Superman

An informative, unbiased review.. thank you for the info and leg work.
Dan

MacGyver

iTrader: (5)

Great info Stephen. I'm looking for a converter for the G/F's car and I'm trying to decide bewteen a yank and tci. You didn't happen to ask them about an SFI approved flexplate did you?

Will

2xLS1

iTrader: (25)

I don't think the performance of the TCI verters was ever in question. It was the build quality. I did not mean to imply that they did anything different to your TCI verter that would enhance the performance over another verter that got built that day. For 26 years, I have worked in a 1.3 million sq/ft manufacturing facility that builds telecomunication equipment. I can assure you that if we knew that our product was going to be reviewed by a customer that could effect future sales, the build quality would be a notch above the normal product that comes down the line. It would not switch calls any faster, or give you a dial tone any quicker, but the solders, the wiring, the labels and even the the paint would be perfect. Any large company would be foolish not to do the same. That's all I'm saying. Nothing at all personal against you. Product reviews are always more credable when the reviewer does not have an ax to gring, or a favor to repay. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Colonel

Really? I wish all companies were like that. That just hasn't been my experience at all. I've been sold plenty of parts that weren't exactly perfect. But, I certainly see what you're saying. It would just depend on the company I guess.

Yes, we did talk about an SFI approved flexplate and I assured him that we would buy it if they built it. I think I sold him on the idea. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

98SS Blackattack

Happy to here this. I ordered a TCI3500 2 weeks ago. Should be here any day. SDPC has the best price i could find $489. www.tciauto.com has a link to all the companys that sell their converters. I went with a TCI because of the price the company name, their size and i have heard their service is the best-they back their product. I also like the way Kevin responded on the TCI exposed thread.

r8ls1

I agree with everything 2Xls1 has said . TCI is trying to recover from the bad rap they got .

The streetfighter they sent me was a peice of junk , it never locked up properly from day 1 . And when it was spun up by a local converter shop , the snout runout was too much , and the converter was way out of balance ! Quality control my *** <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />

Oh , and it didnt have an anti ballooning plate fitted either . Another reason the front of my tranny exploded when I shifted at 6200 .

The performance ? no probs , for a 3000 it hauled *** , but whats the point when it doesnt lock up and cant stay in 1 peice ??

I beleive had I been a Nineball , a Colonel or a Raughammer , TCI would have never sent me THAT converter . Infact the australian distributor I ordered through have sold thousands of TCI products , probably very chums with Kevin and told him to personally send me crap . Well thats the world today . Its not what you know its who you know .

Even a TCI trans cooler they sent me was faulty <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> I sent it back .

Colonel , good luck with your "special" "one off" TCI converter . I beleive the small guy that orders one through a shop will get junk .

I will never buy a TCI product again . More importantly , I beleive TCI can make a good product but only does so for people that matter to them ! And thats even worse than just not knowing what your doing to begin with .

Merry Christmas <img border="0" alt="[chug]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_chug.gif" />

2xLS1

iTrader: (25)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">So tell me, aren't you curious to know how these two converters stack up? Here's your chance. I for one am always eager to learn. And I don't let brand loyalties get in the way of opportunities like this. That's just being closed minded and hard headed.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes I am. I'd be more curious how a TCI converter randomly selected off the shelf like the average Joe Blow would receive compares than one that was probably, and I repeat probably, hand selected for your car since there was this special arangement involved. If you will go back and reread the TCI bashing threads, all my posts were strictly asking questions. I did no bashing. And I am one who has had my share of problems with Yank. But, the pictures of the inside of the TCI converted don't lie. I understand you not wanting to disclose the cost of all of this also. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

I'm still a big fan of you and your cars too. <img border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" title="" src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" />

JS

iTrader: (4)

Steve if I offended u,I'm sorry.
I just wanted a real answer.

I've never seen u as a sugar coater and all your responses to this post were valid.

Guess I was just in shock to see u running anything but a Yank.

Caught me off gaurd thats all Steve.
U also know my bark is worse than my bite..
Relax man,everythings good......

Good luck w/the TCI....

JS

<small>[ December 20, 2002, 12:37 PM: Message edited by: JS ]</small>

CW 99 Z

r8ls1, how do you suppose TCI has stayed in business for so long selling junk parts to everyone? I can assure you there are alot more average Joes buying their stuff than the high profile people. That was a childish statement made because you happend to be one of the few people that got a bum converter. Did you even try to have TCI warranty it or did you just throw it away and buy a Yank? Grow up. Nothings perfect, especialy something made in large quantities.

<small>[ December 21, 2002, 12:27 AM: Message edited by: CW 99 Z ]</small>

SJH

I somehow went to a techboard and got redirected to an infomercial site!

That's ok though, I want to order a few more cases of oxiclean and orange glo! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Who do I call?

r8ls1

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by CW 99 Z:
<strong> Grow up. Nothings perfect, especialy something made in large quantities.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">So just because it is made in large quantities , does that give it an excuse to be junk ?

I said my bit , Im not here just to argue , and I dont need to grow up . Im just stating facts .

If TCI have improved their product since then , well done , and I hope so for the ls1 owner that buys one .

There is "not perfect" , then there is "theyre laughing at you" . I got the latter . My TCI converter was sent to me out of balance , out of round , overall length 3mm too short , no ballooning plate , and with a viscous clutch that couldnt hold a 4cyl and lasted 5k miles .

Not perfect ? Nah , utter junk <img border="0" alt="[barf]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_barf.gif" />

My beleif still stands that .. TCI know how to build a "decent converter" , and the one they sent me wouldnt have been sent to any of the "hardcore" guys in the US , had they ordered one .

They have been building transes and converters too long for me to beleive that they didnt know better .

cheers!

CW 99 Z

Obviously you have never worked in a factory type environment so I will give you an example. I work at a place called Delbar. We make the side mirrors for the fullsize GM trucks. I work in the molding department. A molding machine molds the plastic mirror shell pair and ejects them onto a table. I have to clip the gate with clippers, trim the flash off the mirror with a knife and install the mirror bracket and trim bezle and pack it in a box. All of this has to be done in 46 seconds before the machine ejects the next set. Thats nearly 600 sets of mirrors in one shift, 1200 mirrors total in 8 hours. I do my absolute best to make sure I dont mess any up but I'm sure every now and then I pack 1 or 2 that have a nick on them. I'm human, not perfect. Thats why companies have warrenties on their products. If you get a bad part they replace it or fix it. Since you didnt mention it in your reply, I assume you didnt try to warranty it. If you ask me thats your ignorance not TCI's.

r8ls1

Your comparing a plastic moulded mirror to a handbuilt torque converter thats suposed to live behind a 400+ hp engine at over 6000 rpms , good comparison <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

As for the warranty , I wasnt interested in putting another TCI product in my LS1 car .

Joe Kizzire

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by 2xLS1:
<strong>Please don't take this wrong because I respect the Colonel's knowledge of converters and he was a great of help to me when I was really new to all of this. I still have a file saved that he e mailed me years ago explaining how all this converter stuff worked.
What was the cost to purchase a TCI converter, have it installed by TCI, tour the plant, and have dinner with the two Kevins? Is this kind of deal available for the average consumer, or do you have to be a message board owner to get that kind of treatment? There has been a lot of bad PR here about TCI converters and I'm just wondering if this is truly unbiased or if there wasn't some kind of quid pro quo for TCI to get some good PR about their product here. Just seems kind of strange that someone who is probably responsible for me running Yank's all these years is now running a TCI, especially after all the bad that had been posted about them here. Especially the quality issues and the pictures supporting that, that's all. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">It's called getting a free converter.... TCI would give your momma a converter if they thought she could get them established in the LS1 market. Also Yank is not real big on converters for Powerglides and Steve is just looking ahead for his other car.... As with anything else just follow the money trail.

I do think it's kinda of funny that Yank posted all those comparison pictures on their website and then their posterboy goes and sets up a pimp deal to get a TCI converter. That's funny!!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Question... When everyone starts asking "The Colonel" how his convertor is doing do you think you'll get an unbiased answer???

Again follow the money... Look for TCI to become a sponsor of this board. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

<small>[ December 21, 2002, 06:23 AM: Message edited by: Joe Kizzire ]</small>

v8 ute

I gotta say, it's much like when I read the thread on the new Yank 3600/3800 converters.
It read like a scripted advertisement.
So it does that
yes and whats more, it does this too

They maybe good products but somehow they quite often read like advertisements on talk back radio etc.

Just the cynic in me <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Tim98TA

iTrader: (7)

What will happen if/when this convertor breaks, or whatever? Will we hear about it? Nope. It will be taken care of without a word being said to the public. I agree that his convertor was NOT an off the shelf unit. It was probably built knowing it was going to be in a hi profile situation. <img border="0" alt="[barf]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_barf.gif" />
Personally, I like TCI stuff. I wouldn't hesitate to put one in my car.

Tim

30th TA 0219

Just out of curiousity, what will it take to make Joe K STFU? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />
Joe, you make Terry look like a poster-boy for internet knowledge and courtesy. <img border="0" alt="[jester]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_jest.gif" /> Evrything's a ******* conspiracy to you, and you will post **** even you don't agree with just to argue. If this were SAM saying they were trying something they never had before, you'd be first in like to suck their dick, like always!!
As far as TCI becoming a sponsor, that's great, the more sponsors, the less likely there is to be a bias. Competition can only benefit us!

JS

iTrader: (4)

FWIW,I've talk to Kevin on the phone..He told me NOT to buy an off the shelf TCI for a stout setup.

For the averge guy he said the off the shelf would be fine,But I'd be MUCH BETTER off w/a custom built unit from there race division.

There prices are amazing and I know they build quality stuff.U cant go wrong w/TCI..

But after testing 3 different companies converters,I'm a YANK guy forever...

JS

CW 99 Z

No, dumbass, I'm trying to show you that stuff made in a factory will eventually have a bad part sent out. It happens. And as for the warranty, did you try to get your money back? Doubt it. I"m sure TCI would have stood behind there product and if you were completly unsatisfied they would have given you your money back. Get a life

Joe Kizzire

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by 30th TA 0219:
<strong>Just out of curiousity, what will it take to make Joe K STFU? <img border="0" alt="[whiner]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cry.gif" />
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The first thing it will take is a man not some pu$$y that hides behind a screen name on the internet. Hell I go to Florida all the time and if you want we could meet up and talk within arms reach of each other. That would be fun.