Gear Vendors Overdrive is In!

Discussion in 'The "Juice Box"' started by LARRY70GS, Jul 22, 2006.

  1. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Just picked my car up from Stage1 Automotive. I had a Gear Vendors Overdrive installed. With 3.42 gears and 27" tires, my effective gear is 2.62 when in overdrive. 60 MPH is a little over 2000 RPM, 2300 RPM gives me 70 MPH. Rob Chilenski did the install, and all he needed to do was cut and reweld the crossmember so that the trans mount would be lower. A few very small dings in the floor. No exhaust modifications to my X pipe. I managed to pick the car up in between storms this morning. Testing will have to wait for nicer weather. The car felt great.
     
  2. GoldBoattail455

    GoldBoattail455 462 -> TH400 -> Posi

    Very nice setup Larry, looks like some care was taken to install the entire setup. :TU: So this helps you maintain low rpms on the highway when crusing and still be able to change to a higher gear ratio for launching at the track? :Do No:

    Also, is that a autometer vacuum gauge? If so why do you have it? :Do No: Thanks
     
  3. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member


    It gives me a 4th gear of .78:1. I can turn it on and off anytime I want. Turn it off, the car acts just like it has 3.42's. With it on, it's like 2.62's when in overdrive(above 45 MPH)

    The vacuum gauge comes in handy for tuning purposes, and also it is easy to spot a vacuum leak. you can also use it to maximize gas mileage(highest vacuum = best mileage.
     
  4. Hector

    Hector '79 Buick Limited

    Larry,I bet you can't wait to try it out.My long range plan calls for a GearVendors unit coupled to a stout TH 400,that will be later on once the BBB is installed.I read where GV has a new electronic "brain" for the unit,seems pricey,but it addresses certain aspects to the function of the unit that were previously not used to the fullest,according to the write up.Looking forward for your feedback on this :TU: .
     
  5. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member


    Yes, it's pricey, but I didn't want to give up my switch pitch. It costs about what you'd pay to have a 200R4 built to handle the torque of a 455. But, if I should ever need to have the 400 rebuilt, I can do that for under 500.00 You can definitely feel the Gear Vendors shift. Just taking off from a light, nice and easy, my trans shifts into 2nd at about 15 MPH, then 3rd at about 25-30, and then at a little over 45MPH, the gear vendors shifts. It feels just like my 1-2 shift(which is very firm) My low stall is 1800. The converter slips just a bit if you are into the gas, but the car will maintain 60MPH, with light throttle at just a bit above 2000 RPM. I plan to take the car to Salem, so we will see what kind of mileage I can get.
     
  6. staged2ny

    staged2ny Silver Level contributor

    looks good larry how much, power can that thing handle?
     
  7. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    Awesome, Larry! Good to see you're planning to take the car to Salem this year.
     
  8. alan

    alan High-tech Dinosaur

    You have it set up to shift automatically? I've read that you will get your best ET by using 1st, 2nd, 2nd over, 3rd. I tried this using a computer program and found it to be true, although I simulated a 4500 lb car and 800 hp! :Dou:
     
  9. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member


    1200HP Mike, and they can be modified to take 2000. They flat out tell you it can be shifted at ANY throttle opening, and that you'll never break it or wear it out.
     
  10. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member


    Alan,
    If you look at the interior photo, you'll see the controller next to my vacuum gauge. There are 2 modes, automatic, and manual. In automatic, it shifts into overdrive just like a modern overdrive transmission(at about 47 MPH) In manual, you can split the gears. There is a foot operated switch on the floor (looks exactly like a dimmer switch). To do this though, you need to manually shift the trans, and the GV. put the trans into 1st, then hit the switch for 1over, then shift the trans to 2, and hit the switch again to cancel overdrive, wait to the top of 2, hit the switch again, and so on. That's alot of work and switching :Dou: I can't see myself doing that at the track. I can see leaving the shifter in 2, and then switching the overdrive at the top of 2, so I go through the traps in 2 over. I might try that.
     
  11. alan

    alan High-tech Dinosaur

    That does sound like an "oops" waiting to happen!
     
  12. 76century

    76century Well-Known Member

    That's awesome, it's good to see that someone took a different route w/ an overdrive gear instead of taking the easy way out and just buying a beefed up 200-R4 in there. I have always found the GV unit to be an interesting piece. Does the engine still pull like a freight train on the highway w/ the overdrive gear engaged? :Do No: :Brow: :bglasses:
     
  13. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    It pulls, but not like with the straight 3.42's. All you need to do is put it into manual. Then you select when the overdrive shifts. So you can wind it out in 3rd gear, and hit the overdrive at WOT no problem. I'd want an empty roadway to do that though. :grin:

    I really like the manual mode because you can select when the overdrive kicks in. If you want to do a nice 2-1 downshift at low speed, the overdrive will shift in at 45 MPH no matter what in autodrive. Leaving it in manual for spirited driving :Brow: is the way to go. For long trips though, autodrive works really well, just like a factory 4 speed automatic.
     
  14. buickgsman

    buickgsman Well-Known Member

    Larry, how much extra length did that add to the transmission?

    I installed a tremec 5 speed in my car and I had to cut the entire hump out. The 69 that I have is slated to have a turbo 400 and i would like to do something cool, but with an auto trans so I don't have to shift all the time.

    Now I know why you were so willing to check out that Cutlass for me, you wanted an excuse to take out the Buick! :TU:

    Bob
     
  15. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Bob,
    The GV bolts on the back of the transmission at the extension housing. On a short shaft 400, the extension housing is 4". The length from the gasket surface to the yoke u-joint centerline is 21" So the GV adds about 17" to the length of the trans. I had a shortened drive shaft made. Didn't have to touch my X pipe exhaust. The Mickey Thompson Super Scavengers have those long collectors, so the X pipe was far enough back. The yoke ended up right in front of the X, and the driveshaft went right above it with plenty of clearance.


    Weather yesterday was dismal. Glad I got the GS home in the morning without getting rained on :laugh:

    Wish I had a better picture. I wanted to take pictures of the install on Robby's lift, but the weather was threatening, and all I wanted to do is get the car home before the deluge started. You can see the adapter plate, and the GV unit itself bolted to the back of the trans with the yoke in front of the X.
     
  16. Yardley

    Yardley Club Jackass

    1. Glad you changed your mind and are bringing it to Salem.

    2. What's the radiator clamp around the tail housing for?

    3. What is the cable for that runs under the trans?

    4. Nice job!
     
  17. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member


    1) Was always planning on bringing it to Salem. That's one of the reasons for the Gear Vendors install.

    2) I have no idea. When I get it on the lift, and can take a better look at it, I might be able to tell. Looking at my literature, it looks like it is more than a hose clamp. It looks like it has tabs that actually hold the rear seal in. If that is true, seal replacement is probably a snap.

    3) That is the parking brake cable. It had to be rerouted. Everything works.

    4) Yup, Robby does nice work.

    5) No, it isn't going down the track until Englishtown. If I can wait another two weeks, so can you :laugh:
     
  18. APVGS

    APVGS Ottawa Go Fast Guy!!

    Hey Larry.Looks good!! :TU: Congrats!! Looking forward to the "driving" stories. Later,Tony.
     
  19. RED GS 1

    RED GS 1 Well-Known Member

    WOWWW!!! Larry :Brow: You keep amazing me with all these things your doing to your GS. I've been thinking of an O/D Transmission for my car since I got it..
    I'm really gonna pick your brain tomorrow at oyster bay, I've got Lots of questions for Ya :Smarty: Install looks great :TU: Can't wait till you get some runs at the track and feel her out :3gears:
     
  20. pglade

    pglade Well-Known Member

    how large(approx diameter)/deep are the clearance areas required in the floorboard? Looks very good! Thanks, Patton
     

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