Need overdrive advice

[LIVNSEZ]

Hello to all. I am the new owner of a 67 C10 stepside shortbed. It has a 350/350 and 3.73 gears. I plan to do some freeway jaunts and with that combo, I'm really crankin' at speed. I'm considering a 700R4 but noticed the Gear Vendors overdrive unit as an alternative. Does anybody have any experience or an opinion of the Gear Vendors unit instead of the 700R4 to improve freeway manners? Thanks for any help.

[krue]

The gear vendors unit is gonna be your better bet if money is no object. They are pretty expensive, but supposedly they are bullet proof. A low dollar option is to put a set of 3.07 gears in it, my 350/350 combo gets about 14-15 hiway without the engine screaming at 75-80 mph.

[LIVNSEZ]

Thanks. krue. I'm leaning towards the GV unit. The fact that it can be yanked and installed in my next project helps.

[mrein3]

You can buy a lot of 700r4s for that kind of money. They too can be yanked for the next project.

If you aren't pulling stumps all day with the truck you probably don't need anything as beefy as the GV overdrive.

[crazy longhorn]

I looked at all the options on overdrive, & really thought about adding a Gear vendors on the back of my 400T. The trouble was price.....by the time i cut the driveline, freshened the 400, & purchased the Vendors.....i wasnt too far from a Richmond 6 spd, billet wheel, & a centerforce clutch. Long story short, I really love rowing a stick IMO, with an auto trans, a gearvendors would be a very good choice. best of luck,crazyL

[LIVNSEZ]

All your opinions are appreciated . After factoring in my skill level and confidence of installing each option myself, the Gear Vendors looks pretty good. I think I can handle the install on it but not on the 700R4. By buying another drive shaft for the GV install, I can more easily return my truck to its current configuration should I decide to sell it and keep the GV. That reduces the cost of my next project. I would love the Richmond 6 speed. I considered that too. But after installation, the GV is still a lower cost option for me (I think), even as pricey as it is. Am I making any sense?

[Bowtie67]

Id go with the 700r4, if you can install an automtaic there is nothing that different from installing and OD trans and all your current linkage will work, the only real issue is moving the cross member back because of the length and installing a TV cable. Instead spending a lot of money and fabricating more parts. Also note that with less there is less things to go wrong. You can pickup a good used trans 87 & up are the better ones for very resonable money add on a reasonable stall converter and with 373 gears when you drop it in OD and Lockup your RPMs will be down to around 2000rpm depending on tire sizes and in first gear you'll have some nice take off.

[krue]

If you want to be able to return the truck to original status, a 200-4r may be a better choice. It will bolt in place of your short shaft 350, uses the same linkage and the same driveshaft. The crossmember has to be moved back to the th400 position. Basically it's a straight swap. And it can be built as strong as a 700r4 for about the same money (it's the tranny they put in the Buick Grand Nationals).

[cdowns]

definately the 2004R is the better choice of overdrive trannys though not as plentifull as the 700R4 rebuilt they cost the same

[busterwivell]

Not as plentyful? 200 4R's are everywhere. Look in B-O-P's, most have dual bolt patterns and will bolt up to Chevy block. They are cheap. too.

[LIVNSEZ]

Thanks for all the advice/opinions. Thought I'd update you on what I've decided. As a result of this board, I'm going with the 200 4R. Reasons: Not pulling stumps or heavy trailer, don't plan on building more power than it can handle, less costly than gear vendors, lower OD ratio than GV (0.7 vs. 0.78), fewer mods/fab needed than 700 R4. Thanks again.