TCI VS FUDDLE Is there a better?
TCI VS FUDDLE Is there a better? Alright im trying to decide between the two converters. Im right in the middle right now between a TCI SF3000 and a Fuddle 3000. Im trying to figure out what would justify me spending 250 more on the TCI. What do you guys think the differences are? I have learned the hard way a couple times that you get what you pay for, is this going to be one of those things? I don't see why it would be from what i have read, but i can't really afford to have a crappy converter. I know TCI is established and well known, I know i won't go wrong with the TCI. However I don't really have enough feedback on the fuddle to make myself feel assured about the fuddle. What are your guy's opinions between the two. Which converter would you choose? I want to place the order today and this is going to be the deciding factor. Also i have done a search and read around. I guess the main thing i want to know is which one would you guys get. I need some advice
OK...you get what you pay for!
I personaly think they are both junk.....lest junkiest would have to be TCI.....the only good things I have heard about fuddle were from people trying the reassure themselves they have a good converter. Anyone with experience in converters know who had the better product, so don't take hear say from new members...
Get the TCI
I personaly think they are both junk.....lest junkiest would have to be TCI.....the only good things I have heard about fuddle were from people trying the reassure themselves they have a good converter. Anyone with experience in converters know who had the better product, so don't take hear say from new members...
Get the TCI
Originally Posted by CamaroSS
OK...you get what you pay for!
I personaly think they are both junk.....lest junkiest would have to be TCI.....the only good things I have heard about fuddle were from people trying the reassure themselves they have a good converter. Anyone with experience in converters know who had the better product, so don't take hear say from new members...
Get the TCI
I personaly think they are both junk.....lest junkiest would have to be TCI.....the only good things I have heard about fuddle were from people trying the reassure themselves they have a good converter. Anyone with experience in converters know who had the better product, so don't take hear say from new members...
Get the TCI
Vigilante-Yank
TCI-Fuddle
The top and bottom being kind of tied. Just from what i have read, I also have read that TCI aren't as good as yank but they do very very good. I mean to me 600 for a verter is pretty pricey, even though the yanks and vigs are in the 800 in up range. Also I have noticed there are 2 people that have had problems with fuddle converters, thats not a good ratio for the amount that i have heard being sold on here. I know that john has instantly takin care of them though which is semi-reassuring. Im just a little skeptical and im not trying to turn this into a bash, just making a effort to help people with the same decision along with myself
i love when people bash TCI and they see what my car runs at the track on a drag radial. 11.74@114, stock internal, stock suspension, stock 2.73 gear. i have a tci ssf 4000. wouldn't trade it for any other brand. if you want to pay as close to double for another brand of converter that doesn't hit as hard, or produce as great of results, then by all means, waste your money. Get the TCI!
Originally Posted by mdblackz28
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 308
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From: Rochester, NY
Another vote for TCI here. TCI SSF3500's have been used by many, many people here with fantasic results. The Colonel was in the 10's on that converter with stock 3.23 gears if I'm not mistaken. That's why I bought one 
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Originally Posted by CamaroSS
OK...you get what you pay for!
I personaly think they are both junk.....lest junkiest would have to be TCI.....the only good things I have heard about fuddle were from people trying the reassure themselves they have a good converter. Anyone with experience in converters know who had the better product, so don't take hear say from new members...
Get the TCI
I personaly think they are both junk.....lest junkiest would have to be TCI.....the only good things I have heard about fuddle were from people trying the reassure themselves they have a good converter. Anyone with experience in converters know who had the better product, so don't take hear say from new members...
Get the TCI
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2013 Corvette Grand Sport A6 LME forged 416, Greg Good ported TFS 255 LS3 heads, 222/242 .629"/.604" 121LSA Pat G blower cam, ARH 1 7/8" headers, ESC Novi 1500 Supercharger w/8 rib direct drive conversion, 747rwhp/709rwtq on 93 octane, 801rwhp/735rwtq on race fuel, 10.1 @ 147.25mph 1/4 mile, 174.7mph Half Mile.
2016 Corvette Z51 M7 Magnuson Heartbeat 2300 supercharger, TSP LT headers, Pat G tuned, 667rwhp, 662rwtq, 191mph TX Mile.
2009.5 Pontiac G8 GT 6.0L, A6, AFR 230v2 heads. 506rwhp/442rwtq. 11.413 @ 121.29mph 1/4 mile, 168.7mph TX Mile
2000 Pewter Ram Air Trans Am M6 heads/cam 508 rwhp/445 rwtq SAE, 183.092 TX Mile
2022 Cadillac Escalade 6.2L A10 S&B CAI, Corsa catback.
2023 Corvette 3LT Z51 soon to be modified.
Custom LSX tuning in person or via email press here.
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Originally Posted by CamaroSS
OK...you get what you pay for!
I personaly think they are both junk.....lest junkiest would have to be TCI.....the only good things I have heard about fuddle were from people trying the reassure themselves they have a good converter. Anyone with experience in converters know who had the better product, so don't take hear say from new members...
Get the TCI
I personaly think they are both junk.....lest junkiest would have to be TCI.....the only good things I have heard about fuddle were from people trying the reassure themselves they have a good converter. Anyone with experience in converters know who had the better product, so don't take hear say from new members...
Get the TCI
Have owned a TCI or Fuddle or even have personal experience with one? If not then
If so then I apologize.
I just getting tired of people downing a product they don't even own!
Should have made it more clear, and I apoligize....
I have a Yank...I have seen post on all converters being bad, Yank, TCI, Fuddle, and Vig.....
Anyway, doing reasearch on the sites ion question and reading about their product you can gather enough information to make a decision.......
Sorry for being such an ***, but go to the sites read what is done in the process of building, craftsmanship, STR......
I said what I did because these converters will feel loose.....mine is a 4000 stall and feels like a 2800-3000.
STR is very important, and if you look at what each company has to offer...you can make your decision....
I was in the wrong to call them junk, but JMO......good luck with finding the right one...
I have a Yank...I have seen post on all converters being bad, Yank, TCI, Fuddle, and Vig.....
Anyway, doing reasearch on the sites ion question and reading about their product you can gather enough information to make a decision.......
Sorry for being such an ***, but go to the sites read what is done in the process of building, craftsmanship, STR......
I said what I did because these converters will feel loose.....mine is a 4000 stall and feels like a 2800-3000.
STR is very important, and if you look at what each company has to offer...you can make your decision....
I was in the wrong to call them junk, but JMO......good luck with finding the right one...
11 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,524
Likes: 1
From: The South
Nothing wrong with TCI. I would go TCI over fuddle because fuddle is VERY, VERY new to the LS1 scene and nobody on here (that I have seen) has run one for even one full season.
Just because you spent a lot of money on an SS series yank that feels tighter than your average 4000 stall doesn't mean that others are junk...it doens't even meen that yours is better. I might call it an overpriced ripoff because it costs more than a TCI SSF4000 yet doesn't perform any better on the track. (though I won't, I'd have an SS4000 if I could afford it, for the tighter part throttle driving)
Edit: Oh yeah, I am also a little unwilling to shell out the dough for a Yank b/c of their apparently poor customer service and inability to answer a phone. If I could afford to buy a Yank (SS4000 or PT4000) I still might not do it. Now, maybe if they had the customer service repuation of TCI as well...then I'd be sold.
Originally Posted by CamaroSS
I have a Yank...
I said what I did because these converters will feel loose.....mine is a 4000 stall and feels like a 2800-3000.
I said what I did because these converters will feel loose.....mine is a 4000 stall and feels like a 2800-3000.
Edit: Oh yeah, I am also a little unwilling to shell out the dough for a Yank b/c of their apparently poor customer service and inability to answer a phone. If I could afford to buy a Yank (SS4000 or PT4000) I still might not do it. Now, maybe if they had the customer service repuation of TCI as well...then I'd be sold.
Last edited by blkZ28spt; May 27, 2005 at 02:21 PM.
Can't speak for the Fuddle, but I had a Yank Y3200 that gave me 3 years of trouble free service for both track and street use. I currently run a TCI 3800 and love it especially since I cut the 60-ft in my sig on DR's. I would go with the TCI for the simple reason there isn't enough information out there on the Fuddle because it's so new.
I am not impressed with TCI. The last one that I tried to install did not fit. The converter looked cheap and their tech line was a joke. Those guys are clueless and are no help at all. The TCI's are not efficient and the dyno shows it. A friend of mine has a SSF3500 and even with LT's, he dynoed 289rwhp. The AFR was good as well. I had a Midwest 3600 awhile back and with the same mods, as my friend, I dynoed 322rwhp. The difference at the track was 3 tenths between them. The Midwest being the fastest. So, you get what you pay for. Side note, if you get the TCI, you have to enlarge one of the holes on the flexplate. TCI fails to tell you that and you end up dropping the transmission again.
11 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,524
Likes: 1
From: The South
Originally Posted by Blacker
I am not impressed with TCI. The last one that I tried to install did not fit. The converter looked cheap and their tech line was a joke. Those guys are clueless and are no help at all. The TCI's are not efficient and the dyno shows it. A friend of mine has a SSF3500 and even with LT's, he dynoed 289rwhp. The AFR was good as well. I had a Midwest 3600 awhile back and with the same mods, as my friend, I dynoed 322rwhp. The difference at the track was 3 tenths between them. The Midwest being the fastest. So, you get what you pay for. Side note, if you get the TCI, you have to enlarge one of the holes on the flexplate. TCI fails to tell you that and you end up dropping the transmission again.
I once dyno'd 319 rwhp with only lid, LT's and duals though unlocked stock converter. I then added a TCI SSF3500 and pulled the front sway bar to run 12.62-12.66 on 1.72-1.75 60's.
Seems pretty good to me. Dyno numbers don't mean **** anyway. I'll take a 12.2 with only 343 rwhp showing on the dyno, a stall/cam mismatch and a tranny that is on it's way out. I'll also take a 12.62 with 1.726 as best 60' (et streets) in a car that only dyno'd 319 rwhp through the stock converter.
I have been trying to decide between these two brands and it has come down to which one has the best warranty to back it up. TCI only has a 90 day and Fuddle has a 1 year. I already have a TCI sf3000 in a 70 Monte th400 behind a BB 402 with 12bolt /4.10's and it is pretty lose on that car,very happy with that converter but that is a weekend cruiser with maybe 500 mi on the converter. I wont a converter with some warranty for my daily driver.
If you don't have at least 1 year warranty, I would not buy it. From what I read, Fuddle seems to have top notch customer service and will go out of their way to make things right. I can't say the same thing for Midwest or TCI. Some businesses forget the service after the sale.
Last edited by Blacker; May 27, 2005 at 03:31 PM.
Originally Posted by blkZ28spt
Through an unlocked TCI SSF3500 with mods in sig (minus the *'s) I dyno'd 343 rwhp. It was messed up though, and more than poor converter efficiency. It still ran those old times in sig (12.2).
I once dyno'd 319 rwhp with only lid, LT's and duals though unlocked stock converter. I then added a TCI SSF3500 and pulled the front sway bar to run 12.62-12.66 on 1.72-1.75 60's.
Seems pretty good to me. Dyno numbers don't mean **** anyway. I'll take a 12.2 with only 343 rwhp showing on the dyno, a stall/cam mismatch and a tranny that is on it's way out. I'll also take a 12.62 with 1.726 as best 60' (et streets) in a car that only dyno'd 319 rwhp through the stock converter.
I once dyno'd 319 rwhp with only lid, LT's and duals though unlocked stock converter. I then added a TCI SSF3500 and pulled the front sway bar to run 12.62-12.66 on 1.72-1.75 60's.
Seems pretty good to me. Dyno numbers don't mean **** anyway. I'll take a 12.2 with only 343 rwhp showing on the dyno, a stall/cam mismatch and a tranny that is on it's way out. I'll also take a 12.62 with 1.726 as best 60' (et streets) in a car that only dyno'd 319 rwhp through the stock converter.
TCI = Kevin Winstead and he is the LS1 tech guy..
I had him build me a SSF3000,Yes thats right a SSF with only 3000 stall
It has a Billet cover (option) and HD lockup clutch (option)
I went 2.3 STR and it flashes right to 3000 to 3200
It locks up perfectly,pulls away from a light effortlessly.
I love Yanks but Mikes new partner told me since I dont buy enough converters anymore and that I was no longer direct with them...I was pissed as I was one of the 1st guys to run a TP4400,4200,UY4600 etc and sold about 3 to 5 verters for them along with giving many friends my results with Yank verters and reccomending them....
I was them rewarded with not being able to buy Yanks at a discount
I called TCI which I'm direct with too and Kevin built me 2 badass verters...I havent looked back,My GTO blazes the tires with this SSF3000 and I'm very happy with it...
TCI/YANK/PI all make great verters
I saved a TON buying my TCI's direct----->A TON
I had him build me a SSF3000,Yes thats right a SSF with only 3000 stall
It has a Billet cover (option) and HD lockup clutch (option)
I went 2.3 STR and it flashes right to 3000 to 3200
It locks up perfectly,pulls away from a light effortlessly.
I love Yanks but Mikes new partner told me since I dont buy enough converters anymore and that I was no longer direct with them...I was pissed as I was one of the 1st guys to run a TP4400,4200,UY4600 etc and sold about 3 to 5 verters for them along with giving many friends my results with Yank verters and reccomending them....
I was them rewarded with not being able to buy Yanks at a discount
I called TCI which I'm direct with too and Kevin built me 2 badass verters...I havent looked back,My GTO blazes the tires with this SSF3000 and I'm very happy with it...
TCI/YANK/PI all make great verters
I saved a TON buying my TCI's direct----->A TON
Well i just got off the phone with TCI. Looks like im a new owner of a SF3000 with the HD lock up. The reason i went this route is A. A lot of recomendations above and B. I pm'd fuddle with my specs and asked for a recomendation, he sent one back that wasn't quite what i was thinking i should need so i pm'd him back with what i was thinking for a converter and asked why he thought his suggestion would work better. I told him i was concerned with fuel economy and drive ability and asked for a recomendation. I asked if i where to place the order what should i include and if i would get the GP price even though its for a non ls1 vehicle. That was 2 days ago going on 3 and it shows the message has been read by him, and i still haven't got a response. I also called his phone probably 3 times, leaving a message once. No response there either. So i figured the only thing going for him is his "good" customer support and warranty since its not a proven product. Well after the ammount of effort i have put forth so far just to order a converter and get a suggestion was way more than it should be i figure the customer service would only get worse after the purchase. If i can't even get a hold of him for a converter recomendation and to place the order, how am i supposed to get a hold of him if i have a converter problem. He would already have my money and the ball would be completly in his court. So i went with something proven and payed a little more.