Gear Vendors Overdrive

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PontonJohn

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Is the Gear Vendors overdrive worth it. '84 D350, 360 cu in V8, dually, 6,000 lb rear.
 

18CrewDually

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What gears in the rear? I had one on the back of my 1987 Ford F350 crew cab dually C-6 auto and it was awesome. I also had 4.56 r&p. I found an adapter on fleabay and a unit from another guy. I rebuilt it by replacing the conical clutch so all told I has probably $800 into it. The dang GM syn fluid is expensive as heck though. I put it on an On/Off switch instead of using Gearvendors box. But anyways totally worth it.
 

GTyankee

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I have never had a Gear Vendors setup
Gear Vendors shop is less then 4 miles from my place, their property is always packed full of customers vehicles

Lenco Transmissions is also close by
I was building a custom truck back around 1980 & they acted like they were too good to talk to me

I had a Pontiac Dealership act the same way back in '71
I wanted a new Pontiac Firebird with all the fixings.
They told me that their used car lot was just down the street

When i go shopping for vehicles, i wear torn jeans & H-D T shirt
So i guess i look like i work on a ranch or sleep under a bridge :)
 

67440dodge

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Absolutely worth it. Made driving with 3.91's and 28" tall tires bearable on the highway, and customer support is top notch.

if you're worried about durability, guys that run the Hot Rod Power Tour run them and have zero breakage issues, and these are 7-8 second quarter mile cars actually using the GV unit during the run.

Best advice I can give is look at your exhaust routing, do you have a dual exhaus with X or H pipe? If so, measure distance from where tailshaft bolts to trans and X/H connection and contact GV, you may have to modify your pipes to clear the unit. Also, if you find one used, make sure you get all the electronics with it if you want fullly automatic engagement, and the adapter is for your trans. They will sell you these items seperately, but they will cost you close to what a new unit from GV will run.
 

reek

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2015 RAM 2500 CC 4x4, 72 D100, 73 D100, 01 RAM 2500 field truck
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heard pretty much all good things. very durable and with their "new" electronics/controllers, way more useable. I'll probably go with a GV OD for my TH350 when I finish my Chevelle restoration rather than go with a newer 4 speed OD GM trans. Just gotta save up.

If you can swing the cost, I'd say go for it.
 

67440dodge

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heard pretty much all good things. very durable and with their "new" electronics/controllers, way more useable. I'll probably go with a GV OD for my TH350 when I finish my Chevelle restoration rather than go with a newer 4 speed OD GM trans. Just gotta save up.

If you can swing the cost, I'd say go for it.
Yes, the newer control modules are a definete improvement over the older style I have.. that was the only disappointing part when I put it together was it using RCA cables for connectivity.

It this module blows I'm just going to bypass it completely and control it via my on/off switch and the li'l red button on the shifter handle..
 

18CrewDually

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Anyone that is considering running the unit manually like I did, there are 2 things you do NOT want to do.
1. Deactivate coming to a stop, below 15 mph. The activation solenoid needs pressure to operate and the unit has it's own pump that is driven by the shaft. If the truck's driveshaft isn't moving then the pump is not pumping.

2. If you do forget to switch it off before slowing or stopping, Do NOT Back Up. You will wipe out the conical clutch. If that happens you lose mobility.

These unit are actually designed and used on a few British cars going back to 60s or 70s made by a company Laycock. They were used on the back of manual transmissions that used a switch linked to the shifter that activated when you put it in top overdrive gear. Pretty failsafe in that application. Gearvendors I think bought the rights to the design and manufactured adapters and control boxes for these units. When I dealt with them directly for parts they didn't want to sell me anything except a service kit (filter). It took convincing for them to sell me a gasket kit and new cone clutch. They wanted me to send them the unit for a complete overhaul by them. If I remember correctly they wanted $800 for them to go through it. I think I got the parts for $150.

Also heres a link I posted in way back when as 87crewdually. Alot of info for anyone interested. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/905049-transmission-big-leak.html#post8173529
 
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u2slow

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I'd rather have a newer trans with OD (and lockup if auto).

Beware that if you're shopping for a used GVOD, to get it from behind the same trans. Adapting the wrong spline/pattern will cost you large in parts. (That happened to a colleague.)
 

18CrewDually

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I'd rather have a newer trans with OD (and lockup if auto).

Beware that if you're shopping for a used GVOD, to get it from behind the same trans. Adapting the wrong spline/pattern will cost you large in parts. (That happened to a colleague.)

I don't know how your colleague screwed that up. My adapter had what trans it fits casted on it , and the splined coupler goes only one way & either fits or it don't.
 

u2slow

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He knew it was the wrong application, but a great deal. He didn't anticipate the stiff price to convert it.
 

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