[HWYSTR455]

I'm seriously considering a GV unit for the clone, and would like some first hand feedback from owners who use the GV unit behind a TH-400. The clone has a dual gate, and from my understanding, the shift patterns for OD trans' is not optimum on these types of shifters. Hence the GearVendors interest.

I've heard some reports regarding GearVendor units requiring service around the 30k mile mark, or less. Who has experienced this, or is this a myth?

Has anyone had any negative experiences with GV units? Failures? Poor engagement? Etc?

I've also heard that some say that the engagement is harsh, and in some cases causes a 'bang' into OD. Can someone elaborate on this?

Any accountable experiences welcome please!

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[geeteeohguy]

I was in a Suburban that had a GV unit behind a TH400. Don't know about reliability, but it worked well. Engagement was very 'clunky' and truck-like. Not seamless like an automatic OD unit. But, once engaged, it worked great.

[6T5 Cat]

I have a GV unit behind a T400 in my Catalina. It engages very quietly and sounds just like shifting into another gear, and when you downshift, but there is a clunk when it disengages when you drop below OD speed. I talked with the GV tech an he said the clunk is normal.

[#1WideTrak]

I got to ride in and drive a '67 GTO a year ago with a GV behind a T400 and a Butler 467 engine. For the few miles I experienced, it felt like a regular trans shift. I was impressed with it. The owner had not been very easy on that combo either!

[HWYSTR455]

Ah, so it's on disengagement that there's a clunk. Think that is easy to live with.

6T5 Cat - How many miles do you have on the unit? Is the fluid change intervals around 5000 miles?

I still would like to hear how long these things live. I've read a couple posts on another site after doing a short search and that user had them last only 30k miles at best, and was on a 3rd. That in my book is not acceptable, so would really like to confirm.

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[6T5 Cat]

Originally Posted by HWYSTR455

Ah, so it's on disengagement that there's a clunk. Think that is easy to live with.

6T5 Cat - How many miles do you have on the unit? Is the fluid change intervals around 5000 miles?

I still would like to hear how long these things live. I've read a couple posts on another site after doing a short search and that user had them last only 30k miles at best, and was on a 3rd. That in my book is not acceptable, so would really like to confirm.

.

I have around 2000 miles on my GV. I will be swapping it out for a 5 speed manual as soon as the Richmond Super Street 5 speed trans are available again. Richmond told me the trans would be available once again in August or September.

[gotgoat]

I've ran the Gear Vendors in my 69 for 8 years, daily driver weekend drag racing, never had any problems with it. works great. put it into auto drive and it shift like a 4 speed automatic.

Bill Baker

[lust4speed]

...And gotgoat torture tests everything

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by gotgoat

I've ran the Gear Vendors in my 69 for 8 years, daily driver weekend drag racing, never had any problems with it. works great. put it into auto drive and it shift like a 4 speed automatic.

Bill Baker

Now THAT is what I like to hear! And very promising! Any idea roughly how many miles you have on it? And what fluid change intervals have you been doing?

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[Blued and Painted]

Planetary gear sets are stronger than constant mesh gears. But because of there size and amount of moving parts loose a little more on parasitic drag. IMO

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by Blued and Painted

Planetary gear sets are stronger than constant mesh gears. But because of there size and amount of moving parts loose a little more on parasitic drag. IMO

Not a big concern for me, especially in this app. This is my daughter's car, and she needs to be able to go to the beach and other short highway trips without sucking a ton of gas, as well as driver effort. I'm mostly concerned with maintainance intervals and longevity.

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[Skip Fix]

Figure they originally came out for the RV crowd when they were using big gas motors like 440 Mopars and BBCs hauling a heavy a$$ RV up and down hills. I would think they would hold up.

John Clegg has one in his boosted 64 rat rod Texas Mile car that ran 179 mph and probably pushing 900 HP. Last year he drove it home from the track.

[gtofreek]

The only one I have experience with is in a 67 GTO with a 400. He has had a lot of trouble with it. Started kicking out of gear at highway speeds. Happened to me when I was driving it back from Pontiac Heaven in Phoenix. When I was coming into Tucson about 75 MPH[car has 4:11 gears] it kicked out of OD for no reason. Sounded like I threw a rod in the engine. It was a loud BANG! Scared the hell out of me. A second or so later I realized it wasn't the engine and the car owner said "see, that's the OD, that's what it does to me". He talked to gear vendors, they told him to see a particular installer about it and they would straighten it out. That installer told him it was installed wrong so he supposedly fixed it right. Never would say how it was installed wrong. Frankly, I don't think it was installed wrong, I think it has defective electronics. The guy that installed it is a competent mechanic and he followed the instructions that came with it. The customer has more trouble with it now than he ever did before.

I'm not sure what to make of it. It does work good when it works, problem is, it doesn't work more than it works.

[David Jones]

On a "universal" item like this I like to look at other large automotive sites just to see what they have to say. Team Chevelle and Hotrodders come to mind. A quick search on both of them shows a good bit to read..... I typed in "gear vendors" miles.