Jimmys66

I've been looking for an overdrive for the stang for a while. I love my toploader but highway cruising is boarderline at best. So I figured a gear vendors O/D is the perfect solution. I get to keep the bulletproof toploader and get an O/D for the highway. $2500 for a toploader unit!! Now most of you guys know that I'm cost consious(RE: cheap, broke, etc.). For $2500 I could have a Tremec. Why would someone bother with the Gear vendors?

67stang

yeah, plus I dont think the gear vendors is going to last, strengt wise, in a drag racing environment.

I think your best best is a tremec or even a world class T5 -i'd say it is probably as strong as your toploader.

Gary79F250

I had a gear vendor's OD in a F450 sd garbage truck with a navistar and a 4 speed.it was a company truck and i beat the living piss out of it and it held together real well. even dumping the cluch in first gear, it would not break. i actualy blew all of the teeth off of the pinion before the trans cooked a bearing from lack of oil. i was so glad to se that thing go, i got a new truck later.

Jimmys66

I can see using a gear vendors for Gary's truck or a heavy duty tow vehicle. Something that needs twice the gears to get to speed. I just can't see it being cost eficiant for a muscle car owner. To each his own I guess, everyone want's to be different.

dale302

I agree the Gear Vendors overdrive seems pricey, but if you already have a stout 3 speed transmission the cost is comparable to a complete change out.

It will cost you on the order of $2500 for a Tremec setup or about the same for say a Lentech AOD and everything to install it.

I am fairly serious considering one for my 69 Mustang with a C-4. Might actually be a bit cheaper if you forget the original cost of the C-4. Plus six forward gears is pretty cool.

As far as strength goes I talked direct with the guys at Gear Vendor and they claim the overdrive unit is very stout. They claim the unit I would get for a C-4 is the same overdrive used in some 6-second 1/4 mile drag cars without a failure. I think if the overdrive unit can withstand a 6-sec drag car it can stand anything I can throw at it.

Also the install would be very easy for my C-4. Far easier than a switch to a Tremec or even a AOD.

Dale302

_________________
1969 Mustang Fastback and 1970 Mustang 5.0 EFI Coupe
[img]freeweb.pdq.net/gindale/CoupeRev.gif[/img] www.geocities.com/70coupe

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Dale302 on 1/4/02 12:45pm ]</font>

hamiltt

I agree Dale.
It took me about 2 to 3 hours to install. I already had a built C4. A AOD or T5 is not nealy as easy to swap. Many mods.
I'm told the vendor can handle over 1000hp.Who knows for sure! I never heard of anyone break one. By the way I do know of a couple of Mopars with 600HP. running gear vendors for 2years.

__________________
67 MUSTANG FASTBACK

dale302

Hamiltt,

How do you like your C-4 / Gear Vendor comb?

What rearend gear ratio are you running?

Any other comments or insight would be nice.

Thanks,

Dale302

hamiltt

Dale, I am very satisfied with the vendor. The shift is very firm like a shift kit! Being able to shift in and out at any speed gives you alot more options for ratios while driving around town or racing.
I gave a friend a ride on christmas day, he said I shift my mustang as fast a his sport bike! The gears go by fast with 6 speeds! I'm running 3.55's with a lockrite 26" tall tires.

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67 MUSTANG FASTBACK

Jimmys66

Ok, I can see a c-4 with a gear vendors, compared to having an aod built and installed. Having 6 or 8 forward gears is a neat consept, but I really only need 1 extra gear, the last one. I don't have any problems with their dependability claims either. If they're being installed in garbage trucks then they better have their stuff together. Since I already have an explosion proof bellhousing, the swap to an O/D isn't terrably bad. I love my toploader, I just wish it would shift one more time.

Steve

Since Jimmy66 has a top loader and not a C4, the comments on putting one behind the C4 while interesting have no relevance. I agree that it could be more cost effective to put the od behind the automatic. However, putting one behind a top loader probably is not.
I recently replaced my top loader with a T5 and the difference is emmence. Shifting is much smoother and that od is really worth while. I always had problems with the Hurst shifter. the shift arms would bend/warp during the shift sometimes making me miss a shift. No problems with a T5. The T5 is an easy swap, there being two ways to do it. It can also live behind 400+ hp. the tremac is about as easy to install, and will handle even more hp. I have wondered about going to a T56, but that swap requires messing with the trans hump and lack of good adapters. My opinion is that the high strength version of the T5 would be a good way to go. You could do it for less than $2000 even if you had someone do it for you.

Jimmys66

Steve I'm good with hands on and bolt ons. Just not with wallet ons. I do like the gear vendors idea, I'm just a broke SOB. The probability of finding a used tremec is much better than finding a used gear vendors. I'm glad that hamillt likes his gear vendors. It does seem like a cool ride. 'Specially if it shifts like a shift kit. I'd do a T-5 since I'm cash limited but I'm just gonna break it. So I might as well save the money and wait for the tremec.

dale302

Yes, I agree if you already have a manual tranny the Tremec or T-5 comes in cheaper, but for us with stout C-4s the Gear Vendor is attractive. Though either option bites a hugh chuck out of your wallet.

Dale302

hamiltt

Just one more tidbit of info. The vendor does have a brain in wich makes it fully automatic overdrive to shift in overdrive at what ever speed you have it programmed for by the mfg. Therefore it actually imitates a regular 4 speed auto. if you desire to have in auto mode. I find myself about 50/50 in manual or auto mode. Justs depends if there's a chevy in my sights! Ha!!!!

Jimmys66

Thats kinda cool.

66GT289

Hamiltt, what are you using for a drive-
shaft? I've got the GV unit in my 68 stang
with a C6. Although I've got the driveline
pretty well sorted out, I've still got a
slight harmonic. I think the steel shaft
will have to go to solve the issue.