Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Banks system installer Great Falls MT

[egustafson]

Anyone know of a Banks power system installer in Great Falls, MT? Going there to pick up new 5th wheel and no time to go to Banks here in CA. Thanks

 

[Sky]

Welcome to the TDR. Not sure about your question. But if you read this board and do searches on mods for your truck you will save your self a lot of money and get a lot more "bang" for your buck then Banks. This is IN MY OPINION and I am sure others will agree with me. What are you looking to get out of a banks system?

 

[Shovelhead]

Welcome to the TDR.

Spend some time searching, ask questions, save $$$$.

 

[illflem]

Don't listen to the anti-Banks here, most everyone who gives them bad marks either has no experience with them and is going on heresy or is trying to sell something else.



Gomer's in Missoula and Belgrade (near Bozeman) are Banks installers and very good shops.

 

[Ted Constantine]

There is a banks dealer on North Rouse in Bozeman. He is a very nice guy that let me use his guages to test my lift pump but really knows very little about the other bombing options for our trucks. He kept trying to tell me how much more power his power packed ram made than my truck I have nothing against backs products but do beleive that the full systems are not worth the price tag. The whole is not the sum of the parts.

 

[Ramboy]

Most of the ones that talk about how wonderful Banks systems are don't have them. You can see by my signature that I do and I can tell you that you can get a LOT more for less by shopping around. Since you will be towing, I can also tell you that you will hate the drone from their exhaust. You can take this for what it is worth but I speak from experience. Also, the improvement numbers that Banks advertises are laughable. You can expect about half of those numbers. Talk to other Banks members, you'll see what I mean.

 

[Jonz]

Banks

I have to agree with Ramboy. If I had it to do all over again I would not go Banks for all out power. BUT... ... if you want a performance improvement and dont ever want to worry about looking at your EGT guage while climbing a hill or pulling a load. Then Banks will do great. There box have an EGT temp sensor conected to there box that will not allow EGT's to exceed 1250 for very long. They also pull the power before the transmission before shifts so to keep the transmission living longer. This is an annoying feature if you ask me and can easily be disconnected.



Ramboy, you mentioned " drone from the exhaust" how did you fix this?



Good luck



Troy

 

[Ramboy]

Jonz,

I removed the Banks muffler and installed a 40" Donaldson truck muffler. It is a straight-through muffler also but much quieter. You can get one at a semi truck supply house. Cost here was $67. Well worth it to me.

Phil

 

[RAMalama]

Heck, I've got a *hic* bank right around the corner *burp*. You looking for a ATM?







(my best "Bill the cat" impersonation)

 

[jsnyder]

There is a Gomer's here in Great Falls. Don't know if they do Banks or not? I think they do.



Jason

 

[jwilliams3]

Dont buy the Banks stuff!

There is alot better out there!



Bye the way, Im not trying to sell anything.

Try

www.tstproducts.com (for power boxes, they used to make them for Banks)

www.edgeproductsinc.com, www.piersdiesel.com,

www.atsdiesel.com



Dont make the Banks mistake!



--Justin

 

[dthorkelson]

Banks System

Mr Gustafson. Welcome to TDR. I LIVE UP HERE IN vALIER. I had a Banks system installed by a guy in Conrad who sells them as well. This was on a 2000 Ford SD and it was a complete waste of money. You can do much better and cheaper. I'd be glad to discuss this with you. Give me a call, I'm in the phone book for Valier. Good luck!!

 

[Powder Extreme]

I originally had a full banks system, I now have nothing but the intake manifold. I found out I could build a whole lot more power, for a whole lot less money, and get better mileage. I highly recommend stopping in Ogden at Edge products on your way to MT. Since you sound willing to spend quite abit of money (you wanted a Banks system) you could achieve a very nice running pickup from start to finish and have much more power. For around 2 grand you can easily hit 350+hp, I invested $2500 in Banks on top of $300 injectors, and could only achieve 290hp, plus the truck had some bad habits. Hope this helps,



Jerry



PS. Illflem it would be in his best interest to listen to some "anti banks" stuff, I've been there, done that. You like your Banks stuff, and that's great. I wish I had never wasted the money, my truck will easily outperform a Banks setup, as will most others that are "Bombed"

 

[illflem]

You forgot to mention the $2k or so he will need to put away to upgrade his transmission if he gets his other than the Banks no bang for the buck system. Seems that folks here also like to"forget" to add in the price of gauges, air filter and a high quality stainless exhaust system when flaming Banks for high prices. When you actually really do add up what you get with a Banks kit you are way ahead monetarily.

 

[jwilliams3]

Illflem,

If the banks system really provides the "120hp and 350 ft lb gain"

then he will need to upgrade his transmission either way.

No way is a stock transmission or clutch going to hold with that much more power, and this problem will compound when towing. I guess I forgot to mention those cool Banks decals how much do those cost?



Gauges run about $300 for a great setup, Air filter is about $50, Injectors $300, Edge Box $550, transmission setup $2200

That comes out to about $3400 dollars with transmission to boot!

That makes a truck that will smoke any banks setup.



When you spend 3-4 grand with banks you get a repackaged air filter, chip, cheapo gauges, and an exhaust system. WOW what a package! And no transmission to hold the power the chip provides (remember the thread about a week ago "transmission went out with Banks power pack") oh yeah Banks forgot to mention to that guy that he needed his transmission upgraded!





--Justin

 

[illflem]

Justin, think you forgot a turbo housing. Banks "cheap" gauges and the Autometers that are very popular here are one and the same...

 

[MD500E]

I waited almost a year after I purchased one of the first 24 valves for banks to come out with products for it. By then i already had gauges and a strait exhaust so i just ordered the outomind fueling box and the turbo housing. I could barely feel a difference in the power. My buddies raged on me because one of their stock 230 HP powerstrokes beat me every time. Then, one day, I stumbled upon this website and have been learning ever since. First i added the 4 wire blue box... wow, big difference next came DDII's... Strong improvement, then last but not least, scott at massdiesel talked me into a used VA timing box. All i can say is WOW, I cant belive i used to drive around thinking my truck was tough with a banks decal on the door!!!



Now that i have added stacks I am sure glad i have the power to back them up. Who would of thought that two 5" crome stacks would attract every truck on the road to race me. Well at least i havent lost yet, I just hope i dont run into one of you other TDR members. I am sure a few of you could wipe the smile right off my face!!!!

 

[Powder Extreme]

Justin, well said!!



Illflem; you're right, we must not forget Banks $500 14cm turbo exhaust housing with the "Big Head" actuator. ummm can't you get a Piers HX 40 for around $600 (I'm not sure, don't have one) So for a little more money you get a whole new turbo that I am certain will outperform the Banks unit.



Guages: well I beg to differ with you. I had Banks guages that hook directly to the ottomind (electronic) they didn't read the same as my old isspro, one of Banks techs told me to with the readings on my Isspro over their gauge. hmmmmmm Maybe the mechanical gauges they send for the 12v engines are good, the electronic ones for the 24v are not.



Transmissions: on the 24v setup Banks does have the defueling wire to help save the transmission, all that does is cut your power even more, it doesn't magically make your transmission stronger, obviously you need ATS, DTT, or the like for that. If you so choose to use the defueling, the power gain you actually get is about the same as a $500 EZ box. Tough decision.



I'm not making this up, and I certainly don't want to get into a flamefest with you. I just felt you were out of line when you said not to listen to the guys slamming Banks. I'm not trying to "Slam" Banks, I am merely stating FACT based on the first hand experiences I had.