Anyone running a Gear Vendors unit?

[Big69C20 Toy]

I was looking at converting the truck to a overdrive (700r4 built up) but my tranny man says not to, says it'll never hold if i tow with it with the power i'll have (700/700 approx).

Anyone running one of those units? like it, hate it? what's the general concensus? They're dang expensive but it'll end up the same as a conversion to overdrive so i guess i'm stuck. Anyone know of any vehicles that they came stock on so i could snag one from a yard? With a GV my guy told me i could run a nice 1 piece since it's about an additional 2 feet or so.

Ok thanks for the info.
Greg

[Longhorn Man]

Here is a link to there site if you haven't been there yet. http://www.gearvendors.com/commercial.html
I got to see a truck rippin down the road with the vendors set up...he was chirpin on every shift.
They never came O.E. on anything, aftermarket only. Indistrutabl piece.

[Mike C]

It'll be cheaper to go with a 4L80E electronic controller not withstanding. Turbo gas motors don't make very good tow engines. To make power you have to make boost which makes heat which makes for detonation which means you have to turn the boost down or run such low compression that off-boost throttle response sux. Intercoolers don't make much of a difference if you are boosting continuously because they heat soak. IMO, build a second truck to tow the first when it's broken all the time

[tom hand]

I agree if you can find a 4L80E it should be able to handle any thing you throw at it. They are much harder to find but if you can it will be well worth it.

[Longhorn Man]

But if you have a good tranny now, you'll be ahead with the gear vendors.
To modify the 4L80E you'll spend a good chunk, then there is the puter stuff...lockup verter, speedo headaches, and then you only have 4 gears. With the vendors, it'll be a 6 speed!

[Big69C20 Toy]

Yeah i asked about 4l80e but my trans dude said it'd be a huge ordeal and much money, and lots of electrical. my th400 he said will handle anything i throw at it.

Regarding vehicle use, this vehicle wont be running gas. it'll be running propane, twin carbs, twin evaps, probly twin VATN turbos so the lag on the thing wont be bad at all. I talked to one guy who ran a SBC on the came carbs/evaps i'm thinking at Pike's peak, he had a vortec super thought runngin to only one turbo. he dynod the rear at 660hp and said he couldnt control the sucker on the way up to the peak. Sounds line fun to me.

[68 Suburban]

Gear Vendor's is the way to go. I have been looking for one for a while. You can find used ones for about the $1200 range.

P.S. I haven't forgoten about the propane stuff, but it is going to have to wait until I get back from my trip

[68 Suburban]

There is this thing..... I don't know much about it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1835067354

[SCOTI]

Last I checked w/Jet Performance transmissions their 4l80e was 4300$ + an initial set-up fee for dialing everything in. If I remember correctly, when I looked @ the G.V. site they were listed @ around 2300$? My thinking is you can get a damn nice turbo 400 built & use the gear vendors set-up & NOT require the initial computer set-up hassles for less than the initial 4300.

[Cheyenne Super]

TPI performance transmissions offers a 700r4 that they claim will withstand up to 500 hp. Since you are shooting higher I would go with the th400 and GV based on my research. The GV only robs 1hp for every 400 in the engine. I think if you can spend a few more dollars and eliminate a worry it is worth it.

[slam33]

I'll be running one as soon as I get the trans together and do my converstion from stick to auto. Got the OD from a shop for $400, they didn't know what to do with it, so I told them what to do. This is going to be nice.

[1-PU70]

I dont know why the 700R4 gets such a bad rap. I have one in my 70 LWB Fleet side with a 402. I just towed a car to Milwaukee from florida and back and didnt have one bit of trouble.The trans I have is a take out from a 87 S10 2WD Blazer I paided $200 for. I think this is a great trans.

[Big69C20 Toy]

Thanks 68 Suburban, and no worries on the time. I'm doing tons of research on companies and setups, i'll let you know more about it sometime, i've found some neat stuff.

I dont know about that funky OD unit, that thing is one beefy sucker though. Never heard of that company or anything like it though, but i'm a youngin.

I'd like to find a used GV unit, since those things are supposedly built to all heck and can handle 1200 on the normal model and 2000+ with their special unit.

Thanks for the replies guys.

[lukecp]

Humm...ive never heard of the Double Torque unit..looks like a pretty good setup. But...im guessing it would be impossible for me to use it with my TH350, since the case is allumium and one piece, right? Now if i were to convert to a 4-speed...
I would love a gear vendors unit, if i were to find a used one i would proably buy it.

[slam33]

The GV slaps onto the back end of the Turbo 350 no problems

[lukecp]

I know the Gear Vendors does, but the Double Torque thingy proably wouldnt....it said that it goes between the bellhousing and tranny on a Chevy...and the TH350 is one piece. Plus the shifter, and the tranny cooler lines wouldn't work. I searched on the Double Torque on the net, and came up empty-handed...