Banks Six Gun

[newsnose]

Originally Posted by bankspower

So telling you to contact our tech support department by phone is telling you we have no customer service?

Not meant as a dig, Bankspower, but many business folks don't really understand customer service. Customer service would have been telling 444-4D to PM you his phone number and telling him you would have somebody from tech support call him the next morning....then following with tech support to make sure that was done.....then following with 444-4D to ensure all of his questions were answered. Sometimes time-consuming and tedious but good customer service makes a big difference.

[Colin Banks]

Guys,

I think we need to provide you some clarification on the release of our new Ford 6.4L Six-Gun Tuner. This product is released for sale and it will begin shipping within the next 9 business days. We will finish building and shipping our first batch of 475 by the 31st of March. We’ve been in development on this product for the quite a while now (a little more than a year) and have a great product to ship. We spent a lot of time testing the soot output with our Micro-Soot Analyzer which is a must when developing product for a DPF Equipped Truck. We made a $250,000 investment in buying, training and setting this up so we can protect our customers DPF’s and help them avoid spending the $1,500-$2,500 (parts/labor) to replace their DPF when it fails prematurely and the dealer won’t warranty it. We’ve tested the product on our 6.4L on the chassis dyno, the road and the engine dyno over the course of thousands of hours. We’re always careful but with the new emissions equipment we want to be triple sure that we minimize the soot output. We truly do have a “Clean Tune” for the Ford 6.4L.

Our business is located in California, 10 minutes away from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) headquarters. We know what’s going to come on the emissions testing side for both current vehicles and retroactively (from both CARB and the EPA). Testing will start and removing your DPF, overriding EGR or using electronics to shut down the DPF functionality are all against the rules that are in place. They EPA/CARB also told us at SEMA and again recently that they will be starting this almost immediately (some of our largest distributors have already been notified). We don’t make these rules and have nothing to do with them whatsoever. But, we make a product that can be used with your DPF that makes great power and fuel economy and has safety features that no one else has. Some of our competition offers a “Clean Your DPF” function in their electronics. This exists because they’re pouring so much unburt fuel into your DPF. They’re trying to extend the life of the DPF by doing this but in reality the more you regen your DPF the shorter the DPF lifecycle. We’re serious about having a clean tune so that you don’t fail your DPF (costs thousands to replace), void your warranty (they’re looking for every reason in todays economy) and to maximize your fuel economy.

If you have to shut off your EGR (using electronics) and hack off your DPF to make power using somebody’s product you will be removing a federally mandated emissions device and shutting off your EGR is against emissions compliance rules as well. According to what the EPA/CARB told us at SEMA, you can do these types of mod’s on vehicles that are towed to events and truly used for “race only” applications. Once again we (Banks) don’t write these rules and having nothing to do with them and we’re sitting in the same room as Edge, Bullydog, Superchips and Hypertech when we met with EPA/CARB.

I wanted to clear up a few things specific to the release of this product:

1. The information specific to this product will be added to our website (bankspower.com) within the next 2 business days.

2. If you have had an issue with one of our sales, customer service or tech reps please post the name of who you talked to and your full name and I’ll be happy to get you help and figure out the issue with my employee. You can also feel free to e-mail me directly at cbanks@bankspower.com. We’ve posted many times on enthusiast forums only to never hear a thing back from anybody. If these issues are real (not a competitor blowing air up our dress) than I will be more than happy to address them immediately.

3. We will be releasing our test results to include competitive test results with soot output data within the next 1.5-2 weeks. We have all the horsepower/torque data already.

Please feel free to contact me with any other questions or post here in this forum. We have moved Jeff Barker into a full time enthusiast forum position and he will always be available with information and ready to answer any questions. He will also post information on promotions/sales under our vendor section on this site.

Thanks,

Colin Banks
General Manager
Gale Banks Engineering
cbanks@bankspower.com
800-438-7693

[sandman_81]

well Colin banks makes this sound promising. he doesn't beat around the bush and that's what we (the consumers) want. Lets see what the numbers are like. Has anybody out their got the programmer?

[Engine31]

Eagerly awaiting this product and feedback.

[z71burb]

colin - i got a call and an email from richard norman today out of the blue. after experiences with what other tuners can do to the dpf i am very anxious to get more information regarding the six gun. the only thing is that i returned everything on my truck back to stock with the exception of a banks monster dual dpf-back exhaust, and the truck runs great now with fords latest flash. the only other addition ive made is an edge insight monitor, because i didnt want to have to drill and tap with normal gauges. even with my s&b intake i had my mileage got worse, and the regen cycles were very irregular.

hopefully i'll be able to purchase one of these soon, and i'll just have to find a tricky spot to mount the dial!!

[bankspower]

Originally Posted by TreverAdamo

For the wrigth price i would be happy to try it out

How local are you? This is for the knob controled version not the PDA version (those are already done)

[timid1]

Originally Posted by bankspower

How local are you? This is for the knob controled version not the PDA version (those are already done)

Montebello, CA right here. In the same boat. Right price, maybe! :-D

[RDG]

Please post on topic. This thread is about Banks products, not other tuners.

[smotrs]

Ok, I just read this whole thread. I'm curious about the release dates and ship dates since I just received a call from Banks Wednesday (03/18/2009) asking if I would like to use my truck as a beta test vehicle for the new Six Gun unit.

[bankspower]

Originally Posted by timid1

Montebello, CA right here. In the same boat. Right price, maybe! :-D

Originally Posted by smotrs

Ok, I just read this whole thread. I'm curious about the release dates and ship dates since I just received a call from Banks Wednesday (03/18/2009) asking if I would like to use my truck as a beta test vehicle for the new Six Gun unit.

Both of you PM me with your contact info. Either myself or one of our tech will call you back today

[JW350]

Originally Posted by JW350

Question for Bankspower: does the 6.4 Six Gun control the transmission the same way the 6.0 Six Gun does?

What about the transmission?

[bankspower]

Originally Posted by JW350

What about the transmission?

I'm unclear on what this paticular tuning system is doing in reguards to the transmission directly. I've driven our test truck several times (with the six gun on level 6) and the shifting is actually super smooth. By contrast some of the others we tested felt like the trans wanted out of the truck. I'll get some specific data from our test group manager when he gets back on monday.

[richanitamoore]

Not meant as a dig, Bankspower, but many business folks don't really understand customer service. Customer service would have been telling 444-4D to PM you his phone number and telling him you would have somebody from tech support call him the next morning....then following with tech support to make sure that was done.....then following with 444-4D to ensure all of his questions were answered. Sometimes time-consuming and tedious but good customer service makes a big difference.

Maybe we can help 444-D. There is all sorts of information on this site. What was the question you called Banks tech support for?

[W5DVC]

Originally Posted by bankspower

The Six Gun for the Ford 6.4L was released for general sale today Post your questions

I talked with Albert at BANKS day before yesterday , mailed Cashier's Check for the " SIX GUN W/ SWITCH " yesterday ( $ 698.89 ) for " 2008 F-450 w/ 6.4L TWIN-TURBO DIESEL" . I have waited a long time for Banks to release a tuner for my truck . I'll let you know what I think after I get it.

[W5DVC]

Originally Posted by Colin Banks

Guys,

I think we need to provide you some clarification on the release of our new Ford 6.4L Six-Gun Tuner. This product is released for sale and it will begin shipping within the next 9 business days. We will finish building and shipping our first batch of 475 by the 31st of March. We’ve been in development on this product for the quite a while now (a little more than a year) and have a great product to ship. We spent a lot of time testing the soot output with our Micro-Soot Analyzer which is a must when developing product for a DPF Equipped Truck. We made a $250,000 investment in buying, training and setting this up so we can protect our customers DPF’s and help them avoid spending the $1,500-$2,500 (parts/labor) to replace their DPF when it fails prematurely and the dealer won’t warranty it. We’ve tested the product on our 6.4L on the chassis dyno, the road and the engine dyno over the course of thousands of hours. We’re always careful but with the new emissions equipment we want to be triple sure that we minimize the soot output. We truly do have a “Clean Tune” for the Ford 6.4L.

Our business is located in California, 10 minutes away from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) headquarters. We know what’s going to come on the emissions testing side for both current vehicles and retroactively (from both CARB and the EPA). Testing will start and removing your DPF, overriding EGR or using electronics to shut down the DPF functionality are all against the rules that are in place. They EPA/CARB also told us at SEMA and again recently that they will be starting this almost immediately (some of our largest distributors have already been notified). We don’t make these rules and have nothing to do with them whatsoever. But, we make a product that can be used with your DPF that makes great power and fuel economy and has safety features that no one else has. Some of our competition offers a “Clean Your DPF” function in their electronics. This exists because they’re pouring so much unburt fuel into your DPF. They’re trying to extend the life of the DPF by doing this but in reality the more you regen your DPF the shorter the DPF lifecycle. We’re serious about having a clean tune so that you don’t fail your DPF (costs thousands to replace), void your warranty (they’re looking for every reason in todays economy) and to maximize your fuel economy.

If you have to shut off your EGR (using electronics) and hack off your DPF to make power using somebody’s product you will be removing a federally mandated emissions device and shutting off your EGR is against emissions compliance rules as well. According to what the EPA/CARB told us at SEMA, you can do these types of mod’s on vehicles that are towed to events and truly used for “race only” applications. Once again we (Banks) don’t write these rules and having nothing to do with them and we’re sitting in the same room as Edge, Bullydog, Superchips and Hypertech when we met with EPA/CARB.

I wanted to clear up a few things specific to the release of this product:

1. The information specific to this product will be added to our website (bankspower.com) within the next 2 business days.

2. If you have had an issue with one of our sales, customer service or tech reps please post the name of who you talked to and your full name and I’ll be happy to get you help and figure out the issue with my employee. You can also feel free to e-mail me directly at cbanks@bankspower.com. We’ve posted many times on enthusiast forums only to never hear a thing back from anybody. If these issues are real (not a competitor blowing air up our dress) than I will be more than happy to address them immediately.

3. We will be releasing our test results to include competitive test results with soot output data within the next 1.5-2 weeks. We have all the horsepower/torque data already.

Please feel free to contact me with any other questions or post here in this forum. We have moved Jeff Barker into a full time enthusiast forum position and he will always be available with information and ready to answer any questions. He will also post information on promotions/sales under our vendor section on this site.

Thanks,

Colin Banks
General Manager
Gale Banks Engineering
cbanks@bankspower.com
800-438-7693

Mr. Banks , I have been a member of this forum since Dec 2005 . I admit that I have not been on the forum recently due to demands on my time in my work . I was recently contacted by Albert at Banks Engineering . Unlike some members on here , I have never used any of your competitors products . I had a 2005 F-350 with 6.0L DIESEL and I put your " BIG HOSS " package including intercooler and gauges on my truck . I was thoroughly satisfied that I had gotten fair value for what I had paid for . I now have a 2008 F-450 and I just ordered your " SIXGUN DIESEL TUNER W/ SWITCH " My point being that some people may in fact have a legitimate complaint about your products , I don't know if they do or not . But I do admire the responsible manner in which you have responded in the face of seemingly great adversity . I have , and expect that I will continue to be satisfied with the products produced for the general public by " BANKS ENGINEERING " . As always there are (2) rules of consumerism that always apply , (1) " LET THE BUYER BEWARE "...., AND (2) " YOU SOMETIMES GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR , BUT YOU ALWAYS PAY FOR WHAT YOU GET " There may even be a third where " CHRONIC WHINNERS " are concerned.......SOME PEOPLE WOULDN'T BE HAPPY , EVEN IF YOU HUNG THEM WITH A BRAND NEW ROPE. James E. Powell Jr. ( W5DVC )