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!

[gator2511]

I've had mine in for several years now and I think you will love it. My foot switch from GV is a surface mount on the floor so the only holes in the floor are the mounting screw holes. The foot sw. then plugs into the controller which I have mounted under the dash on the firewall. My truck is a 4wd shorty and the GVOD was installed at the same time as the TH400 so I had to move the tranny mounts to the rear about 4". The front driveshaft had to be lengthened and the existing one piece shaft going to the rear had to be shortened. No problems with the one piece in mine. The more weight you put on these units the smoother they shift. The only thing I don't like is that in automatic mode the downshift to first is too rough so I mostly use it in manual mode and it downshifts great. When towing you can keep the motor nice and comfy by using whatever gear you want. (its a 6 speed now)

[72JimmyDiesel]

What about installing a 4L80E. You can pick a good used one for 4-500. A stand alone for $600 and just shorten your stock drive shaft a few inches. You get a slightly larger overdrive .75 vs .78 and a locking converter.

[dan42]

Originally Posted by 72JimmyDiesel

What about installing a 4L80E. You can pick a good used one for 4-500. A stand alone for $600 and just shorten your stock drive shaft a few inches. You get a slightly larger overdrive .75 vs .78 and a locking converter.

That's a thought, but then you have speedometer issues if you want to keep a stock dash.

[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.

[mtdave2]

Originally Posted by 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.

what did it do for your milage?

[Lemield]

Mtdave2,

I don't really know what it did for my mileage. I had 3.08 gears when I installed it and took one long trip out to Maob Utah. I got about 17mpg on the highway that trip. I recently changed to 3:73 gears but I don't have any idea what it did to my mileage. I mostly just drive it for fun anyway.

[kevncar]

Originally Posted by mtdave2

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

thanks for the offer to help!

Yeah, well...I can never find time or funds to get my truck back on the road. To many other things, like work, kidos and honey-do's. One of these days. I really envy guys that have kept thier truck running and just done upgrades as they went, but always kept them on the road. Should have done that if I had half a brain, but I went more the "frame-off" route. My mistake...but I'll get er going one of these days.

Good luck with your truck, and please so the install post...I love seeing others progress. If nothing else it's motivational for others like me.

[69GMCLonghorn]

Originally Posted by kevncar

Yeah, well...I can never find time or funds to get my truck back on the road. To many other things, like work, kidos and honey-do's. One of these days. I really envy guys that have kept thier truck running and just done upgrades as they went, but always kept them on the road. Should have done that if I had half a brain, but I went more the "frame-off" route. My mistake...but I'll get er going one of these days.

Good luck with your truck, and please so the install post...I love seeing others progress. If nothing else it's motivational for others like me.

Ironically, I envy guys like you that have the b*lls to do a frame off... By the way, why do they call it a "frame off"? Isn't it really a "body off"?? You don't take the frame off the body... You take the body off the frame. Ah what do I know.

[kevncar]

Maybe that's my problem...I'm doing it backwards!!!!

[Shaky]

I'm interested in the GV unit. I have a long bed 2WD and wonder what to do with the two-piece drive shaft. I'm putting it behind an SM420 4-speed.