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  #1  
Old 09-23-2003, 09:54 PM
71dart666 71dart666 is offline
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Question TCI converters how good are they?

Just looking for some comments or criticism on TCI converters and how well they do for street cars.
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  #2  
Old 09-23-2003, 10:07 PM
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Uh-oh....buckle your seatbelts!
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Old 09-23-2003, 10:10 PM
71dart666 71dart666 is offline
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Then in your opinion they are pretty impressive I take it ?
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Old 09-23-2003, 10:46 PM
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Actually, I do more listening than talking when it comes to converters...as I am currently running one that is probably less than optimal for my combination and I haven't ever purchased one in the aftermarket.

The t-converter topic may get a bit emotionally charged

I currently don't have an opinion, but am listening for those that do.
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  #5  
Old 09-23-2003, 11:21 PM
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dwc43 dwc43 is offline
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Re: TCI converters how good are they?

Quote:
Originally posted by 71dart666
Just looking for some comments or criticism on TCI converters and how well they do for street cars.
You want find a better one than TCI. IT's all we run in our street and race cars that run autos. Even if you dont get one, stay away from the b&m junk. MAny people have tried them and they fail. Cheap junk so what can you expect.
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  #6  
Old 09-23-2003, 11:36 PM
71dart666 71dart666 is offline
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Thats good to hear, I just ordered one from PAW - 2400-2600 rpm stall speed. With the 3.91 gears and relative light weight of the Dart im figuring itll stall around 2300-2400 rpms.. right when the torque starts to kick in.
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  #7  
Old 09-24-2003, 01:02 AM
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Well DWC41, the same can be said about the TCI converters.

Dynamic Converters are the best you can get for your money. They are also about twice the cost of a TCI or B&M converter.

Some people have good luck with TCI and some people have good luck with B&M. To call one better than the other, is just simply wrong, as they are not better than each other. They are both about the same level of quality.
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  #8  
Old 09-24-2003, 03:06 PM
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cuda66273 cuda66273 is offline
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Just do the calculations on slippage at the stripe and form your own opinion.

A good convertor will stall at the RPM you ordered and will slip no more than about 5% at the stripe...do the math, forget the undocumented arguements.

FACT:
My Dynamic slips at 3.5% at the stripe.

FACT:
Flashes at 4200 exactly what I ordered

FACT:
Over 800 Passes NO CHANGE

So do the test and post how your TCI or B&M or whatever else your using compares.

Before you make the statement that "My blankety blank convertor works great" be prepared to back it up with the mathmatical calculations.

This is almost as bad as the "What Cam for my Motor" questions....get the facts and do the math!
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  #9  
Old 09-24-2003, 03:56 PM
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Cuda,

Just to clarify for my simple brain: Use your MPH, Tire Height, Gear Ratio, and calculate the 0 slip RPM at the end of the 1/4 mile. Then compare that to the actual RPM. A good converter is 3.5% or less?

That's some cool thinking! I have a custom made converter and I can't wait to check the quality now! Man you guys kick some butt!

Later,

Greg
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  #10  
Old 09-24-2003, 05:45 PM
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cuda66273 cuda66273 is offline
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Exactly...doesn't matter whose convertor it is...does it meet spec? that's all you have to know

...next question will it make 3000 passes and does it have a 5 year warrantee?

No?

Well you better call Dynamic and spend your money wisely.

We carry:

TCI
B&M
Hughes

Notice that Dynamic is not on our list????

Figure that one out......
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  #11  
Old 09-24-2003, 07:20 PM
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The Dartman The Dartman is offline
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Default Slipage calculation....

Can you share this calc with me? I would be curious as to how my TCI is performing.

I know that I ran a 12.97@103 and that I have 28.5 tires and 3.91 gears, I just don't know what the RPM at the line was.

My TCI stalled out of the box dead on the advertised 3800 RPM stall speed. This is for my 318, and I have been thus far very happy with it and the value. However, when I get done with the 10 second 440 motor it will most likely have a Dynamic converter behind it.

Dartman

PS - Don: I went 4 rounds in the Pro class of about 150 at Monster Mopar on Sept 5, and my worst light all weekend (11 passes) was a .549. I broke out with a 12.97 on a 13.05 (where's da brake)!!
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  #12  
Old 09-24-2003, 07:48 PM
Slant Cecil Slant Cecil is offline
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I've run 7 convertors over the years. 2 TCI, 2 Turbo Action, 1 JW, 1 A-1`and 1 B&M.

The first TCI was too low stall, exchanged it for one with the right stall but it had over 10% slip.
The B&M worked good till I broke it, had over 1200 passes on it.
Turbo Actions worked well and never broke one after at least 1000 passes on each.
A-1 stall stayed right on and didn't break after 500 passes with a lot of HP put to it.
The JW was the worst. Performed well but broke after 24 passes, repaired under warranty and broke again 42 passes later. This was on same motor the A-1 stayed in one piece behind.

These were run on 12.50 street cars all the way to 8.40 ET doorcars.

Although I've had bad luck with TCI and JW, I know lots of racers that have had good luck with those products.


Cecil
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  #13  
Old 09-24-2003, 10:06 PM
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Glen440 Glen440 is offline
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I ordered a TCI a few years ago. It was supposed to be 2800-3200 behind my 400. When I took it in to a local converter shop to be balanced for the cast crank they told me it was definatley 3500+ and they seen that alot with TCI. I put it in and it stalled at 4000 behind a 400hp 400. Street driving was horrible cause it was extremely loose. I could roll backward while in gear....lol. My friend put the exact same converter behind his 440 and lost 3 mph.......lol. The converter was taken out after 2 days of use he hated it so much.
This time around I have baselined the car with a real tight converter so I know if I lose mph.
I'm trying a SMR converter.....they come highly recomended around here......30 min from me so no currency exchange or stupid border charges.
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  #14  
Old 09-24-2003, 10:58 PM
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Any feedback on tubo actions turbo J convertor.

I have a turbor action trans with brake. The guys in Fla said that the turbo J wont take the abuse of a brake. If this is true, I'll be selling the turbo action for .70 on the dollar.
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  #15  
Old 09-25-2003, 12:14 AM
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Default Re: Slipage calculation....

Quote:
Originally posted by The Dartman
Can you share this calc with me? I would be curious as to how my TCI is performing.

I know that I ran a 12.97@103 and that I have 28.5 tires and 3.91 gears, I just don't know what the RPM at the line was.

Need the actual RPM to do the calculation.
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  #16  
Old 09-25-2003, 09:23 AM
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Quote:
Dartman

PS - Don: I went 4 rounds in the Pro class of about 150 at Monster Mopar on Sept 5

Most Excellent Grasshopper!....gotta watch those Mopars they'll break you out in a Heartbeat, the harder you push 'em the harder they run....and they have a mind of their own....they hate giving up that stripe even if there's another Mopar in the other lane, sometimes you just can't hit the brake hard enough......Good Lights!

Dartman: RPM is the missing factor for the equation.
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  #17  
Old 09-25-2003, 04:07 PM
Kevin Garceau Kevin Garceau is offline
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Well all depends what you want it for. If you just want max et and not care about consistency then get one with 0 slippage. I will take a convertor that is loose and has some slippage in it. It is by far way more consistant than a convertor with 0 percent in it. Some know the reasons for this some dont. I will let you all think about it for a while or let someone esle explain it. A loose convertor is more consistent. Yes it requires a bit more maintenance on your tranney as in should be checked every year but if you dont check it every year you should anyways. Never know when some of them 30 year old parts start showing wear and tear and you may spend way more later than the 100 dollar bill to go through it is.

Oh someone once told me the key to bracket racing....
Over tire
Under gear
Loose convertor
Alky

this somone you may all know. His last name is Richardson. Makes more money bracket racing than most do working.

But like I said it all depends on what you want it for. Obviously for a street cruiser a loose convertor is a pain in the azz.
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  #18  
Old 09-25-2003, 04:20 PM
70Ted 70Ted is offline
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junk
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  #19  
Old 09-25-2003, 04:59 PM
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Can I still have the equation to calculate slipage? I know I'm missing the RPM factor, I would like to figure the slipage next time I race.

I was real proud of myself on my lights all weekend, even when I cut a .517 an ran a 13.10 on a 13.12 on the brakes. My opponant cut a .655 light and ran off by about 6 hundreths. Sometimes it really sucks being the slower car and in the right hand lane. I think I need a convertible and four foot wide rearview mirror.....
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  #20  
Old 09-26-2003, 01:40 AM
DartGT66 DartGT66 is offline
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I have used five or six TCI's during the years, among ATI, Coan, Turbo Action and Dynamic. They all have worked decently, nd none has broken (except one TCI street fighter; it was used with a trans brake). Optimizing a converter isn't an easy thing and may take several tries even from the best ($$$) builders, they are pretty sensitive. TCI makes nice moderately priced converters for the average, they also make better converters but they cost more. A converter getting a bad reputation isn't difficult; my current TCI 10" street fighter for example. I run 10.66/132.7 mph with it with 28 x 11.5" ET streets and 3.23 gears and the engine turned 6400 rpm at the traps. However, a street fighter isn't planned for 700 ft/lb in the first place, so the converter is all wrong for my car.
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