I've started a new project for the Wagon...overdrive! I find myself with a good 2-3 weeks to think over the project since UPS just delivered a shattered GearVendors unit to my door. They can take 2000 hp - but are no match for the destructive forces of UPS! So, onward and upward. Anyone got any neat street/strip ideas on how best to use this nice little overdrive (assuming I get a new one back)? The Wagon is a 79 Century with a 464, SPTH400, 3.42 GN rear, boxed frame, tubular suspension with high rate springs up front and low rate in the back. Hooks well. Light-weight tricks throughout. Wagon is mostly street now that the local strip has been removed. It occasionally drives about 100 miles to a strip for runs. I was looking for an overdrive since highway drives found me running at 4k rpm. The original plan was just a plain old switch to put in low gear at the track, high gear on the highway...here's what I'm thinking now that there's time to kill. Controllers - I can build controllers here quite easily so could do up a mode selector to pop the low stall and overdrive at various RPMS's Parking control - high stall is already really neat for making the 464 ultra precise when maneuvering in the garage. I figured adding low gear to that would do even better. Ditch the switch - with under/overdrive does it really add that much flexibility? Change the rear gear - given that wagon is already quite planted, might a bigger tire or lower rear gear be in order? The car is a sleeper so I like it to hop off the line. ...all ideas on the table... Some pics of the patient: ...and the damaged GV
Question- what are your "highway speeds" that you turn 4K RPM with 3.42s? Was just running a calculator for my car: 3.73/ TH400 29.9" tire = 3010 RPM @ 70 (trying to make the case for a 4L80E to myself).
Your running gear is about the same as mine and I have a switch pitch with gear vendor backed by a 3.42 ratio. It is a nice setup and about as close to bullet proof as I can afford to get. There is nothing fancy or high tech with mine, I have the switch pitch wired to the brake light switch only so I cant turn it on and off manually but feel no need to. A lock up converter would be nice but I like the peace of mind knowing how strong the T-400/gear vendor combination is. Bob H.
Mark - it's about 100mph/160kph cruise speed with occasional bumps to 120 for passing. My highway tires are 27"...which might be an issue. Bob - That's good to know, this GV addition is kind of a reliability thing and I like knowing it'll hold up. I'm sorely tempted to just install the unit even knowing it's been pretty severely hammered on the shaft end. The manual override on the SP is kind of a cool bonus for parking. The high stall really tames the torque. How's the GV on the highway - any noise?
Clint, I drove my car for years like that, SP and Gear Vendors. I had one of Bruce Roe's controllers for the switch pitch. It had 3 separate timers and a vacuum switch. Read more about the box here, http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?th...es-electronic-controller.190075/#post-1663402 The Gear Vendors has an automatic mode and a manual mode. With the automatic mode, the GV comes in a 40 MPH. So your SP400 acts just like a 4 speed automatic, 1, 2, 3 4th OD. I have had the GV for 11 years now. I ran 13's, 12's and now 11's with it. It is plenty durable. No problems, and no noise. I now run a fixed pitch 400 with a 10" converter. Still have the SP sitting in the garage.
Thanks Larry, that looks like a good controller. Wagon is a little lumpy at idle and I usually thumb it to high siting at a light.
I'm interests to see how it fits in the tunnel. Will there be mods, or just some select hammering or will it fit right in there? I think it is a cool piece but the dollar value way exceeds my budget.
No noise from my gear vendor either and yes the high stall is nice when sitting at a light, there is very little difference in idle speed between neutral and high stall. Bob H.
