Whats different or better about their products then everyone else's? Do they use better quality parts? Do they build them differently then others? Why are they so expensive? What would be the order in which the converters rank going from greatest to least? Thanks

 

As far as converters go IMO I would put a Neil Chance converter up against the Yank anyday! Assuming the use of a Turbo 400.

 

Yank has not been voted the best of anything.
Most converter companies get their parts from the same places. Call and ask them.

 

I have a Yank ST3500 in my C5 and it has given me good performance. But there are also other brands of converters that are just as good IMHO.

 

Some of the parts Yank uses are the same as other brands, and others are off-the-shelf pieces, but only available in limited supply and that adds to the cost. Other key components like clutches and covers are upgraded.

Primarily, what you are paying for is performance and R&D. Designning a converter takes time & experimentation. Yank is one of the few that dyno tests their converters and experiments to come up unique designs. Many competitors claim to build almost ever combination of STR & stall, but few are tested to see whether all their design combinations really work (e.g. are the stall & STR what they are claimed to be? what is the shift extension & efficency?). Designs like the TT2800, SY 3500 and YTP 4400 provided performance unique amoung the converter offerings. I know for a fact that numerous versions of the SY and ST series were tested because on paper they met STR & Stall objectives but never sold because the performance of the prototypes didn't meet the goals established by Mike for the design.

 

You say that Yank is one of the few that dyno tests their converters, who are the others? When you said youre paying for performance and R&D, what does R&D mean? I recently seen that Yank and TCS are your top 2 converter specialists, what makes them so? Does TCS test their converters? If not, how off can they be if they dont test them? Honestly, I could probably buy one with my own preference on specs and would never know if they were right. Is there any way that you could tell if they did it right and put in all the specs requested? TCS offers 97% and 98% I believe on the Phoenix units, how can you tell which one it has? How can you tell the str, stall speed, and shift extensions? I want to be able to get a good converter that the company stands by their work, but I dont want to be pulling the tranny ever week because it isnt right. I want the converter to be right and last. If it means paying a couple hundred dollars more, then so be it. I know that customer service is one of the key factors, but I cant let that decide on my choice. I want to buy a good product too. I also want to make sure that it has the specs that I want it in too. Thanks

 

R&D includes developing and testing new converter designs. Yank uses GM's converter's dyno and also did an extensive in car dyno program. Yank's program was extensive enough that it was presented at an industry trade conference in the Spring of 2001.

I'm not sure of the full extent of TCS's testing. I do know that a number of local EFA guys have been test mules for TCS, so they get track and dyno results from that. Having met Derek at his shop, I trust that he uses that information to fine tune his line-up, although I have not had extensive discussions with him on this topic.