Read about this recently and wonder if anyone has used this instead of installing 700R or 200R tranny for better mileage and lower RPM's on the highway?
About $2200 for it, plus need to shorten the driveshaft too.
It has .78 final ratio, so my 3.07's will act like 2.30 at highway speed and my 2500 rpm's should be down to about 1900 with this. I never heard of this till reading my CHP magazine last night.

gearvendors site (http://www.gearvendors.com/index.html)

The Gear Vendors OD can take torque that would blow a 200 or 700 into tiny pieces....

I have the TH350 now so thats what Id have in front of it, but Im not sure how the 2 parts react to each other? What would make it blow CrossRam? I have my head in sand when it comes to trannys.

Click;

Here is the link to the Super Chevy article on a US Gear overdrive install in a 68 - http://www.superchevy-web.com/tech/0301SC_USGEAR/

I understand the GearVendors and the US Gear systems are similar - but, I haven't installed either one yet.

Just an FYI reply.

thanks for that john, interesting reading smile.gif

It can handle 1200+ horse (http://www.gearvendors.com/hrgm3s.html). They can build it to handle higher than that if you need them to.

I was considering it for the Maco...

Do you have that high of HP? This 200R4 (http://www.cpttransmission.com/products/products.php?view=page&qtype=&qvendor=CPT&qproduct=Extreme+Duty+2004R+transmission+kit&qcategory=Transmissions) can handle up to 800 horse and comes complete for $2249.99. You wouldn't have to modify the drive shaft.

[ 09-18-2004, 01:20 PM: Message edited by: djunod ]

I got it installed in my 69
i love it!
turned my turbo 350 into a 6 speed.
and criusing down the highway doing 70 and 2000 rpm is great.

Click,
I have been running a Gear Vendor for several years. In stock form it will handle 1200HP so, strength is no problem. I ran it behind my TH350 and it out lived two of them. I know have it behind my th400 and it has never given me a problem. If I had it to do over again I would go with the Gear Vendor again no doubt, no regrets.

There are pros and cons, in my opinion the pros outweigh the cons.

Pros: Very stong, can be used behind several transmissions, 6 speeds, overdrive in any gear at any speed.

Con: No lock-up for the convertor like a 200-4R or 700R4 (this will only be an issue if you use a high stall converter), the cost.


If you have any specific questions let me know. I am out of town at a softball tourny but, I will check back from time to time.

If you don't drive your car hard at all and don't plan to make a lot of power (over 450) then you will probably be fine with a 700R4, in the end the cost will be about the same. When you add the cost of a well built 700, new quality converter, etc... the cost is not far off (the 700 will be cheaper but, also not as strong), if you step up to a 200-4r then the cost will be about equal and maybe even more for the 200. I looked into it, and a well (able to handle 500HP) built 200-4r and converter were in the neighborhood of $2500.

Do a little research on the 200-4r and a 4L80E if you can get either one complete for less than the GV then they are both good transmissions.

I have a Gear Vendors behind my Turbo 350. I love it. It can be put in OD in any gear. I have 3:50s so when on highway I can go 70 and turn a little over 2000rpm. I would recommend this to anyone w/ an Auto trans.

Ive been reading about the 700 and 200 for a few years now. My current th350 was rebuilt before I bought it and it runs great with some kind of mild shift kit in it. My LM1 engine has a mild cam I was told, forged pistons and balanced. Probably still under 275hp is my best guess. I dont want or need high HP help at all. Id love to get better mileage on the highway tho, I dont race it so I dont care about low gears for that.
It seems this Gearvendor tail shaft gives the extra gears for better mileage and lower rpm's. If I bought a new 200r tranny, had it rebuilt with shift kit would that overdrive give me as good a benefit in mileage and rpm drop as the Gearvendor system? Theirs cuts rpm by around 22% with mileage increase of the same.
Just weighing all the costs vs savings. If I had to spend over $2000 for a rebuilt 200R and still have to shorten the driveshaft, Id be better off with GearVendor. Im very open to ideas here. Id love to get my 21 mpg on the highway that I get now, up to 25 mpg and the rpm's down from 2500 to under 2000 at the same time.
Thanks guys for the input. Im sure others are reading and learning too. smile.gif

A 200r is just about the same length of a Turbo350, so you more than likely will not have to cut your drive shaft. I also believe the 200R has a .70 overdrive versus the .82 of the gearvendors, so there is potential for better mileage with the 200R.

With a mild 350 and an overdrive transmission or a gearvendors you should knock down low 20's no problem if everything else is in a good state of tune.

If there is a negative with the gearvendors (I like them but have never owned one) is you may have to beat on your trans tunnel a little for clearance. You will definitely have to chop the driveshaft too. That is no big deal ($100-150).

I think you can get a rebuilt 200R for way less than 2k. I bought a Bowtie Overdrives Hi Perf 700R4 (they make Hi Perf 200r's as well) with a convertor for around $1400. After, having the driveshaft shortened and a few other odds and ends, I was in it for about $1600. Now I did the installation myself, so if you don't then that will eat up your money.

They key is to find a builder that understands GM Overdrives. When they were first produced they had some weaknesses that caused reliability problems. Trans guys have figured out how to overcome the basic weakness in the design with some basic mods that are part of the rebuild process. It has been a while since I have played with one, but it had to do with the valving and the clutches in the trans among other things.

Anyways, it is all in what you want to spend your money on. I think the gearvendors are good in High Horse RPMs where you want/need to run a turbo 350/400. If you are just wanting some better mileage in your cruiser, then a 200r might be the ticket.

just my .02 cents

Click if I were in our shoes I would go with the 200-4r. You realy don't "need" a Gear Vendor for your intended use. For your goals the lock up converter is by far the way to go. You also won't need all the billet parts and bells and whistles that I was looking into when shopping for a 200-4r so the cost of one to suit your needs will be far less than what I was looking at.

69Project,
You do not have to "clearance" the trans tunnel when installing a Gear Vendor (in some case you do but, not all). I agree with your opinion on the rest of the issue. The Gear Vendor is more for high HP dual purpose (race/street) cars.

Click,

This 200-4R (http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com/catalog/catalog_inc/viewitem.php?ITEMID=11) from Bowtie Overdrives (http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com) is only $866... and is still a performance transmission (up to 350 horse). They have various levels, so you can pick something that best suits your needs.

From the looks of it, these are an easy swap from a TH350/TH400.

great info there guys, thanks alot. now to read all this and digest it and review with my mechanic that would do the work. Im not set up for this big a project in the garage. Im now leaning to the 2004R
smile.gif I didnt know its top gear was so good.

Click:
The 200-4R is an excellent trans upgrade for these cars as others have stated. graemlins/thumbsup.gif
I've done 3 so far and if you order the mild versions of the Bowtie 200, the Torgue Conv., a Camaro Crossmember for the 200 (you can rework a 400 type), a TV to Carb throttle adapter kit, Fill tube and Dip stick (Lokar makes a $$ one thats 'purdy'), Torgue Conv. Cover plate (GM has a universal @$15) and the necessary shifter detent/indicator plate kits the whole package sets you back @ $1,400 ~ 2,000 (not including labor).
The 'one last thing' is a Flex Plate - you may have one that has multiple holes and will work or you may need to replace your original with one that has the correct hole pattern or hve yours drilled.
I've used trans from Bowtie and TPI ( www.tpiperformance.com (http://www.tpiperformance.com) - they also rep. GearVendors OD) with the main difference being TPI throws in all the stuff like a stock/mild convertor, cover plate, Fill tube/Dip stick, a Lock-up kit, rear mount, Trans cooler and the TV cable in their price. Bowtie adds another $200~350 for a convertor depending on the flavor.
Ask either one to match the others price/offering and they usually give you a deal.

Now if I can only find time to install one in my car...

Hope this helps;
John

Yep helps alot John, thanks again smile.gif

I wasn' sure about the Camaro tunnel or not. I was looking at one once for my old chevelle and from what I researched, I might have to have made a dimple or two.

Looks like you can find a decent 200r for not a whole lot of money. Good luck

Jim, didn't I send you a complete list a while back of everything that you would need to swap to a 2004R? My memory gets foggy after about 15 minutes.... graemlins/clonk.gif

The gear vendor thing is cool, but the 2004R is pretty much a direct swap for a TH350. With the parts mentioned you're in like flint with a .67 overdrive and the first three gears are very similar to your TH350. The only fabricating required is to mess with a TH400 crossmember and maybe creatively wire for the lockup converter as the stock driveshaft fits.

My car with 3.73 gears and 26" tall tires runs about 2000 RPM at 60-65 MPH. If I had 3.07 gears (like you) I would be running about 1600 RPMs at the same speed. You would probably net -900 RPMs by swapping to the 2004R at highway speeds.....That's a lot!!

I'm not sure if you know anyone at any tranny shops, but if you do you ought to be able to get a deal. I know of two 2004R cores out here that I could pickup for $75/each. Then it's just a rebuild and install. My point is that if you could find a cheap core you may be able to save yourself a couple of bucks as you never know what a tranny place is going to charge for a core ($200-$500)?? Just take your core and car down and have them rebuild/install.

I would prefer to have a local place build/install the tranny as it makes it easier for problem resolution. One of your local car buddies out there must know a tranny guy that could help you out!


P.S. If you want to play with gear ratios, tire sizes, MPH to figure RPMs, go here:

http://www.quiknet.com/~ke6vut/rpmcalc.html


FYI....

Gear vendor at 65 MPH, 26" tires, 3.07 gears and .82 tranny gear nets 2116 RPMs.

2004R at 65 MPH, 26" tires, 3.07 gears and .67 tranny gear nets 1729 RPMs.