Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Banks

[Supermod56]

True, that's why I went with the "cheaper" aluminized pipe!



Tom

 

[RacinDuallie]

DThelen,

According to our computer system, your web entry was recognized at 3:59 PM on 4/11/2005, Pacific Time. Ricardo Ortiz in our Sales Department called you at 2:13 PM on 4/13/2005, Pacific Time. Our Sales staff is always available to answer questions between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. They can be contacted toll free at any time, (888) 635-4565.



I know that many of you feel that our products are overpriced, but at least make accurate comparisons before you make such an assumption. Many of the low-priced exhaust systems that are on the market are aluminized. Aluminized is an inferior product when used on vehicles that run at the exhaust gas temperatures that we see on today’s vehicles, so in the case of a 1999 Dodge truck, we do not even offer aluminized steel, only stainless. Stainless is a more expensive material, so price comparisons between aluminized and stainless are not valid. If you are satisfied with aluminized as your material of choice, that is fine, and a Banks system is not for you.



You also need to account for the content of the system. The system that Dan Thelen received a quote on was our Monster Exhaust with Power Elbow, a component that is unique to Banks and would not be included in other manufacturer’s systems. The published retail price of that system is $895. A Monster Exhaust system for this vehicle that does not include the Power Elbow has a published retail price of $698. As a comparison, a Magnaflow system of comparable content has a published retail price of $816.



I mentioned published retail price. Obviously prices will vary depending on how much individual business will discount the product, and taxes and shipping can affect final price. These are just a few things to consider when you are price shopping. Just make sure that you know what you are paying for before you assume that a Banks product is overpriced.

When are you guys going to release the Big Hoss Manifold like on the Sidewinder Truck? For the modified cylinder head 24V? Is it ever going to be released? Please get back to this post! Thanks In Advance.

 

[RacinDuallie]

Crickets on Sale Now @ BANKS POWER!!!

 

[SRadke]

Crickets on Sale Now @ BANKS POWER!!!

I don't care who you are..... that's funny :-laf

 

[cyborg]

last one out, catch the lights.....

 

[RacinDuallie]

last one out, catch the lights.....

Cricket sounds... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

:-laf

 

[DHayden]

last one out, catch the lights.....

I'll get em... . I'm thinkin' we're done here

 

[JTruelove]

I'm know there are a lot of other systems our there at different price ranges. I'm not going to say which systems are better, but I would like to comment on my experience with Banks. I purchased a power pack and the install went well. It was well engineered. It really did help my truck. About 1 year after I installed the system, the Ottomind failed. I sent it back and within 3 weeks I had a new Ottomind. 2 years later I raced my brother in his PSD. All he had was a chip and exhaust. He may have out run me, but he did not out pull me. His fuel milage dropped considerably, and his truck started using oil. Since then he has taken the chip out of there. I called Banks and told them that I was disappointed with my system. I had spent thousands on this system and my brother spent 1/3 of that. Banks sent me a Big Hoss cpu free of charge. I have not raced him yet, but when I go back home, it will be a rude awaking. Again, this is just my experience with the Banks system. I know there are a lot of other quality products out there, I just wanted to express my experience with Banks, so other won't get a one sided opinion.

 

[RacinDuallie]

Snoring ZZZZZ ZZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ









crickets sounding faintly in the backgroud... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

DThelen,

According to our computer system, your web entry was recognized at 3:59 PM on 4/11/2005, Pacific Time. Ricardo Ortiz in our Sales Department called you at 2:13 PM on 4/13/2005, Pacific Time. Our Sales staff is always available to answer questions between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. They can be contacted toll free at any time, (888) 635-4565.



I know that many of you feel that our products are overpriced, but at least make accurate comparisons before you make such an assumption. Many of the low-priced exhaust systems that are on the market are aluminized. Aluminized is an inferior product when used on vehicles that run at the exhaust gas temperatures that we see on today’s vehicles, so in the case of a 1999 Dodge truck, we do not even offer aluminized steel, only stainless. Stainless is a more expensive material, so price comparisons between aluminized and stainless are not valid. If you are satisfied with aluminized as your material of choice, that is fine, and a Banks system is not for you.



You also need to account for the content of the system. The system that Dan Thelen received a quote on was our Monster Exhaust with Power Elbow, a component that is unique to Banks and would not be included in other manufacturer’s systems. The published retail price of that system is $895. A Monster Exhaust system for this vehicle that does not include the Power Elbow has a published retail price of $698. As a comparison, a Magnaflow system of comparable content has a published retail price of $816.



I mentioned published retail price. Obviously prices will vary depending on how much individual business will discount the product, and taxes and shipping can affect final price. These are just a few things to consider when you are price shopping. Just make sure that you know what you are paying for before you assume that a Banks product is overpriced.

I dont think its so much the price as it is the customer service that lacks at Banks. I too have had bad experiences and will not buy anything from them. When they learn to treat their customers in a decent fashion, maybe then and only then, their reputation will get better. Until that happens, I would look else where for my mods.

 

[fyrescott]

I just installed a MBRP dual 4" T304 stainless steel exhaust on my 05 Dually and it is awsome! And still almost $200 hundred bucks cheaper than Banks single 4". Install was a piece of cake. No offence, the words getting out Banks Guy... ... Your not the only game in town that makes a quality product and when your prices are that high,well... .....

 

[RacinDuallie]

I just can't understand why someone from Banks can't give an honest answer to my question?? From phone calls to now airing it on the TDR.....



Banks-Hi-Power Crickets- ON SALE NOW!

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

I bought a Banks last year, it is only 9 months old and one winter. The pipes are rusting like crazy, get something else. Yes I do live in the rust belt.

Isnt stainless NOT supposed to rust? Hmmmm... ...

 

[SRadke]

Isnt stainless NOT supposed to rust? Hmmmm... ...

Depends on the alloy.....



-Scott

 

[Graphic man]

there is allot of questions Banks can not answer!!!!!!

even when they do call back (a week later)

 

[Beast2B]

seems such a shame. i would say that their R&D is second to none. their innovative approach and quality materials are not questioned by *MOST*. the lack of customer focus/service is the problem they haven't addressed. not too many of us will spend money with a company that doesn't treat us like we're important/special. in fact, most of us will spend the same, if not more, $ for SUPERB customer service and support.

I have no Banks products, but I don't rule them out on any item.

 

[RacinDuallie]

seems such a shame. i would say that their R&D is second to none. their innovative approach and quality materials are not questioned by *MOST*. the lack of customer focus/service is the problem they haven't addressed. not too many of us will spend money with a company that doesn't treat us like we're important/special. in fact, most of us will spend the same, if not more, $ for SUPERB customer service and support.

I have no Banks products, but I don't rule them out on any item.

Yes I agree- -THEY DO GOOD RESEARCH- But it's the customers that purchase the products- and part of the buisness is CUSTOMER SATISFACTION- And on the greatest Turbo Diesel Website they're not too

many satisfied customers- Why do you think that is?

 

[PeterT]

RacinDuallie,

The release of the manifold is probably still a few months away. We have revised the design slightly, improved the casting, and we are in the process of finalizing the cylinder head machining program.



GKarpen, GIT-R-DONE and SRadke,

All stainless steel is made from carbon steel. The grade of stainless is determined by the amount of added alloys. There are two basic grades of stainless that are typically used in automotive exhaust systems, 300 series and 400 series. Two of the added materials to the carbon steel that make it a stainless steel are nickel and chromium. The amount of added material is what determines the grade of the stainless. 300 series has more nickel and chromium than 400 series which makes it more brittle in a heat cycling condition. However, the lower level of nickel and chromium content in the 400 series allows some carbon to rise to the surface during heat cycling, which interacts with the oxygen in the air and turns brown. Salty environments will cause more of this interaction. This is a surface condition only. Rust is a condition that deteriorates the base material due to this type of interaction. This type of base material corrosion is not occurring with 400 series stainless. The actual amount of carbon content in 400 series stainless will vary from batch to batch, which may cause some systems to show more of the brownish oxidation taking place than others, and certainly the outside environment will have an impact as well. You will notice that Banks systems include a 300 series stainless around the outside case of the muffler and the 5” tip. These are two areas that are protected from heat, and therefore will not be adversely affected by the heat cycling. They are also the two most visible portions of the exhaust system.

 

[Beast2B]

PeterT, when the exhaust starts to oxidize, can the surface rust be removed without damaging the pipes? ... and am I understanding correct that the surface rust doesn't compromise the material, it's only cosmetic?

 

[SRadke]

... and am I understanding correct that the surface rust doesn't compromise the material, it's only cosmetic?

This is correct.



Peter is correct with his statement "There are two basic grades of stainless that are typically used in automotive exhaust systems, 300 series and 400 series. " He is also mostly correct with the rest of his post. However, not all stainless steel is "made from carbon stee"l.



Austenitic stainless steels (such as 300 & 400 series) you might say "are made from" however I don't think you could stretch so far as to say that an Martensitic stainless steel is "made form carbon steel". Yes, most of them have iron and carbon in them but "made from" is a stretch. The third group is Ferritic stainless. These usually have a very high carbon content and are very hardenable. Applications like knives etc.



Like I said before, some stainless' will corrode, some will not, depends on the alloy.



-Scott