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Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car??
Posted By: floridian
Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/23/13 09:59 PM
My vert is used for just cruising around on a nice day. Has 2.94 rear gears( original 440/727 in it). Have always thought it would be fun to up the rear gears to 3.55 or 3.23, but would like a good hwy cruise RPM without working the motor..
Tell me about your gearvendors O/D?? install, dependability, servicing, any problems?? Thanks
Posted By: Mopar73340
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/23/13 11:25 PM
I've had a GV in my e-body for 4 years now. It was a easy install with slight dimpling of the floor hump in two places, minor electrical wiring, and having the driveshaft shortened. You will have to remove the tail shaft from your current trans and install the supplied adapter. FWIW the OD is .80 to 1 so not as much OD as some other options out there. I use my car like you describe and have about 3.5K miles on it so far with NO issues.
Posted By: Pyper70
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/24/13 01:35 AM
As already mentioned, those are modifications you will have to perform. I did mine in a weekend plus a Monday for the driveshaft return. Ran the foot switch next to the hi-beam, the toggle into the center console. I have a 440/727 with 3.55s and I can drive 80mph @2200rpm. Had it in there since 2007 and have about 7000 miles on it. She is a weekend car. The only thing I goofed on was the GVO sat up against my H-Pipe for 2000 of those miles and the gasket burned out. They sell em for 6 bucks each and I replaced it already. The downfall you will realize is that you have to to run Mopar Manual Synthetic 75w85 at $15 a quart. I did some digging and found that MT-85 will work just as good from Redline and I bought a few bottles from eBay.
I still can't get the whole synchronization down of shift, OD, shift, OD, to split the gears but the 4th gear overdrive works fine for me
Posted By: G_bob
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/24/13 02:15 AM
I've had a GV in my challenger since 2005. As said by an earlier poster, pretty simple install.
I'm running 3.91's. Cruise down the SoCal freeways at 70-75 at 2500-2600 rpm.
Absolutely love it.
G-bob's Gearvendors install
Posted By: screamindriver
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/24/13 05:14 AM
I've got one also...Works great one of the best investments for driveability...4:10 dana, 727 and a high stall converter..Ends up with a 3;21 ratio in OD..
Posted By: hemi68charger
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/24/13 05:44 AM
Quote:
I've got one also...Works great one of the best investments for driveability...4:10 dana, 727 and a high stall converter..Ends up with a 3;21 ratio in OD..
Me too... Have one in my '69 Charger Daytona, 440-727-4.10 Dana car...
Can't find my former thread on here on my install, but here's the thread on the Charger Board I did..
Really the only modification I did was round off the corners of the casting near the floor pan. I did have to "round-out" the floor pan a wee bit using a impact socket to get the "dimple" rather smooth and hardly noticeable.
Gear Vendor thread on my Daytona
Posted By: 1972CudaV21
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/24/13 06:30 PM
They have a fantastic rep, castings are made in England and all machining is done in their U.S. plant. If you plan to keep your Mopar for the long haul, then it is a good investment.
Posted By: 360view
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/25/13 01:52 PM
there is a very interesting SAE paper where a group in England decided to find out what RPM led to best fuel economy in real world driving
to find out they installed three Gearvendors style OD units in series in place of the driveshaft of an English Ford Escort and drove it at different speeds on different road conditions and loads
Posted By: Dodgem
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/25/13 04:19 PM
DabeastII has one on his small cam 512 69 superbee and it is an awesome set up was easy to install on the tranny (I helped)
Posted By: BDW
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/25/13 05:50 PM
How heavy is the final section. Looks like a long lever arm with no support?
Posted By: JDMopar
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/25/13 06:54 PM
The OD unit itself might weigh 15-20 lbs. The new tailshaft housing/ adapter has about 4 ribs cast into it, and is plenty strong enough to handle that weight. I have had 3 GV overdrives in 3 different vehicles, and they are VERY heavy duty units.
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/25/13 08:42 PM
I haven't owned one but I've driven several cars with them on some long haul rides, If I were building an OD automatic car I wouldn't go any other way than the Gear Vendor unit, they take MAJOR abuse and are a dream to cruise at highway speeds even with a fairly deep rear gear.
For an OD manual trans and a 100% bolt in setup, there's no other choice than the new Passon 5 speed (see pic), they are a BEAUTIFUL piece of workmanship!
Posted By: screamindriver
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/25/13 08:45 PM
That's a nice looking unit...Scott are you using that in one of your cars ??? I hope to try one of those out in the near future...
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/25/13 08:48 PM
It's going in my yellow 340 Duster (behind it on the rotisserie). I have limited time to work on it due to my carb business sucking away most of my time so I pick at it when I can. My target completion date is "Summer" of 2014. Most of the major sub assemblies are done now but still a long way to go getting it all put together. We'll see how it goes.
Posted By: MidPenMopar
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/25/13 08:54 PM
I did the 4L60E overdrive swap in my 69 roadrunner and even though its more expensive then the gear vendors I like it a lot!
Posted By: BDW
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/26/13 01:36 AM
If your upgrading the transmission, is the GV still a better option than a 518.
Is the attraction the ease of installation, it's about $3k for the GV right?
Posted By: MarkZ
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/26/13 04:33 AM
Quote:
If your upgrading the transmission, is the GV still a better option than a 518.
Is the attraction the ease of installation, it's about $3k for the GV right?
I was able to put a freshened up 518 behind my 360 for roughly $1500; which included the cost of the trans, having it gone through, and a new Turbo Action torque converter. The 518 I found was a low mileage unit from a wreck. It was labor intensive though as I had to modify the cross member and fabricate a mount. If my car had a big block though I don't think I would have done it as an Ultra Bell would be required.
Posted By: rapom
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/27/13 01:59 AM
Have one in my 67 Coronet 493 with 3.55 gears. Makes cruising down the highway nice as it puts me in the 2.80 something gear range.
Posted By: 408cuda
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/29/13 07:32 AM
Have one in this car
http://youtu.be/Pc-4z5WrNwc 74 cuda 408 stroker and love it. Easy to install, slight dimpling in floor and minor wiring. Evidence above of abuse. Even shifted into 2nd over at the strip WOT,, no gain on my combo but good testament to the shift quality and durability. Wanted to go 518 but they were pretty hard to find at the time for any kind of fair $ and the GV 727 combo is proven tough.
I hear a lot of concerns on driveline angles but I had no problem getting mine good and its one of the smoothest 11 sec cars I imagine you'll see. Well as far as old muscle goes anyhow
Posted By: That AMC Guy
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/30/13 09:44 PM
One of my longterm projects is installing the Laycock-deNormanville OD in my Gremlin. (Later Gearvendors units are virtually identical to the LdN unit - I can even get parts for it from GV!)
Lucky for me, the LdN unit was a factory option in '75 and '76, even though my Gremlin is a '70 it's still a bolt-in process!
I'm curious to see how it'll perform as it's a three-speed with the OD, and only a 3.08 gear. The steepest gear one could order with the unit is only 3.08.
Posted By: Twostick
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/31/13 12:19 AM
Quote:
One of my longterm projects is installing the Laycock-deNormanville OD in my Gremlin. (Later Gearvendors units are virtually identical to the LdN unit - I can even get parts for it from GV!)
Lucky for me, the LdN unit was a factory option in '75 and '76, even though my Gremlin is a '70 it's still a bolt-in process!
I'm curious to see how it'll perform as it's a three-speed with the OD, and only a 3.08 gear. The steepest gear one could order with the unit is only 3.08.
My understanding is ALL GV are LdN built under license.
Kevin
Posted By: Kern Dog
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/31/13 05:07 AM
I've had a GV in my Charger for 2 years now. I had some vibration issues that turned out to be UNrelated to the GV unit. I like the ratio drop, but I wish that I had a traditional 4 speed automatic that worked through a stock appearing floor shifter with an OD detent.
Posted By: floridian
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/31/13 07:02 PM
Thanks to all for the responses..
More questions. Aware of some electronics and switch(s)? Read here about "foot" switch and another switch?? What are these for and can anyone else share their placement of these..
As said above, just kinda take my car out to cruise.. Any thoughts on 323 VS 355 gears?? Kinda hedging towards the 355 to have a little fun sometimes?? Amazing how quick the 440 can idle off the line even with the 294 gears in it..
Posted By: floridian
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/31/13 07:03 PM
OOPS wrong pic above.... The new Jags are awfully pretty though..
Posted By: Pyper70
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/31/13 10:17 PM
You get a footswitch which you can place next to your high beam...this is essentially just like the high beam footswitch and de/activates your transmission. The other switch supplied goes wherever you please and this is for either splitting your gears (Manual) or leaving it to engage 4th gear overdrive (Auto). Using the footswitch you have to synchronize your shifting with the other switch in Manual mode, hitting 1st gear, reach rpm, hit foot switch now you have gear 1.5. Hit your rpm and shift while simultaneously disengaging the split gear to land at 2nd gear, repeat through this gear and continue on to third. I could never synchronize it so i just leave it in Auto and go about my way.
I hid the secondary Manual/Auto switch in my console
Posted By: BDW
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/31/13 10:43 PM
That sounds like a hassle. Can you hide both switches and "just" drive the car normally?
Posted By: Pyper70
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 12/31/13 11:06 PM
Well...yeah...I start my car every time and the toggle switch is always in AUTO....and the foot switch is just right there under the carpet..It took me a weekend to install the whole system
Posted By: That AMC Guy
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 01/01/14 09:05 AM
That does sounds like a hassle. The AMC/Laycock system has a simple system of switches.
There is the Master Switch (on the turn signal stalk), a throttle switch that disengages the OD at full throttle apply, a 3rd gear lockout switch that only allows the OD to engage while in third. Going full throttle or downshifting to second automatically disengages OD. Lastly, there's a centrifugal speed sensor that is inline with the speedo cable. It will allow OD above 37 mph, but disengages below 32 mph.
I suppose with an automatic, one could wire in a kickdown switch. I'm surprised GV units don't come with the centrifugal monitor.
Posted By: screamindriver
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 01/01/14 09:13 PM
Interesting...So a question about the turn signal stalk switch... What if you have cruize control ??? Does it simply strap to the stalk and the wires are exposed ??? Anyhow...You're saying if you kick the throttle it will drop out of OD
AND possibly go into kickdown mode without your control ??? That would be quite a potential drop depending on the situation...Im most instances if I'm in OD and want to pass I simply hit the floor mounted switch,drop it out and use that{3rd} as a "passing gear"..
Also the GV unit has an electronic speed sensor instead of a centrifugal unit...
Posted By: floridian
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 01/02/14 05:02 PM
Quote:
Interesting...So a question about the turn signal stalk switch... What if you have cruize control ??? Does it simply strap to the stalk and the wires are exposed ??? Anyhow...You're saying if you kick the throttle it will drop out of OD AND possibly go into kickdown mode without your control ??? That would be quite a potential drop depending on the situation...Im most instances if I'm in OD and want to pass I simply hit the floor mounted switch,drop it out and use that{3rd} as a "passing gear".. Also the GV unit has an electronic speed sensor instead of a centrifugal unit...
More questions please...
If I am driving down the road do I have to engage OD or does it do that automatically?? If so how??
As said above, if I am cruising in OD and want to pass do I have to engage one of the switches to shift into 3rd??
Gearvendors website does not answer these questions well in my opinion....
Posted By: DaveRS23
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 01/02/14 05:06 PM
I would like a little more info on the 2 switch thing, too.
Posted By: Pool Fixer
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 01/02/14 05:28 PM
I love the idea of a gear vendors. Not that it would stop me from getting one, but it would be nice if there was an option to make it a truly automatic six speed..... as in you put it in drive and thats the last time you touch it, a seemless marriage of the GV and your existing transmission. Not easy mating up the electronics in the GV to the mechanical shifter but it would be pretty cool
Posted By: Pyper70
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 01/02/14 06:45 PM
Quote:
As said above, if I am cruising in OD and want to pass do I have to engage one of the switches to shift into 3rd??
Gearvendors website does not answer these questions well in my opinion....
If your MAN/Auto switch is in Auto and the foot switch is engaged....it drifts into overdrive on its own everytime at 52mph. It disengages on its own and re-engages....If you are in OD and you want to go back to third without putting your footdown, hit the foot switch and it goes back on its. I guess this is helpful when you are towing up a slight grade and you want more speed.
Posted By: screamindriver
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 01/03/14 01:22 AM
Quote:
I love the idea of a gear vendors. Not that it would stop me from getting one, but it would be nice if there was an option to make it a truly automatic six speed..... as in you put it in drive and thats the last time you touch it, a seemless marriage of the GV and your existing transmission. Not easy mating up the electronics in the GV to the mechanical shifter but it would be pretty cool
I know what you're saying...And in theory it sounds like a good thing...But in my case {500hp 6bbl,727TF and a 4:10 dana} or anyone close to that combo here's the catch...All that shifting would slow me down !! I {or the computor} could'nt possibly shift and split gears fast enough to make it worthwile... Torque and towing applications would be different...
Reminds me of when I was in the army and the new 915 tractors came out... 500 hp and a 16 SPEED automatic trans !!! I was testing them at Fort Dix NJ...Pulled out in 7th gear bobtailing smashed the throttle and the turbo kicked in... And it never stopped shifting...Bang,bang,bang, bang up through each gear a few seconds at a time...It actually held the tractor back from it's top performance... When the army released the tractor for use it was re-engineered with a 6 speed auto trans with a better span between shifts...
Anyhow...As stated the foot switch will drop it out of OD if needed for passing or whatever...For me basically if I'm doing a normal,civil pass on the highway I drop it out of OD ease the throttle and motor around the vehicle then reingauge OD when called for...But on the other hand I've been known to just leave it in OD,kick the 6bbl in and let the part throttle kickdown take me for the ride... 
That's the fun of it...Experimenting...It's very simple to use and most that don't have one want to overestimate it's simplicity...For me the footswitch seems very natural and easy to use...
Posted By: fbernard
Re: Anyone have a Gearvendors OD in their car?? - 01/03/14 03:08 PM
I have a GV OD on my hardtop Challenger. I'm quite pleased with it (Rear ratio is 3.55).
A little more highway RPM than I had with the Tremec 5-speed that was there before (which had a .64 final ratio), but still very useable (2800 RPM vs. 2400 RPM).
Had to hammer the tunnel floor a bit, have a custom shaft made, but other than that, pretty straightforward (I actually had CRT build the trans with the OD).
A little bit of electrical work too, since the Gear Vendors control box looks like it was designed by a 5-year old (4 sides to the box, with connectors on three sides, and the connectors used are a bit surprising for the price range...)
When time came to plan the rebuild of my convertible though, I found (here on Moparts) a 2.94 pumpkin to replace my 3.23 gears, and I'll stick with a standard 3-speed 727. With a swift, high-revving 383 and a 2500 RPM torque converter, that ought to be more than enough for a fun car.
Of course, that's my opinion since "my toy car has a roof", and I chose to simply match the taller gears with a looser-than-stock converter. I won't be racing the convertible.
