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Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

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Old Jun 24, 2003 | 10:56 AM
  #1  
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Default Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

I bought both these throttle bodys.
1st-price-they both are 350w/o core. However Thunder racing gives back $200 where Katech only gives back $175.

2nd-shipping-Katech had them in stock 2-3 days it was at my house. Thunder racing over 3 weeks!

3rd-Condition of TB-Katechs was brand new with sensors, Thunder Racing's TB was used(paint was off the spring, coolant pipes were clogged with dried coolant)

4th-Main CNC porting. Was the same for both of them.

5th-Blade / throttle cam milling. Was almost the same but Katechs blade milling went perfectly to the edge of the inside of the TB, Thunder's did not. Also blade was the same.

6th- Bump stop. Thunder had bump stop mod, Katechs did not.
(I still have yet to check the THunder;s voltage on my scanmaster)

In my opinion buying a Katech TB is a better choice.
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Old Jun 24, 2003 | 12:24 PM
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Default Re: Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

Will do, thanks for the detailed info.
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Old Jun 24, 2003 | 12:38 PM
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Default Re: Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

I've never heard of Katech, where can I find one?
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Old Jun 24, 2003 | 12:42 PM
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Default Re: Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

WOW, I ported my own TB for free...seems like a lot of dough for something you can do yourself...
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Old Jun 24, 2003 | 12:48 PM
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Default Re: Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

I've never heard of Katech, where can I find one?
http://www.katechengines.com/
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Old Jun 24, 2003 | 01:26 PM
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Default Re: Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

Do they both epoxy the TB's too, or they just machined?
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Old Jun 24, 2003 | 01:42 PM
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Default Re: Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

I have done quite a few myself (about 25 or so) and found that the "average" for a ported/polished stock tb is about 4-6 hp depending on the vehicle. I have seen one of the cnc machined ones and they look very nice. The mms piece is done very nicely as well. You might look at theirs as well.
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Old Jun 24, 2003 | 02:34 PM
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Default Re: Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

i have the katech. no complaints here!
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Old Jun 24, 2003 | 03:11 PM
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Default Re: Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

Do they both epoxy the openings in the TB's or they just machined?
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Old Jun 24, 2003 | 03:41 PM
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Default Re: Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

i have the same ? as fast ls1
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Old Jun 24, 2003 | 03:49 PM
  #11  
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Default Re: Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

i called katech and they said that they dont epoxy any part of the tb!
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Old Jun 24, 2003 | 03:49 PM
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Default Re: Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

NO. I epoxied my Katech already, and now Im doing the Thunder Racing.
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Old Jun 24, 2003 | 04:31 PM
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Default Re: Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

I have the thunder and am happy with it
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Old Jun 24, 2003 | 06:52 PM
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Default Re: Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

I bought both these throttle bodys.
1st-price-they both are 350w/o core. However Thunder racing gives back $200 where Katech only gives back $175.

2nd-shipping-Katech had them in stock 2-3 days it was at my house. Thunder racing over 3 weeks!

3rd-Condition of TB-Katechs was brand new with sensors, Thunder Racing's TB was used(paint was off the spring, coolant pipes were clogged with dried coolant)

4th-Main CNC porting. Was the same for both of them.

5th-Blade / throttle cam milling. Was almost the same but Katechs blade milling went perfectly to the edge of the inside of the TB, Thunder's did not. Also blade was the same.

6th- Bump stop. Thunder had bump stop mod, Katechs did not.
(I still have yet to check the THunder;s voltage on my scanmaster)

In my opinion buying a Katech TB is a better choice.
Andy,

Don't you work for Ramcharger's? Do you have some kind of ax to grind with us? For the record Katech CNC ports our throttle bodies. No big secret here. You are acting as if the machining on our throttle bodies isn't as good as what Katech produces. Bottom line is that they are the same piece the only difference that we do the throttle stop mod in house and Katech doesn't. You getting a new throttle body from Katech is luck of the draw...we work on a core exchange basis and if Katech is out of cores they will supplement their core supply with a new unit, same here, however no one will guarantee that you get a new unit unless you send a new unit in to be ported.

If you have a problem with what you bought from us send it back and we will make it right.
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Old Jun 24, 2003 | 07:12 PM
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Default Re: Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech


Andy,

Don't you work for Ramcharger's? Do you have some kind of ax to grind with us?
Wow! Where'd that come from? After reading his review it sounded like a pretty objective writeup. He gave credit where it was due to both sides (even giving TR credit for being cheaper and grinding the t-stop). He even commented that the porting on both was equal on both. I think the only glaring deficiency was the delayed shipping....other than that I got the impression that both T-bodies were quality pieces.
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Old Jun 24, 2003 | 07:21 PM
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Default Re: Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

I dont work at Katech or Thunderracing. All I have is 2 samples. If they dont represent the full line of TB's, im sorry. If Katech does your TB's then it comes down to who wants to wait a couple weeks to save $25 and labor on throttle stop.





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Old Jun 24, 2003 | 09:47 PM
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Default Re: Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

I bought both these throttle bodys.

2nd-shipping-Katech had them in stock 2-3 days it was at my house. Thunder racing over 3 weeks!
Guilty as charged. However we can't control delivery from Katech.

3rd-Condition of TB-Katechs was brand new with sensors, Thunder Racing's TB was used(paint was off the spring, coolant pipes were clogged with dried coolant)
You are making it sound like we are selling second rate junk. As I explained we have no control over weather you get a brand new unit or one that is someone's core. Same with Katech. Quite simply it is luck of the draw and you are trying to fry us over this. If it was that important to you to get a new unit then supply either us or Katech with a new core and you will be guaranteed that in return.

5th-Blade / throttle cam milling. Was almost the same but Katechs blade milling went perfectly to the edge of the inside of the TB, Thunder's did not. Also blade was the same.
It looks like to me here that you are implying that our machining isn't as good as Katech's. Bottom line is that Katech did both of them. Either Katech has bad quality control(I doubt it) or you just have an ax to grind.


In my opinion buying a Katech TB is a better choice.
Yes we were slow on delivery, guilty as charged, but on the other hand if you are honestly basing your decision on the finish of the throttle body then you are foolishly setting up a lot of people here for disappointment, I don't think that Katech guarantee's that everyone will get a brand new throttle body.

Also why didn't you answer my question about if you worked for Ramchargers? I didn't ask if you worked for Katech or us. What are you trying to hide?
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Old Jun 25, 2003 | 03:09 AM
  #18  
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Default Re: Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

FWIW I have had nothing but good experiences with Thunder Racing, I would do business with them before anyone else. I have one of there TB's and it was very nice, no dried coolant etc.
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Old Jun 25, 2003 | 09:56 AM
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Default Re: Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

Im telling you Katech did a slopier job on your guy's throttle body. Even though they are ported teh same way. The edge on the blade was cut too much which allows an extra slight amonunt of air to seep through. Also at the point the center bar meets the TB it was perfectly sloped to the top of the whole, The one I got from you just goes stays grinded right through the whole. So it wasnt completly NEW vs Used.

Im not hiding anything. Before the Thunder TB got to my house I thought it would be alot better than the Katech, looking at the picture on the site.
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Old Jun 25, 2003 | 12:26 PM
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Default Re: Ported TB review: Thunder Racing vs Katech

Ordered two TR TBs and got them both in under the time Paul specified. As for my cores, I tracked them with UPS, the money was IN my account 2 days after they received the cores. Both looked great, and neither was clogged with old coolant or anything.
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