Gear Vendor install/ or sell?

[ShaneBoone]

I have a overdrive unit (P-type) in another truck, I picked up at a farm auction a year and a half ago. I have been thinking about installing it in my 03 dodge 6spd NV5600 drw 1 ton 4wd (I tested the unit in the chevy and it works fine). I have seen mixed reviews for this product. I will have about $1500 in the install and will able to make that back parting out the orginal truck. In issues 47 and 51 TDR did reviews of this product, good reviews but a lot of failures posted on the roundtable. US gear is not an option, it not free. Living in a $3. 00 a gallon world it is very tempting. If i part the orginal chevy out I could make maybe 2500. or so, If I install I will even out on parts. I run the hwy unloaded 75-80 and I am only seeing 16 MPG. When I pull the farm tractor, I run 25,000 GVCW and will be looking to gear split.

It is a used unit so looking for more opinion on the product? Who sees better fuel mileage unloaded and seeing good results and who is not. Also questioning weather to buy the ecm for the extra 250 dollars?

 

[Empire]

Also have one

I was wondering the same thing. I have one from another truck and according to Gear Vendors, mine does not have the best internal parts used in the new units. Does yours? Have you called and talked to Gear Vendors yourself? Give them your serial # and they can tell you. They claim that it is not good to tow heavy in double overdrive with the Cummins. I'm interested to hear what your going to do.

 

[RustyJC]

The Gear Vendor unit, unlike the U. S. Gear under/overdrive, is not compatible with an exhaust brake when the Gear Vendor unit is energized. This is a consideration if you're wanting to use it for gear splitting when towing heavy.



Rusty

 

[ShaneBoone]

Yes the units serial # was checked at gear vendors, when I bought the truck at the auction I cleaned the tag and called GV on a cell phone under the truck. Some of the numbers were hard to make out on the tag, dirt, grease, and no flash light. Considering the the year and make of the truck and the tag said laycock, we assumed it was a J-type which is older and GV does not support. found out the other day it is a newer P-type. Still GV is pretty short on information with these unit, no rebuild info or user manuals were supplied with the gasket kit and I asked and offer to buy this info.

If you tell them you have a J-type they only want to trade it in, Other info on that j unit is non-existent according to them, There are two companies in England sell parts and adapters for those unit, plus they have detailed diagrams and parts listings for the unit for free on there website. That's how I checked mine out, using the older j-type info, there is not a whole lot of differences.



Yes I want to add a exhaust brake in the future, If you do not use it with the GV unit it is suppose to be ok. Double overdrive would only be used empty with no trailer. GV did say the older P-type units had a better clutch material used on them, They can not use that material today, epa or something, Asked if I should replace the cone clutch while it was apart. 3-92 was marked on the clutch, they said best to keep the older clutch better material.

 

[NIsaacs]

If you need the Gear Vendors for faster gearing, as in cruising empty at low RPM at high speeds, you might like it. However, it works best with wide ratio 4 and 5 speeds or autos. With the close ratio splits of the 6 spd, it will not split very well. Also, the Gear Vendor becomes the weak link, in an otherwise bullet proof drive train.





"NICK"

 

[bpenrod]

I do n ot think you will see much better mpg's with the GV installed. On my truck it made maybe 1 to 2 mpg at 75 mph. The splits with my 5 speed are pretty good, really have to wind second up to split it. Double OD empty is nice with the motor turning less than 1800 at 75 mph.

 

[BHaden]

The Gear Vendor unit, unlike the U. S. Gear under/overdrive, is not compatible with an exhaust brake when the Gear Vendor unit is energized. This is a consideration if you're wanting to use it for gear splitting when towing heavy.



Rusty

I e-mailed Gv direct and they verified that you should turn the unit off when using an exhaust brake.

 

[kscheffler]

My GV has been a great addition. Mileage increase of 1. 5 to 2. 0 mpg. I unhooked my auto shut off with exhaust brake because it is pretty violent impact when it unhooks the GV. My feeling is that there is less damage leaving the GV engaged 1 time in 1000, when I forget to turn it off before engaging the exhaust brake. In 20,000 miles I have forgot about it approximately 6 times. You must remember that the higher the speed the "stronger" the GV is engaged so as long as you are not doing this at slow mph it does not have much if any impact. The best benefit of the GV is the reduction in noise at highway speed; especially with the 4. 10 rear diff. gears. At 70 mph with my 6 speed I am only turning 1750 rpm vs. 2300 without the GV huge difference. Plus it makes shifting big fun; I highly recommend the GV unit

 

[kscheffler]

My GV has been a great addition. Mileage increase of 1. 5 to 2. 0 mpg. I unhooked my auto shut off with exhaust brake because it is pretty violent impact when it unhooks the GV. My feeling is that there is less damage leaving the GV engaged 1 time in 1000, when I forget to turn it off before engaging the exhaust brake. In 20,000 miles I have forgot about it approximately 6 times. You must remember that the higher the speed the "stronger" the GV is engaged so as long as you are not doing this at slow mph it does not have much if any impact. The best benefit of the GV is the reduction in noise at highway speed; especially with the 4. 10 rear diff. gears. At 70 mph with my 6 speed I am only turning 1750 rpm vs. 2300 without the GV huge difference. Plus it makes shifting big fun; I highly recommend the GV unit

 

[ShaneBoone]

Thanks for the reply. I had it on ebay until monday. I did not sell and some one offered to buy from this site. I still feel I should put it in. Good to hear from someone with the 6 spd.



Shane