Patrick G

iTrader: (14)

Last time Raughammer did the investigating, this time Mike at Yank did it. Mike just received a TCI pn 249932 converter (TCI 4400) from a well known LS1Tech enthusiast who traded it in with only 500 miles. Apparently, the converter had caused his tranny to fail. His friend bought the same converter a week later for his F-Body. His friend's tranny failed a week after his did. Do we see a trend? Read on.

Click on this link: http://www.converter.cc/tci_exposed.htm

You will see some ugly pictures. First, the TCI 4400 is basically a cheap Vig 3600. TCI uses the same #7 pump and 082 stator as the Vig 3600, but the clearances between the pump and the stator are opened up a great deal. This gives the converter more stall, but considerably less efficiency. (And you thought the efficiency on the Vig 3600 was bad).

Most shocking is the clutch. TCI charges customers a premium for a carbon ceramic clutch. This one had a cheap, black paper clutch that had disintigrated and trashed the tranny. The cheap stamped steel cover (not billet like PI or Yank) warped, causing high spots and stress cracks. These act like razor blades and will trash a paper clutch in no time. Kevin Winstead said this could not happen. Sorry Kevin, it can and it did. 500 miles. That's all.

Sure the TCI converters are less expensive than the Vigilantes and Yanks, you can see it in the materials. Why TCI charges a premium for its 4400 converters over their 3000 is beyond me? They use the same manufacturing process and budget parts with comparable costs. Oh, by the way, they lied to this customer about the clutch. Carbon ceramic would never had worn out like this one did, LOL! Sorry to post something negative like this, but Kevin threw down the gauntlet.

CashDudeHomie

iTrader: (5)

TCI SUCKS!!!!! I have heard of "You get what you pay for" but in TCI's case you don't even get that!!!

Bout'ItZ28

iTrader: (19)

should i get into this conversation...? i think i will <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> now lets not get started about yank and there customer sevice. first, i have been having problems with my yank converter(pt4400 w/ only 3000 miles on it) and when i posted about it it just couldnt be the converter b/c its a yank. well i beg differ. we took the converter to a local shop and had it looked at. well i get a call saying your converter is trashed. so i try to call yank and what do i get a voice mail. well fine i left a message. after that i emailed them. to my suprise no reply. STILL NO REPLY AFTER 3 WEEKS (THOSE F**KERS <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" /> )so i go to check out the converter myself and just see how bad it is. what do i find:
1. i have some turbine viens missing
2. most of the turbine viens are bent to hell
now lets get into the poor design of the yank converter. NOW WHOEVER DESIGNED THE CLUTCH ON THESE CONVERTERS IS A F***ING MORON. THE CLUTCH WHERE IT GRABS TO LOCK UP IS NO BIGGER THAN A PERSONS FINGER NAIL(LITERALLY)AND PEOPLE WONDER WHY THEY HAVE LOCK UP ISSUES ETC. so me and the converter guy(no names) start to shoot **** about this converter and he says "i get yank converters all the time and they usually have the same problem...we have even tried to get ahold of them w/ no luck." so i now i am stuck trying to get a hold of yank to try to get some warranty work. mind you my car is a daily driver. so i have my back against a wall. so i call up Kevin W. at tci and talk to him for a little while. well he gives me a good deal because i have all this going on while i am in college. (THANKS KEVIN) i have been patient with yank and it has ran out. i have taken pictures of the converter and they will be posted later once i get some spare time. so all i have to say it DONT POST PROBLEMS ABOUT A COMPANY WHEN U HAVE YOUR OWN ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED ABOUT YANKS PRODUCTS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THERE CUSTOMER SERVICE.

Andre

<small>[ October 07, 2002, 08:19 AM: Message edited by: Ragtop 99 ]</small>

Superman

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Patrick G:
<strong>Last time Raughammer did the investigating, this time Mike at Yank did it. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wow finally an unbiased comparo ..LOL <img border="0" alt="[boring]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_zzz.gif" />

There some real comedy around here sometimes... the "return to the YANK home page" link at the end of that link kills me... lol

Send me a TCI I`ll open it up and when I see the same results then I~ll believe it... until then maybe Yank can spend more time on customer service instead of developing entire web pages bashing the competition. <img border="0" alt="[gay]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_rainbow.gif" />

<small>[ October 06, 2002, 10:54 PM: Message edited by: Dan99Hawk ]</small>

99BlueZ28

Ah another episode of converter wars. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> Kinda like politics in a way. Win the victory by making the other guy look bad instead of trying to make yourself look good. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> Where do I get some popcorn?

Patrick G

iTrader: (14)

You guys can roll your eyes all you want, but if you recall, there was a lot of comments from the TCI fans on how much better built the higher stall units were vs. the 3000 that Raughammer posted about. Mike at Yank got a very recent TCI 4400 with 500 miles as a trade. Here's my question. Would you have rather waited weeks, perhaps months, for an unbiased party to open up a TCI 4400 converter and report the results or would you rather find out about it now before you shell out your hard earned dough?

Ragtop 99

iTrader: (7)

Well Patrick, you done put the stick in the hornet's nest and gave it a great big twrill. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_tounge.gif" />

Let's keep this debate clean and factual. Andre, I edited the swear words, (nothing was deleted) your point was clear w/o them.

Kristi

Hmmmm...
As most of you know, my husband and I have been working with TCI in the last year to help them develop and improve their SF/SSF converters. We've tested both the Kevlar and the Carbon Fiber clutch linings in everything from a 2800 to a 4400 converter. Other than ONE converter, a 3500 with Kevlar clutch lining, every converter we've had has lasted... the 2800 went over 7000 miles in 2 different f-bodies and the 3500 is still going strong with over 7000 miles in 2 different f-bodies. May I also remind you that that is the amount of mileage I got from my Yank ST3500 before the converter clutch lining fell apart and Yank refused to warranty it. Our TCI 4400 currently has about 700 miles on it and has had no hint of chatter, vibration, or anything else. And we know 100% that SHOULD we have any problem, TCI will take and/or return our calls right away and warranty their products without harassing the customer or flat-out refusing to stand behind their products.

Yank's converters do exactly what they claim to do, performance-wise. I was thrilled with the gains I saw from mine. But I am also VERY impressed with what we've seen from our TCI converters. The TCI 3500 slightly exceeded the performance and efficiency of my ST3500 and the TCI 4400 has netted us 1.56 short times in a car with NO suspension mods and NO engine mods whatsoever with minimal weight reduction (lightweight wheels, jack and spare removed).

When will Mike Senia stop acting like a politican, bashing the other "candidates" in a juvenile smear campaign designed to frantically cover his own very pathetic product line and non-existant customer service?

I would give anything if I could have seen the future... I would have taken photographs of the carnage inside my ST3500. I would have kept detailed records of the ordeal I went through trying to get Yank to even consider repairing it under warranty. I would have saved the bills I had to pay to have my transmission rebuilt, and the cost of having the converter repaired. I would have written down the exact quotes from the specialists who looked at both my transmission and converter after the failure. I would have saved the NUMEROUS e-mails I received from other people who were basically stuck with an ST3500 after the converter clutch failed and Yank refused to repair it, instead choosing to blame the customer for everything. I would have documented the date on which Yank started advertising a "new, improved" converter clutch lining (even though NOTHING was wrong with the previous one, right?)

But I didn't and so my claim against Yank is considered invalid... In fact, I had given up the cause. But then here come these threads making Yank look like a vastly superior product. "You get what you pay for." Ha! Apparently $750 doesn't get you a converter that will last OR customer service. So tell me, how much DOES that cost? From TCI, it only costs $450.

NOTE: This account of my experience with TCI and Yank converters is factual. Yank cheering squad, you need not worry, as this will be my only post on this topic. If anyone has any questions or comments, feel free to e-mail me at kristipayne@earthlink.net as I'm not interested in getting this thread off-topic or turning it into a war (again).

<small>[ October 07, 2002, 09:40 AM: Message edited by: Kristi ]</small>

OBSSSD@work

There's no doubt that Yank makes hands down the best converters on the market.

There's also no doubt their customer service is the worst by just as large a margin.

For me, it's worth it because I race at the track but a business that never answers the phone has got some issues IMO...

Mike Hoffpauir

Evaluating a product is not bashing a product. I don't understand how the two are confused. If defects are exposed it is not bashing it is reality!

And on another note, I've had nothing but great customer service from Yank. Granted I have to call repeatidly to get in touch with Mike, but I have experienced this in many different industries for over 10 years. I think thats why it doesnt bother me. But, perhaps the expectation of Mcdonalds-like service from shops is the expectation fueling those who are bothered by having to dial the phone a few times.

JohnPayne

iTrader: (3)

OK, I have a question- Why did Yank stop making their ST3500 converter? Because they can't make one that doesn't chatter? And why doesn't he take the time to cut open his own converter after a failure and post pictures? Seems like that would be beneficial to those shopping for a converter. Instead he spends time cutting open a TCI and looking at what all is wrong with it and posting pictures. He has issues with his own converter, so instead of fixing them they just stop making them <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> Looks to me like he need to do that kind of detailed inspections of his own converters and figure out the problem with his own and give it a rest. I have seen post ofter post from people with Yank converter trouble and no help from Mike. And then the cheering squad comes in and makes the person with the problem feel like he should have bought the converter and placed it on a shelf to look at because YANKS ARE THE GREATEST and they never fail. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> It was your fault it it doesn't lock up you had 32lbs of air in your tires not 34lbs. Oh well just my .02

Thanks. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />

<small>[ October 07, 2002, 11:00 AM: Message edited by: JohnPayne ]</small>

2xLS1

iTrader: (25)

Instead of blah blah Mike did this and blah blah TCI did that, how about some technical discussion about what the pictures show. The parts used and the workmanship. Does it really matter who cut the converter open and posted the pics? Is there any question whether or not this is a TCI converter?

ROB'S SS

so how come we arent hearing/seeing these problems from the midwest convertors? its always tci this and yank that and tci this and yank that with an occasional mention of precision industries to mix things up a little?

Terry Burger

iTrader: (4)

I just pulled my Yank TP4400 and put in a TCI4400 (behind my 396/4L60E). I'll post my impressions, dyno numbers, and track times soon. I must say so far I'm very impressed with the TCI. When I have the data I'll do an unbiased write-up for everyone!

Patrick G

iTrader: (14)

Like I said, the reason why you may not hear about problems with other converter companies like Midwest is because of their small numbers being sold (in comparison to companies like Yank, PI and TCI). Smaller numbers being sold in a market typically mean smaller numbers of failures. Also, I don't think there are but a handfull of people running MW converters on this UBB. As their numbers increase, I'm sure we will hear more of the good and the bad.

Ragtop 99

iTrader: (7)

Rob:

MW converters seem to be selling like hotcakes on the other board <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> to first time converter buyers, mostly for street use; roughly 3000 stall. I haven't seen a lot of activity in the higher performing stalls or amoung experienced converter users. FWIW, I know one guy who ran well with a MW on stock radials.

SJH

I have a vig 2800 and it's been in for well over 3 years.
I used to even lock the clutch up NA now and then at the track.
I must have a good 40 runs at WOT LOCKING IT UP.
It still locks up perfectly and I have never experienced any of this chatter or whatever the problem is. Just a smooth solid engagement.
Add a lot of HP/TQ from a poweradder and this converter is just awesome how it responds to the added torque.
I have to say it's the best darn converter I have ever owned.
Just felt like giving PI a little toot <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Steve

mikey

iTrader: (6)

Y'all need to try a T.C.S converter (sponser). Look at what it did for me:

http://www.rapidmotorsports.com/wheelstand.wmv

These are some serious converters and are built with the best internals (can't tell you which).

After running one in my beast for most of the season, I'm sold. So much so that we now sell them too.

Mikey

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

I'm a fan of any converter company that basically builds a converter for your needs.

That's Yank.

As far as TCI goes, this thread is like the pro-TCI one posted by someone else a few weeks ago, so it's all fair in love and war.

SILVERZZ28

iTrader: (3)

There is more to the story about that converter that is not being told! (trust me)

I bought a Mod. 12" percision converter 4yrs ago and had 3 of them go out! The last converter of the 3 tore my trans. up! Well I worked with jack on the deal and he refunded my money back. 1yr later I decided to by a 9" from percision and have been running it for 3yrs with no problems. I have beat this thing and it still rocks. I have also locked the converter up 90% of the time at the track. I think everbody is going to have there problems so this post should have never been here IMO !

http://www.geocities.com/silvercamarozz28/