Anyone running the complete Banks setup? - Diesel Forum

kevincg · 02-19-2006, 03:19 PM

I am very interested in the Banks bundle kit that includes all of the upgrades I would ever make to my truck. I am suprised I do not see much of the users here running Banks and I wanted to know if there is a reason to stay away from them.
Anyone using there stuff?
Anyone with opinions as to why they are not a good idea?

Thanks for the help.

FINE69 · 02-19-2006, 03:23 PM

You don't see many people using it because it supposedly will void your factory warranty, from what I've read here.

caryt · 02-19-2006, 03:33 PM

Plus more $$$than you need to spend.

Cary

ralphinnj · 02-19-2006, 04:47 PM

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You don't see many people using it because it supposedly will void your factory warranty, from what I've read here.

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No more than any other chip. I don't think that is why not many people are running it. More likely, it is because you can get to similar power levels a lot cheaper. The big delta is the intercooler. It is a lot of money and not a whole lot of extra power. Basically, you get around 120-150 extra HP with something like an SCT2 and a pipe for around $1000-$1300. The equivalent parts from Banks are a little more money, then another grand (atleast) for the IC. Most guys are going chip or tuner and pipe and stopping there.

But they are just as open to warranty denials, so don't kid yourself into thinking it is safe to use an Edge or any of the other products. You add power and break something, it is YOUR problem. Yes, you can take the stuff off (good luck getting the pipe back to stock), and try to slip it past the dealer. many have been successful, but if your dealer wants to do some homework, they can determine whether you have modified the truck and deny you. The old rule, "if you want to play, be ready to pay" is still very much true.

RL

FINE69 · 02-19-2006, 04:54 PM

Ralph, what brand hood is on your truck? Looks good.

twdiesel · 02-19-2006, 07:09 PM

When it comes to the INTERNET, at times the less said is better, Most Humans will advertise a bad experience before a good one.At any-rate Banks is more costly, But thats the Only complaint.

ralphinnj · 02-19-2006, 07:16 PM

I agree, and I forgot to mention that Banks does have high quality for the most part. For example, their 4" pipe is very well shaped and welded (a little better than MBRP, for example). Since I am not crazy about ANY tuner/chip without tranny control, I would not use the Banks power module, but if I were starting over, I would use their pipe and I like their intercooler (except for those friggin boots that keep blowing off). But the intercooler and pipes are very well made; they just need to address the boots issue.

RL

ralphinnj · 02-19-2006, 07:19 PM

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Ralph, what brand hood is on your truck? Looks good.

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Thanks. It is made by Good Hood, Keystone carries them among others:

http://www.keystonerestyling.com/cgi...gno=GHF-10448#

Makes a nice whistle sound that resonates at just a couple hundred PM above where the turbo whines. So I get the turbo whistle, then before the gear shifts, the ram air whistle. Very cool,

RL

twdiesel · 02-19-2006, 07:22 PM

The New PowerPDA has settings that can be program to the user profile.No complaints here YET, Yeah we use aluminum pigment to stop the IC hoses from Blowing Off.

henryhill · 02-19-2006, 08:22 PM

I think the reason nobody uses banks it because you can get a better product that will out perform any of theres for less money. SCT is a much better chip for cheaper, you get more power and tranny control for less money, not only that they are custom programmed for your truck and banks is just generic, small for all trucks and they don't change any parameters for your needs. There intercooler is nice and they have redone the boost 3 times now I belive. i don't know if they have it right yet but there are companies that make larger intercoolers for cheaper. There exhuast is not a full race setup like you can get with MBRP which is just as good plus you can stright pipe it for cheaper. The don't mod the tranny which is really needed if you are going to tow or add more power. There intakes arn't as good as AFE so no reason to go witht hem for that. No after Market product voids your warrenty. But if the can link it to the problem at hand then they do not have to fix it. When you adjuct the computer it is linked to almost eveything so they can blame the chip for almost any problem, tranny, engine, turbo, and they will say all they extra power hurt something in the axels if you have a problem there. What it comes down to is people ont hese boards read alot and they know you can always get something better than banks for cheaper. But when you have people who don't know anything about diesels they will just buy what they hear the most about because they think it is the best. Lets face it anybody with a 7.3L or 6.0L who makes any real power does not use any banks product except maby there intercooler. Which is a nice kit but now more options are comming out for that so now it will be just the uninformed guy buying banks or the guy who doesn't want to go all out and doesn't mind spending a little more for ok power and a well designed product. But once again you need to have your tranny strong and the 6.0's trannys (5r110) are not like the 7.3l's, you need to have programming to keep them together and the shifts nice. On the 7.3l you could get a really strong tranny and they would tell you to pull almost all the programming out of it because it wasn't as advanced as this once. The 4r100 was almsot the same as the E4od which is 10 years old and didn't rely in programming. This is just a little info hopes it helps and I am not saying banks sucks it is just not my line of products and I would never go with anything else but the SCT.

HeavyAssault · 02-20-2006, 08:05 AM

While Banks products are expensive you get a well tested quality product at the end of the day.

Don't buy ANY intake kits, the damage to a turbo is an easy denial for the dealer. Buy a 4" turbo back exhaust and a mild SCT programmer. I would suggest to you stay away from any 100+hp adders, you are asking for trouble in the long run.

I run a ZOODAD Mod with a Modded Intake Housing,a MBRP 3.5" DP, a BANKS Intercooler , and a Quadzilla Xzilliraider power module. I run it at 60+hp and I have NO problems. Can I run this truck hard? You bet! Can I tow a 13K work trailer and not blow coolant? You bet!

If you got the disposable cash, then buy what you can afford. If you need the truck to run day-in and day-out, stay safe add under 75+hp and it will be the best truck you ever owned.

caryt · 02-20-2006, 11:03 AM

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I don't know if they have it right yet but there are companies that make larger intercoolers for cheaper.

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Please tell me who sells a larger than Banks IC cheeper!! I need one for my 95 [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] Been thinking of a Banks 6.0 IC but haven't gotten one cheep yet.

Cary

Dana60axle · 02-20-2006, 12:46 PM

Im Runing All of The Banks Stuff. Other than the exhaust system. I work for a Off-Road Shop and we deal with them alot. We meet a bunch of the guys at OFF-ROAD EXPO in Vegas. And the company in general is just a bunch of great people. They are pricey. But the support and tech info. And research these guys put into there products to keep your vechicle as safe as possible is what won me over. I have had no problems with there setup. Im not about milking everything out of my engine. The 6.0's have know to have problems. Im on my second engine. (bought a lemon) and im at 100,000 miles. And about to get tranny work. I show my truck. And pull crawlers, and Mud Trucks. on a 35ft. gn 10,000+lbs. Overall i would pic banks or edge and ats. over any company.

henryhill · 02-20-2006, 04:12 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I don't know if they have it right yet but there are companies that make larger intercoolers for cheaper.

[/ QUOTE ]

Please tell me who sells a larger than Banks IC cheeper!! I need one for my 95 [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] Been thinking of a Banks 6.0 IC but haven't gotten one cheep yet.

Cary

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http://www.longislandperformancedies...0-%20Turbo.htm

This is LIDP's intercooler that they made and people who have it love it. I am thinking about getting one soon and they are upgrading the endtanks to even larger ones comming up. The also have very good customer servie and always stand behind what they sell.

caryt · 02-20-2006, 06:36 PM

http://www.longislandperformancedies...0-%20Turbo.htm

This is LIDP's intercooler that they made and people who have it love it. I am thinking about getting one soon and they are upgrading the endtanks to even larger ones comming up. The also have very good customer servie and always stand behind what they sell.

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Looks good and with bigger end tanks [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img], I will have to keep a eye on this one.

Thanks, Cary