Gear vendor's with 3:54 rear gears and th400?

[Alex V.]

29" tires with 3.73's and no OD isn't too bad (2,600-2,700) - since you're sticking with the 3.54's I really don't think the GV is going to be of any benefit. With a diesel, 383 stroker, or something like that it might be alright, but your drivetrain as-is with 3.54's will have the engine right in its sweet spot. I'd cruise that truck all day at 65-70.

4.10's with the 29's and a Turbo 400 + GV would be fun.

[davischevy]

I will speak like a politician on this one. I will take both sides.

I have replaced the 700R in every vehicle I have owned except one. Most I bought new. I replaced a 4L60E in my wife's suv at 60,000 miles.

In my mind the 700R is the bottom of the food chain in stock form.

We have two local guys that can build 700R's to last. WE have three behind 383 strokers and 3 behind big blocks.

My Longhorn only has about 30,000 on the 700R, but has done it's share of work. I spent as much on the build and installation as a GV would have cost. Why didn't I do GV? I didn't think of it. If the 700R gives up, I will put the fresh 400T back in and go GV.

In a car with under 500 HP I will do the 700R again and again, but in trucks from now on I will do GV. Mostly because I like to split shift.

[jeffahart]

I've been keeping my eye out for one for a couple years now. I just don't see the effort to put in a modern 5 speed. Even if you bought a new GV, I feel like you could recoup at least half the price back later on. Keep the original drive shaft, and pull the GV before you sell the truck and put it on ebay. You can get a lot of your cost back. Or keep it for another vehicle. My truck just runs too damned good with the mostly original equipment. I changed out the axles for the D60 and Corp14 with 4.56. Other than the low gears I love the setup 465 and 205, you can just flat forget about them! Trouble free! And, I really liked the 4.10s with 33s. But I'm to cheep and lazy to change gears. Plus for the price and effort... might as well GV!

GV, not a need to have, but a nice to have! I could go 35s and do a bit better. Or I could just wind it out for a few years, throw a rod and replace the pack for way less than a GV anyway! Plus I know what to expect with a new motor! GV is good on paper for me, because I've never actually owned one... so there's that!