converter to make it stall more, but it looks like your performance gains didn't wash out.

When Yank makes their Stealth 2600 converters, they take the stock 300mm converter and change the pump and the stator to more aggessive, higher stall units. Adding those pieces cost more than just bending blades on the stock pump (or whatever else TCS is doing). It's a valid case of getting what you pay for. TCS was quick to say their converter was better than Yank's Stealth. They'll need a few more customers with better results before they can claim the "better mousetrap" claim on their re-worked stock converters.

 

I got your email, but have not been able to do anything over the weekend.

You need to talk to them to assess where you go.

I could ask you more questions about your setup but you seem adamant that it's not the right size stall. Who installed your converter? Do you have a 2.73 car?

 

A restalled stock converter should have been good for about .2 - .3 on a 2.73 car.

I have no idea if Derek will give you a refund. Hopefully you can work out something to get the converter inspected and adjusted (if necessary) and then resell it.

 

koolrayz- Don't feel bad tsc has me held up also my converter was supposed to be here my the 15th, he promised me. My car is getting a trans rebuild and the current stall is sold to pay for the tcs, so I don't have a converter to put back in my car. I ca'nt get a return call or email either I was going to buy a yank but after talking to derrick I went with tcs.Would have been driving my car now if I would have bought a yank.

Thunder Racing recently moved and they posted up to let everyone know they would not be around to ansewer the phone and take orders. THats what you call being professional.

 

I don't want to sound like a dick but, the install... I think that is up to you my man- wether you do it yourself or, pay (entrust) someone else to do it that is entirely your responsibility. Granted the manufacture is equally libel to provide you with exactly what was advetised. Nothing personal- but, if these guys are going to have to worry about how their products are installed, I don't think they will be able to stay in business and feed our bad habits- The need for speed.

 

koolrayz : kinda off topic.. but the club event at norwalk u mentioned.. is that during the day or at night on 9/22 ??? Just curious cause that's a good chance I'll be there (not w/the TA, but w/the GTP... that is if I'm not too tired from driving home from Bowling Green) ... there's an event there during the day by some grand prix performance shop...

 

PSJ: thanks for the email and the reply. I didnt expect to hear from you during the weekend sorry if the post came off like i did. I do have 2.73 gears, A local shop RPM motorsports did the install.
Ragtop: I agree that the converter should have produced a notable gain especially on my car on motor. I am tuned rich for the dry shot and i only run 25 degree's timing The car only has lid and catback for mods when the nitrous is off.
DOC: I agree that the installation charges are traditionaly the buyers responsibility in a normal warranty situation. I think its alittle different when the item is a new model and is shipped defective. It's also was something that could have been worked out if he would have communicated.
Horist: Yes the IDD drag day go to the website youll see that im registered My car is a silver 02 T/A not a WS6 as is listed Hope to see ya there.

 

Hope you get this straight ray!

 

I saw in another post that Derek left TCS. Its bad enough i got hung out to dry on the converter but there was a $195 "core" charge added.
Im going to end up with a $420 boat anchor

 

I hear you Koolrayz, see the other post about my $704 paper weight that TCS will hopefully get me an RMA number for at some point if I can find a body there.

Rick