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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 08:25 PM
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Default TCI converters

I am looking into converters from about 3200 to 3600 stall speeds and I've been researching. Why is it that so many people choose yank and fuddle rather than tci? Is TCI really that bad? They seem to be everywhere on the net so why don't most people like them?
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 08:52 PM
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I dont know if they are the best for "high powered cars. My friend had one in his car 3000 street fighter and it worked fine for his bolt on car. I have it for sale just so you know. Its in the for sale section. Pm me if your interested.
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 08:52 PM
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Just hear problems about reliability with them. I figure its an expensive part and its a good amount of work if you do it yourself, so I played it safe and got a Vigilante.
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 08:55 PM
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Originally Posted by GTFORMULA
I dont know if they are the best for "high powered cars. My friend had one in his car 3000 street fighter and it worked fine for his bolt on car. I have it for sale just so you know. Its in the for sale section. Pm me if your interested.
Well as of right now im pure bolt on but im lookin into a TR230 cam soon with a few more bolt ons so ill be pushing the 400 hp envelope. Maybe I should go for vig. Wheres the cheapest to get a vig?
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 09:14 PM
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There are a lot of LS1 guys who run TCI's. But there have been a lot of reports of the lock-up clutches going bad, so some steer away from them. Mine has been great so far.

I've observed that the popularity of different converter brands goes in cycles. A few years ago Yank was getting bashed lot. Now they're back on top. The Fuddle fad seems to be fading. Vig has never been the big sensation but their reputation for reliability can't be beat.
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 09:45 PM
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Originally Posted by rgk615214
Well as of right now im pure bolt on but im lookin into a TR230 cam soon with a few more bolt ons so ill be pushing the 400 hp envelope. Maybe I should go for vig. Wheres the cheapest to get a vig?
I got my 3600 and a shiftkit for 800 bucks from ThunderRacing. Cant beat it!
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 11:58 PM
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If you go TCI get the one with the upgraded billet front cover. I had an SSF 3500 and the lockup clutch died after 15k miles. I had to pull it and send it back to be re-built with a front billet cover. All in all I have not spent just as much or more had I gone with a vig or Yank in the first place.
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Old Sep 1, 2006 | 12:37 AM
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I have only used TCI I had a 3000 streetfighter first and completely destroyed it after about 3,000 miles. But i got another one a 3800 TCI Competition and it is practically bulletproof. I went with TCI because i get deals but they aren't bad converters if you get a good one at least superstreetfighter or better and get the anti-balloning plate. But i do have to say Vigilante, Fuddle, And Yank make and unbeatable converter if you got power.

Last edited by white98terror; Sep 1, 2006 at 12:38 AM. Reason: too big
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Old Sep 1, 2006 | 06:37 AM
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as far as vigilante is concerned, i have noticed they come with single, three, and five disk. Which is best? What should I get?
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Old Sep 1, 2006 | 10:39 AM
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my TCI super street fighter took itself and the transmission out after 3000 miles. I sent it to TCI and had it rebuilt with a billet lockup clutch then it worked great.

get the billet lockup clutch or you'll be dropping your transmission shortly after installing one without.
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Old Sep 1, 2006 | 11:10 AM
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Good info, I just bought used Vig3500, glad I did right!
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Old Sep 1, 2006 | 11:31 AM
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did u get the single disc, three disc, or 5 disc vig and whats the difference?
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Old Sep 1, 2006 | 01:02 PM
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I have had a Vig 3600 with a single disk for 10 years with one freshening 2 years ago when I rebuilt the trans...The reps at Vig told me that the converter looked great inside and the lock up clutch showed wear, but was not toast...I have been running the car hard for 11 years, 10 of which had the Vig...Its a high quality, durable piece...

--Alan
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Old Sep 7, 2006 | 04:14 AM
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who sells the tci with the upgradable billet cover?
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Old Sep 7, 2006 | 10:39 AM
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Originally Posted by TSBKID
who sells the tci with the upgradable billet cover?

Thunder Racing..

141-242937 TCI 4L60E Super Street Fighter Torque Converter with Billet Cover, 3500 Stall Speed, 2.7:1 STR 1998-2002 LS1 F-body & 1999-up GM Trucks w/ 4.8, 5.3 or 6.0L, '04-'05 GTO $689.95

www.thunderracing.com
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Old Sep 7, 2006 | 02:24 PM
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the local kid with a v6 turbo firebird has already destroyed a TCI converter. It was a 2600ish stall stock diameter. I think more or less it was from him being a complete moron and reinstalling the converter, after something broke in his original build trans...
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