next up, gear vendors..

[mtdave2]

now that the rims and tires are a done deal. next on deck is gear vendors.... look to be about 3k,,,,yikes.

going to call them and ask a few questions. anyone have any input or questions on these things?

my main one is on the carrier barring. i have a 2 piece drive line. the front one will be about a foot and a few inches long after the install. then into the carrier barring. looks to be that a one piece drive line makes more sense. any down side to a one

[BLACK AND BLUE 67-72]

Go with the one piece, less headaches!!!

[mtdave2]

why was there 2 in the first place? to help deal with frame and body flex?

[jorgensensc]

THe rear trailing arm setup had a lot of vertical movement, so the two pice was deemed better. A lot of Lowered (slammed) guys prefer a 2 piece also.
Shawn

[mtdave2]

anyone who has one in there truck. where did you mount the electronics?

[long69]

i though that i had read or heard that they had a universal set-up, but no details. i would be wondering if they did, could it go where the carrier bearing is and maye just replace it. i dont have the cashola so i havent pursued the details.

[mtdave2]

Well that was an interesting call.

As far as the drive shaft, they keep the 2 piece. in their installs.

There are 2 different models. A truck/towing and a hot rod modle.
They differ in a few ways. The hot rod uses a softer metal for internal parts, to absorbs spikes in power. The towing model is made for long term heavy loading for rvs and heavy trucks, they also have deeper oil pan. So for our trucks they are bullet proof…or so they say.

I didn’t quite understand how you interact with the unit. Now I get it.. there is 2 switches that the driver can use. One switch you choose if you want manual, or auto shifting. The other switch is an on off switch usually mounted next to your dimmer switch on the foor.

Manual vs auto. In our trucks, if you are at a stop sign and in D. if you are in auto, and you hit the gas, the truck shifts as normal. 1st,2nd,3rd, then the unit turns on and you get the over drive.

In the manual mode. And in 1 on you column shifter. You hit the gas, when you want a shift, hit the button with your foot and you are in 1st over. Shift into 2nd and hit the foot switch you are now in 2nd, hit the foot switch, you are in 2nd over, shift to D and hit the switch you are in 3rd. and then hit the foot switch and you are in 3rd over, or over drive.

I cant see ever using the manual mode unless towing up a hill, or hot roding around town for a bit.

Install, should take about 4hrs, all the electronics can be hidden under the dash. You will need to cut a **gulp* hole, in the floor for the foot switch, and someplace you need to but a light to show when the unit is on.

All in all it sounds like something I want. Ill prob wait a few days, and pull the trigger…anyone wana help with the install? Beer and pizza!

[kevncar]

mtdave2...I picked one up a while back, but have not worked on my truck in quite sometime. If I can help with any pics or anything, i've got mine sitting in a box collecting dust that is really easy to get to.

[mtdave2]

Originally Posted by kevncar

mtdave2...I picked one up a while back, but have not worked on my truck in quite sometime. If I can help with any pics or anything, i've got mine sitting in a box collecting dust that is really easy to get to.

you have a gear vender unit in a box? why dont you use it? or sell it =)....

thanks for the offer to help!

[Doug's68SS]

You bring up the speedo issue. I am wondering the same thing what do you do when you have the electronic pick up. I see all these trucks with 700r and 4l80 how do you get the speedo to work. I was thinkg GV for that reason

[mtdave2]

i wont ever use a 700r4 again. not worth it imho. the gv is the way to go. very light mods to your truck, faaaaaaaaaaaaaar more reliable.
the only down side is price.

nice to know about the switch, i hate makin holes in my truck

[mtdave2]

i would have thought this would have had more interest... should i even bother with an install post?

[Sinister]

Originally Posted by mtdave2

i would have thought this would have had more interest... should i even bother with an install post?

I'd like to see info on the install.

[jbarron]

I've been running one for a couple years. They work great to cut down the rpms on the highway. Not a real gas saver since you are now using power to drive another accessory. But my 402 never gets great fuel economy, heavy foot.

My driveshaft guy said not to run a two piece with that short of a front shaft. Something about the rear shaft playing hell with that short of a front shaft. I had a one piece made so I can remove it later if I want.

I mounted the electronics in a custom console I made. I also replaced the foot switch with one mounted on the console.

It's a easy install. The electronics take as long to route and tie in as the mechanicals.

When it kicks in you will know it. Its like a good shift kit.

[mtdave2]

Originally Posted by jbarron

I've been running one for a couple years. They work great to cut down the rpms on the highway. Not a real gas saver since you are now using power to drive another accessory. But my 402 never gets great fuel economy, heavy foot.

My driveshaft guy said not to run a two piece with that short of a front shaft. Something about the rear shaft playing hell with that short of a front shaft. I had a one piece made so I can remove it later if I want.

I mounted the electronics in a custom console I made. I also replaced the foot switch with one mounted on the console.

It's a easy install. The electronics take as long to route and tie in as the mechanicals.

When it kicks in you will know it. Its like a good shift kit.

hum good point about the gas mileage, giving me a bit of a pause.. while it does make sence that you are using power to turn the unit, that will take some mpg, as soon as you get to the od you would be saving..alot. so the net should be lower i would think

[Lemield]

I've got a GV unit in my 70 CST shortie. It works great. I put in a one piece driveshaft when I installed the GV unit. I mounted the electronics under the dash on the left side of the driver...using existing holes. Pretty simple install.
I installed it a few years ago but if I can answer any questions, please let me know.

[pmpski_1]

Originally Posted by mtdave2

i would have thought this would have had more interest... should i even bother with an install post?

Yes, I'm thinking about GV as well.

[69GMCLonghorn]

I'm hearing the thing to do is to ace the carrier bearing and rear shaft and just go with a one piece drive shaft. I did have a drive shaft guy tell me that I could have run a short front drive shaft with no problem, but who knows...

[mtdave2]

hum.. everyone im talking to, including gearvendor themselfs, say to keep the 2 drive shafts.. even more so for me because im 6 inches longer with the longhorn...

[Lemield]

Mtdave2,

I had a 1970 longbed with a hot 454 and a Muncie M21 4spd in it. The previous owner had converted it to a one piece driveshaft. It had a bad vibration in it that I could never get out of it.

On a longbed or especially a Longhorn, I would definately recommend staying with the two piece driveshaft. JMHO.

[mtdave2]

Originally Posted by Lemield

Mtdave2,

I had a 1970 longbed with a hot 454 and a Muncie M21 4spd in it. The previous owner had converted it to a one piece driveshaft. It had a bad vibration in it that I could never get out of it.

On a longbed or especially a Longhorn, I would definately recommend staying with the two piece driveshaft. JMHO.

thats the problem they say happens with drive shafts over certain length.

[Lemield]

Maybe Andy (Longhornman) will chime in....he knows a LOT about these trucks....especially Longhorns.

[IAFF2407]

I have the GV with a 1 piece shaft in my burb. (with no problem, smooth) any vibration with a balanced shaft would be caused my a lack of a proper angle. shafts need to have a min angle (drop) from front to back.

[BB72CHEVKT]

Lots of guys including my self run a one piece shaft in their LWB trucks with no problems and les maintence.

[mtdave2]

ok its orderd, will be here weds. hope to have it in by the weekend, but knowing my luck......lol