TCI vs VIG vs YANK
02-24-2003, 08:55 PM
#21
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK I will stay with Yank until some one with another brand puts up better numbers.
All I care about is performance...
And Yank leads the pack in LS1 performance.
Blah, blah, blah.... it's all about E.T.
All I care about is performance...
And Yank leads the pack in LS1 performance.
Blah, blah, blah.... it's all about E.T.
02-25-2003, 04:15 AM
#22
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK I run a TCS Phoenix Violator Pro 3600. Thing is solid and dropped me .5 ET. I've never heard a good thing about TCI and their lower than average price had me thinking...something's fishy. I have a friend who's BUILT tranny has failed so I'm gonna send him the yank site link. May have been his problem. He has a TCI.
My 2 cents,
Rob
Oh, and from what I've heard, I'd recommend Vig or TCS then Yank.
My 2 cents,
Rob
Oh, and from what I've heard, I'd recommend Vig or TCS then Yank.
02-25-2003, 07:27 AM
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK His built tranny failed and you think the converter was the problem <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />
02-25-2003, 02:21 PM
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For those that plan on putting some serious hp to a 4L60 or 4L60E, Brian Hartman is the man to see in my opinion for high performance parts. He has designed custom parts, including torque converters, for these trannies after a tremendous amount of testing and $$$. I went through 3 in short order before getting his Stage IV kit and his custom designed 9"/11" hybrid TC which is built by TCS. Now it can handle 600 hp with no problem.
Brian will talk to you straight up and answer any questions you may have. He's also the most knowlegable person I have ever talked to about trannies and TC's. His custom TC's are a no comprimise design at a competitive price.
Again, just sharing my opinion. I think it's best to be as educated as possible before making a decision.
You can contact Brian, below. Tell him Jim from the SyTy BB gave you his name.
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<small>[ February 25, 2003, 08:14 PM: Message edited by: Ragtop 99 ]</small>
For those that plan on putting some serious hp to a 4L60 or 4L60E, Brian Hartman is the man to see in my opinion for high performance parts. He has designed custom parts, including torque converters, for these trannies after a tremendous amount of testing and $$$. I went through 3 in short order before getting his Stage IV kit and his custom designed 9"/11" hybrid TC which is built by TCS. Now it can handle 600 hp with no problem.
Brian will talk to you straight up and answer any questions you may have. He's also the most knowlegable person I have ever talked to about trannies and TC's. His custom TC's are a no comprimise design at a competitive price.
Again, just sharing my opinion. I think it's best to be as educated as possible before making a decision.
You can contact Brian, below. Tell him Jim from the SyTy BB gave you his name.
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<small>[ February 25, 2003, 08:14 PM: Message edited by: Ragtop 99 ]</small>
02-25-2003, 08:25 PM
#25
Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK **** Just a Reminder ****
Sponsors are not protected from factual negative comments about their products or services. If you have recent, first hand knowledge of the product you may post it.
However, if your negative opinion is based upon rumor, speculation, or fuzzy impressions of something you read posted by someone you don't know, it may not be posted.
TCI is a Sponsor. Please extend them the courtesy of posting factual information rather than speculation.
Sponsors are not protected from factual negative comments about their products or services. If you have recent, first hand knowledge of the product you may post it.
However, if your negative opinion is based upon rumor, speculation, or fuzzy impressions of something you read posted by someone you don't know, it may not be posted.
TCI is a Sponsor. Please extend them the courtesy of posting factual information rather than speculation.
02-25-2003, 10:46 PM
#26
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK I chose the yank ss3600 because of of its advanced design and light weight. Unfortunately, their customer service needs improvement.
I ended up wating about two months for the converter. After I received it it was recalled proactively before installation. It showed up a few weeks later.
People who run this unit (several of them experienced with competitiors) have said the ss line offers the best of performance and drivability. This heavily influenced my decision.
I have yet to drive it, so I can not offer a first hand opinion. I believe they stand behind the product. From what I understand they will even restall free if you want.
I understand they are busy, however if business is that good they should take initiave and improve their customer service.
I ended up wating about two months for the converter. After I received it it was recalled proactively before installation. It showed up a few weeks later.
People who run this unit (several of them experienced with competitiors) have said the ss line offers the best of performance and drivability. This heavily influenced my decision.
I have yet to drive it, so I can not offer a first hand opinion. I believe they stand behind the product. From what I understand they will even restall free if you want.
I understand they are busy, however if business is that good they should take initiave and improve their customer service.
02-25-2003, 11:21 PM
#27
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK I have seen people with 10s of thousands of miles on Yank converters.
I have seen people with 10s of thousands of miles on Vig/PI converters.
I have seen people with 10s of thousands of miles on TCI converters.
What does this mean? It means that all of these compaines build quality products, and all are proven. Granted, TCI might not be as proven in the LS1 world just because of the virtually unopposed dominance of Vig and Yank in the '98-'01 years, but TCI has built high quality 'verters for many applications for many years.
Any one of these brands is a great chioce, IMO. Personally, I have a SY3500 Yank, it's been great. I've heard of people putting 40,000+ miles on this model without issue; I've had mine for 2.5 years without issue in two different trannies. I've also heard of people putting 40,000+ miles on Vig3200 'verters.
Pick the unit that best suits your needs and budget. They are all good quality. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
I have seen people with 10s of thousands of miles on Vig/PI converters.
I have seen people with 10s of thousands of miles on TCI converters.
What does this mean? It means that all of these compaines build quality products, and all are proven. Granted, TCI might not be as proven in the LS1 world just because of the virtually unopposed dominance of Vig and Yank in the '98-'01 years, but TCI has built high quality 'verters for many applications for many years.
Any one of these brands is a great chioce, IMO. Personally, I have a SY3500 Yank, it's been great. I've heard of people putting 40,000+ miles on this model without issue; I've had mine for 2.5 years without issue in two different trannies. I've also heard of people putting 40,000+ miles on Vig3200 'verters.
Pick the unit that best suits your needs and budget. They are all good quality. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
02-26-2003, 12:10 AM
#28
Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK I've owned over 10 different aftermarket converters in LS1's from all three manufacturers listed in the title, so I think I'll comment.
P.I.'s Vigilante: I've had everything from a 2800 to a 4000. I liked their 3200 best (actually stalls 3800 in an LS1) for street/strip use because it kept some decent efficiency and hit okay for a daily-driver converter. It's not too loose to kill a ton of efficiency. The 3600 hit pretty nice, but the efficiency wasn't up to par of other converters being offered. The 4000 was flat-out ridiculous on efficiency. I lost 38 RWHP locked vs. unlocked on the dyno with this converter. I'm still a very big fan of the Vig 3200.
Yank: I tried my first Yank converter in December 1999 (Super Yank 3500), and it was the best street converter I've ever owned. It's super-soft 1.6:1 STR made it a breeze to get fantastic launches from stop-light to stop-light, and the efficiency was incredible. The top-end charge with this converter over the Vig 3200 was night and day, but I did lose over .1 in the 60'. That's to be expected since it wasn't designed to hit hard. I tried a few other converters such as the Ultra Yank 4200 in the fall of 2000 that were't too stellar. I decided to try out a PT4400 in my SS in April 2002, and it was incredible! This converter hits hard, charges hard, and has some nice efficiency for the size of converter that it is. This converter had low 1.5x 60' times and nice trap speeds in my car. I was more than happy with the performance!
TCI: I currently have a TCI 3800 in my SS with our 200-4R conversion. I'll be the first to admit that I was a skeptic of TCI's converters 18 months ago. You just didn't see any really nice results on the message boards from their LS1 converters. You slowly started seeing some converters make it into LS1's, and the results have been staggering to me. At the Thunder Shootout this past November, I was running my SS with a 3,526# raceweight, all the bolt-ons, 3.73's, Yank PT4400, and our 228R camshaft, and my best 60' of the day was a 1.529. My friends John and Kristi Payne were there with their '02 SS with all of the bolt-ons, stock internals, 3.73's, and a TCI Competition 4400. The car tipped the scales at a little over 3,560#, and the best 60' from the car that day was a 1.53. I was floored at how a stock-internal car that weighed more than my car could cut the same 60' times! I know that John and Kristi had tried out a Super Street Fighter 3500 prior to their 4400 and managed a best 60' of 1.59 with that converter. I didn't start taking notice of the TCI converters until John and Kristi started laying down some crazy times. Later on, you see the Colonel lay down some really nice 60' times and 1/4 ET's with the SSF 3500, and I personally watched 02 SOM SS's car click off a 1.58 60' with stock-internals at SLP Day at the Texas Motorplex. I was afraid of giving up a ton of 60' time with the numerically lower 1st gear ratio of my 200-4R (2.75:1 vs. the 4L60E's 3.06:1) and a tighter stall of 3800 vs. my old PT4400. My first pass down the track netted a 1.55 60' time while spinning some. I was VERY pleased to see that! Give me some time to tweak, and I think I can pull a high 1.4x 60' time out of this setup N/A. That's pretty awesome to me with a 3,800 stall!
TCI has come a long way in the LS1 converter market in the past 12-18 months, and I am personally excited to see them producing such a great product. Our regular price on a Super Street Fighter TCI converter is $524.99, and it performs equally as well as the $800+ converters out there. We're getting more and more cars out there with TCI converters, so the results will start rolling in. The only way to get conclusive results is to get a bunch of converters in a bunch of different cars. That hasn't been a problem with the awesome pricing! I'm going to be testing my converter not only with miles but also with power. I'll be running a 100 shot on top of the heads/cam setup (maybe a 150 shot every once in a while <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> ), so we'll see how well it does with 500+ RWHP. I also think the customer service is worth noting. We sold a converter to a customer with an LT1 that developed a shudder after the converter was installed. I contacted Kevin, and he got another converter out to the customer immediately. The customer service has been like this from the first day I started doing business with them.
All three converter companies produce a good product. It is my opinion that TCI is going to gain a large portion of the LS1 and LT1 torque converter market in the future because you're getting a product with excellent quality, performance, price, and customer service. It just doesn't get any better than that.
Trevor
P.I.'s Vigilante: I've had everything from a 2800 to a 4000. I liked their 3200 best (actually stalls 3800 in an LS1) for street/strip use because it kept some decent efficiency and hit okay for a daily-driver converter. It's not too loose to kill a ton of efficiency. The 3600 hit pretty nice, but the efficiency wasn't up to par of other converters being offered. The 4000 was flat-out ridiculous on efficiency. I lost 38 RWHP locked vs. unlocked on the dyno with this converter. I'm still a very big fan of the Vig 3200.
Yank: I tried my first Yank converter in December 1999 (Super Yank 3500), and it was the best street converter I've ever owned. It's super-soft 1.6:1 STR made it a breeze to get fantastic launches from stop-light to stop-light, and the efficiency was incredible. The top-end charge with this converter over the Vig 3200 was night and day, but I did lose over .1 in the 60'. That's to be expected since it wasn't designed to hit hard. I tried a few other converters such as the Ultra Yank 4200 in the fall of 2000 that were't too stellar. I decided to try out a PT4400 in my SS in April 2002, and it was incredible! This converter hits hard, charges hard, and has some nice efficiency for the size of converter that it is. This converter had low 1.5x 60' times and nice trap speeds in my car. I was more than happy with the performance!
TCI: I currently have a TCI 3800 in my SS with our 200-4R conversion. I'll be the first to admit that I was a skeptic of TCI's converters 18 months ago. You just didn't see any really nice results on the message boards from their LS1 converters. You slowly started seeing some converters make it into LS1's, and the results have been staggering to me. At the Thunder Shootout this past November, I was running my SS with a 3,526# raceweight, all the bolt-ons, 3.73's, Yank PT4400, and our 228R camshaft, and my best 60' of the day was a 1.529. My friends John and Kristi Payne were there with their '02 SS with all of the bolt-ons, stock internals, 3.73's, and a TCI Competition 4400. The car tipped the scales at a little over 3,560#, and the best 60' from the car that day was a 1.53. I was floored at how a stock-internal car that weighed more than my car could cut the same 60' times! I know that John and Kristi had tried out a Super Street Fighter 3500 prior to their 4400 and managed a best 60' of 1.59 with that converter. I didn't start taking notice of the TCI converters until John and Kristi started laying down some crazy times. Later on, you see the Colonel lay down some really nice 60' times and 1/4 ET's with the SSF 3500, and I personally watched 02 SOM SS's car click off a 1.58 60' with stock-internals at SLP Day at the Texas Motorplex. I was afraid of giving up a ton of 60' time with the numerically lower 1st gear ratio of my 200-4R (2.75:1 vs. the 4L60E's 3.06:1) and a tighter stall of 3800 vs. my old PT4400. My first pass down the track netted a 1.55 60' time while spinning some. I was VERY pleased to see that! Give me some time to tweak, and I think I can pull a high 1.4x 60' time out of this setup N/A. That's pretty awesome to me with a 3,800 stall!
TCI has come a long way in the LS1 converter market in the past 12-18 months, and I am personally excited to see them producing such a great product. Our regular price on a Super Street Fighter TCI converter is $524.99, and it performs equally as well as the $800+ converters out there. We're getting more and more cars out there with TCI converters, so the results will start rolling in. The only way to get conclusive results is to get a bunch of converters in a bunch of different cars. That hasn't been a problem with the awesome pricing! I'm going to be testing my converter not only with miles but also with power. I'll be running a 100 shot on top of the heads/cam setup (maybe a 150 shot every once in a while <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> ), so we'll see how well it does with 500+ RWHP. I also think the customer service is worth noting. We sold a converter to a customer with an LT1 that developed a shudder after the converter was installed. I contacted Kevin, and he got another converter out to the customer immediately. The customer service has been like this from the first day I started doing business with them.
All three converter companies produce a good product. It is my opinion that TCI is going to gain a large portion of the LS1 and LT1 torque converter market in the future because you're getting a product with excellent quality, performance, price, and customer service. It just doesn't get any better than that.
Trevor
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02-26-2003, 08:49 AM
#29
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK Thanks guys, this has become an informative post. People that have used the TCI's have had nothing but positive to say about them. People that haven't used them are a little unsure or in some cases saying things that there is no first hand knowledge. This is to be expected. I appreciate all the first hand knowledge. Now if only we could get a 3 yr warranty and free restalls <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> How 'bout it Kevin <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
02-26-2003, 10:05 AM
#31
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK Turk,
OK, I'll give you a 3 yr warranty and free restalls...for only $850/conv <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
I've got to say, you drive a hard bargain.
You can check out our warranty info at www.tciauto.com, BUT this is usually the minimum that we do to help our customer. We aim to please...I can't remember refusing a free restall for a customer w/i their warranty period. We also bend over backwards to help our customer after the warranty period <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> Plus, you won't have any problems contacting us...
Take Care,
Kevin
OK, I'll give you a 3 yr warranty and free restalls...for only $850/conv <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
I've got to say, you drive a hard bargain.
You can check out our warranty info at www.tciauto.com, BUT this is usually the minimum that we do to help our customer. We aim to please...I can't remember refusing a free restall for a customer w/i their warranty period. We also bend over backwards to help our customer after the warranty period <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> Plus, you won't have any problems contacting us...
Take Care,
Kevin
02-26-2003, 11:07 AM
#32
Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK I just installed a TCI SSF3800 along with a new 4L65E on Friday and raced at the track over the weekend. The TCI replaced a shuddering Yank ST3800 and I was not really expecting to pick up anything by going with a TCI. Price was the main factor as I bought it on GP for $488 shipped.
Imagine my surprise when I picked up .06 in 60ft. over the Yank. The street manners are excellent also, I almost have to learn how to drive again as I was so used to the shuddering of the Yank I had to very careful with the throttle anywhere near lock-up. Needless to say, I am satisfied.
Mike
Imagine my surprise when I picked up .06 in 60ft. over the Yank. The street manners are excellent also, I almost have to learn how to drive again as I was so used to the shuddering of the Yank I had to very careful with the throttle anywhere near lock-up. Needless to say, I am satisfied.
Mike
02-26-2003, 08:55 PM
#33
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Trevor @ Texas Speed & Perf.:
<strong>.... I also think the customer service is worth noting. We sold a converter to a customer with an LT1 that developed a shudder after the converter was installed. I contacted Kevin, and he got another converter out to the customer immediately. The customer service has been like this from the first day I started doing business with them....
Trevor </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The LT1 guy is me. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> Trevor (and Kevin at TCI) got me the replacement TC very quickly, so I can vouch for Texas Speed's AND TCI's customer service.
It's because of that, and from their seeming to actually care about the problem, that I went with a replacement TCI as opposed to getting another brand.
Edit - Trevor, I sent you mail, too.
<small>[ February 26, 2003, 08:57 PM: Message edited by: Gearhead ]</small>
<strong>.... I also think the customer service is worth noting. We sold a converter to a customer with an LT1 that developed a shudder after the converter was installed. I contacted Kevin, and he got another converter out to the customer immediately. The customer service has been like this from the first day I started doing business with them....
Trevor </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The LT1 guy is me. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> Trevor (and Kevin at TCI) got me the replacement TC very quickly, so I can vouch for Texas Speed's AND TCI's customer service.
It's because of that, and from their seeming to actually care about the problem, that I went with a replacement TCI as opposed to getting another brand.
Edit - Trevor, I sent you mail, too.
<small>[ February 26, 2003, 08:57 PM: Message edited by: Gearhead ]</small>
02-27-2003, 12:23 AM
#34
Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK One thing to remember here,BOTH ARE record setting cars ran a PI from what I gathered?Something to think about when buying a verter.There multi disc is a great converter but alittle pricey.
All 4 big companies make good products.
I say choose your poison.
JS
All 4 big companies make good products.
I say choose your poison.
JS
03-04-2003, 05:07 AM
#35
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Re: TCI vs VIG vs YANK I just wanted to bump this thread to the top, as it has A LOT of good reading! I'll be lookin' to get a converter coming up here and I think this thread and some others have me locked on a TCI, prolly 4400 stall. And Lane's greatness better install it for me. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
I can't imagine getting a small stall when you can get a bigger and better one. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
<small>[ March 04, 2003, 05:34 AM: Message edited by: Michael Fornal ]</small>
I can't imagine getting a small stall when you can get a bigger and better one. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
<small>[ March 04, 2003, 05:34 AM: Message edited by: Michael Fornal ]</small>
06-23-2007, 08:49 PM
#37
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I bought my TCI about a year and a half ago(SSF3500stall) its in my daily driven(stop and go traffic) heads,cam,portedfast, car and no problems. I read the negative comments people make about certain verters and feel any company will have its share of problems whether its heads ,trans, hedders,vereters, etc. Its what a company is willing to do when a problem arises that separates them from the rest
