Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) $2600 for Banks Power Pack???

[BigDan]

DON’T DO IT!!!! There prices are outrageous That and since you've asked, why don’t you think there isn’t much positive info on Banks. Out of the 20,000+ members only a handful have a complete Banks system. Wonder why..... I personally don’t own a Banks product but Ill tell you what...



Back in April 02 I bought my first CTD and the only thing I knew was Banks was cool because of all there advertising. I thought Banks was the only company that offered improved HP and TQ. So I started asking the same questions as you and soon found out Banks was a total rip off. There HP per dollar is way out of my league. For the 2nd gen their best package at the time was a lame chip, exhaust, a stupid wastgate, and lots of ZIP TIES and STICKERS for $2,000. I just went with an Edge EZ ($400) aFe mega cannon ($200) and Muffler elimination pipe($60) and called it good since I didn’t feel like spending thousands on a transmission upgrade, which you will need at anything over +60 HP and +180TQ which is what the EZ will give you.



So since it sounds like you have deep pockets make sure to plan for a transmission upgrade to go along with your Banks Power Pack.

 

[BTowler]

Banks is nothing but a marketing giant! Take thier Sidewinder Truck, which they claim with much r&d and hard labor to have increased to 700hp & 1400lbs torque, the engine they bought from Cummins already had 500hp/1000lbs torque, then they shoehorn it into a Dakota! Of course its gonna haul ass! Thats like taking a Corvette motor, adding a little hp and sticking it in a Geo Metro! Sure, its cool, but if they want to impress me, make a 2500 or 3500 go 222mph! Do the products work? Yes(in most cases, we won't mention the manifold that looses horsepower, oops, just mentioned it). Is the horsepower to cost ratio good? Absolutely not! Plus, you will be hard pressed to find anyone who will deal on Banks, I don't think Banks allows it. Save you some money and go with the other tried and true products out there, you'll be ahead of the game.

 

[pwerwagn]

Ive had bad problems with a banks exhaust brake kit on an 02.

I know 2 people who have lost their 3 gen motor to the banks 6 gun, and even though banks told them it wouldnt voiv their warranty because of the moss magnuson act, It did. the new motor was out of pocket expense. Banks has good marketing. nothing else. I wouldnt put a banks kit on my truck if could.

 

[Horsepuller]

OK then, it is agreed. Bank's rules! :-laf The only reason to buy a bundled performance package is to get a quanity discount. I looked at their packages and what they included and quickly figured I could create my own "package" and get better products for less.

 

[JL penner]

I started this thread awhile ago, Banks did me a favor and scared me straight with their big flashy prices. Just read my truck profile and you'll see where I went and where I'm headed. I'm staying way under the Banks price!! And I'll probably have more power when I'm done!!

 

[rkdblacksmoke]

I looked at your bombs list. If it were a choice between the EZ and Hypertech, I would go with the EZ. I have personally used the EZ and the Comp. Great products I would go hte comp with the because you can set it on low setting and get the same results as the EZ, turnit off with the push of a button, and in the cases where pass some one or blow some serious smoke on thier brand X truck you can crank it up alot really quickly all from inside the comfort of your cab. I rode in a truck with a Hypertech in my opinion it smoked alot and that was about it. A lot of guys are trying the catcher with good results, but I sold my 24valve or I probably would try one to. Just my 2 cents.

 

[darkhorse]

I started this thread awhile ago, Banks did me a favor and scared me straight with their big flashy prices. Just read my truck profile and you'll see where I went and where I'm headed. I'm staying way under the Banks price!! And I'll probably have more power when I'm done!!

JL, you have a good list going! I've got a truck much like yours. I've run with the Edge EZ on both stock & mach 1. 5's . I've run the injectorswith & without the EZ. I've also run the injectors with the CaTCHER. They all work very well. IMHO the best single item is the CaTCHER, but I bet a bottle of Chianti, any of the combinations will put a on your face. Welcome to the wonderful world of BOMBing. Watch out, it may be habit forming. :-laf



Pwerwagn, sorry about your brake trouble. In all fairness, I've heard of a little trouble from all the major brands, but for the most part, they all work pretty well.



BTowler, you make a good point about the Sidewinder. I'd like to see what that motor would do in a Ram 2500. I presume the manifold you refer to is the Banks High Ram. The only dyno graph I remember seeing showed a loss of statistically negligible proportions. That's exactly what one should expect without changing the fueling. I should think a change in egt would be more likely.

 

[BPINE]

I have an '03 3500 Quad Cab 4x4 w/the H. O. engine and the 6 speed manual. I am ordering the Banks Six Gun Bundle tomorrow. Sure you haven't had any problems? What kind of fuel mileage improvement did you see. Notice anything different hauling, etc as stated? A lot of $$$ for the stuff but like you said, the $$$ is paying for peace of mind and that is what I care most about. I heard a few horror stories about the "other" products available that offer similiar improvements with less research and safety features built in!



Thanks.

Think long and hard before you think any of these modifications (any Vendor) could not have side effects. When you modify these trucks things can go wrong, a friend of mine has 3 burnt pistons in his Chevy with one of those great piece of mind Banks systems.



Point being pay attention to your gauges no matter who's system you use !!!!!!!

 

[rkdblacksmoke]

I agree if you bomb potential for damage goes way up. But if your afraid to break stuff you shouldn't play the game. Just leave it stock.

 

[driverno8]

OK I'm going to try and make this short... I just signed up here (TDR) strictly to tell you guys my story with Banks. I also hang out at some other sites (some might recognize me).



As mentioned above about burnt pistons, I'm one of them. My truck had 11,017 miles on it when it went BOOM! I was 2,000 miles away from home (IL. I live in CA) towing a 12,000lbs 38' Scarab. The #5 cyclinder was burnt so bad that a chunk of the valve broke off and rattled around. Yes, my temps were fine and the 6 gun was at 4 (lower then Banks's recomendations) Once the motor was torn down we found that the front 3 cyclinders were fine and the back 3 were all toast (that's why gauges or the Banks Speedloader didn't catch it) I started to deal with Peter Treydte (suppose to be the #3 guy over there) He was initially shocked that this could happen and said he'd never heard of this happening as long as their products were installed. And guaranteed me that they would work with me and they stood behind their product. Banks claims it's a fueling issue and they don't deal with fueling, only timing. (Those that know the Cummins, know there are to banks of injectors, 1-3 & 4-6). I agree. But, if half of your motor is injecting fuel at a different time then the other half, that's a timing issue. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. Once the Cummins codes showed that this was a timing issue they stopped talking to me. (Dodge and Cummins have same codes numbers but they mean the different things) Once Scheid Diesel (Banks distributer) sent over the code list from Cummins (not the Dodge codes) Peter said, and I quote, "This doesn't look good for us, we'll get back to you. " That was the last I ever heard from them, It's since been 6 months. They have refused certified letters from my attorney, they won't return calls, e-mails, nothing (pretty chicken ***t). The warranty on my 10 month old truck is now under "warranty restriction". The dealer my truck went to could have cared less about what was done to my truck, but they are only allowed to do so much before they have to call DC. DC is the one that said no way. Banks doesn't stand behind their product at all. Try calling to speak with someone between the hours of 12-1 PST. The whole company goes to lunch, even their tech support, what happens if you have a problem between those hours? No one! (that's a whole differnent story). Banks should be embarrased about the claim that they have a great product, great tech support and that they stand behind their product. The company is ****ing joke. Once they take your money, you are no one. period. Don't think for 1 minute that if you take your chip out, reset your batteries and take it to a dealer that they won't know. The dealer might not, but if the problem is bigger then the dealer, they will know. I paid for my new motor myself. A stock crate motor was $8500 installed from the dealer. (Since is was down to the block I did have some fun with it and spent quit a bit more, plus trannie upgrades. Thanks to Scheid in Effingham) I get so worked up over this whole oreal I start to shake so I'm going to stop.



On anther note. I've been over here (TDR) a few times to read but now that I'm a member I'll start posting.

 

[darkhorse]

Golly #8, no wonder you PO. I do like the Banks products I have but I ssure don't like the sound of how you got treated. If you were dealing with guy #3, this doesn't speak well for #'s 1 & 2.

 

[DEZLPWR]

Isn't someone from Banks a member here on the TDR??? Sure would be nice if they chimed in, but I don't think that will happen... .

Banks, after all, is a big advertiser here on the TDR. Interesting.....

 

[Hohn]

My truck dynoed 390hp and 918lb-ft with just an EZ and mild injectors. Stock intake. Stock exhaust. All stock air.



I splurged and how have the BHAF. EGTs are well under control even at 6000 feet.



Total investment:

BHAF: $40

EZ: $500

Injectors: $560

Gauges: $190

Max-flow: $135



That's $1425 if I'm adding right. This is for more power than the biggest Banks kit. Driveability is great.



Stock clutch is still holding strong after almost 2 years at this power level.

 

[Horsepuller]

Total investment:

BHAF: $40

EZ: $500

Injectors: $560

Gauges: $190

Max-flow: $135



That's $1425, not spending $2500 on under-powered, over-priced Bank's products: Priceless.



Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[Sootscooter]

I put a Banks Power Pack and exhaust brake on my 98. 5 3500. When I picked up the truck I was really happy with the difference. Until a week later when I started having probelms with my exhaust brake. I took it back to Banks. Yup, I had it installed at their big huge shop complex in Azusa. When the tech came out and looked under the dash, his first comment, with a look of utter disgust on his face, in a super snarley tone, was "who installed this?" and something to the effect of they really screwed this install up. When I told him that it was installed by a Banks tech a week prior, he started to back pedal. There was nothing but a trailer controller in the truck when they got it.



Fast forward 6 mos, and I stumble upon the TDR. All the Banks stuff comes off, Edge, AFE, Auto-meter, suncoast go in. There are a lot of people looking out for you here, that never had to make the mistake I did. I made it and learned a lot from it. This is my experience, Someone asked if anyone from Banks is a member here. YUP. At least one of his tech/engineers, as well as Gale Banks himself. The last time his company got this response he popped up eventually to defend his companies name. Just like the other fellow, this

post upsets me to type. I work for a living, and his was a costly mistake. I will not post on Banks again. My comments will only be found when someone decides to do a search on Banks. I hope this helps, and I hope if you do go with Banks you have a better experience than I did.



P. s. The tech that worked on my truck the first time told me it sounded like @#$! and asked what happened to my Muffler. I told him it was straight piped. He wanted to know why. 'nuff said!

 

[driverno8]

That is funny. Really, really funny. Why straight pipe it. Am I the only the one that caught the fact that Banks gives you an K&N filter with their kit. Yet right on the cummins web-site it says not to install K&N type filters. I read that and laughed too. I don't know if it's still therebut it was earlier this year when I was air filter shopping. How about Banks says it's ok not to cool down your turbo at shut off.

 

[JL penner]

I noticed that too. That was another reason I have chosen not to go with Banks. If they are doing so much research and development over there wouldn't you think they would have found out that K&N's don't filter worth beans??? Makes you question how much of the money goes into R&D and how much goes into Mr. Banks's new Ferrari!

 

[pwerwagn]

Hey driver no8, I have your sticker on my truck. got it from ya over at dtw!

welcome to tdr!!!

 

[driverno8]

pwerwagn - Waaas up? For those of you that don't know what he's talking about, I have Calvin ******* on Banks stickers. I give them away and will mail them anywhere. Absolutly no charge. Just e-mail me your address and what side you want. I want to spread the message and I need everyones help. I only have them in white, but if you insist I will make them in any color you want. Granted I have that color vinyl. White does stand out the best though.



I love driving by someone that has a Banks sticker on his truck, especially while towing. You can see the guys look on his face as your pulling from him. Leaving him guessing what you have done to your truck, knowing he wasted his money on big fancy exhaust tip.

 

[pwerwagn]

Hows it going driverno8?

Yup, They are nice stickers and get a lot of looks and comments.

Half the trucks in my town have banks stickers on them, and now I do to. Just in a different manner!!! I got mine in red.

I agree. anyone that says you dont have to let the turbo cool down, thats crazy. I believe the banks website refers to turbo cool down as a "myth"!!!

By the way, In my first post about banks,I referred to two guys who I know that had a 3rd gen motor go, driverno8 was one of the guys I was referring to.