GearVendors installeer - greater MD area

[jcarey]

I'm looking for a reputable place to buy and/or install a GV unit in the greater Maryland area.



I can get the unit over the net, if necessary, but would like to find someone I can rely on to do a good job of the install. Any help would be appreciated.



Thanks!

 

[willyslover]

caution. . if you haven't read about or looked closely. . look at the oil capacity on these. . some have had blown units do to heat

not trying to flame you , just a note of caution

 

[jcarey]

Thanks, no flame taken. I've read a lot about them. I'm in the 'Im still looking stage' right now.

 

[bulabula]

Talk to the manager at Glen Burnie Auto Transmission. I know they're familiar with removing them so I'm sure they can point you in the right direction for an installer.

 

[ChrisTucker]

Originally posted by willyslover

caution. . if you haven't read about or looked closely. . look at the oil capacity on these. . some have had blown units do to heat

not trying to flame you , just a note of caution

Just curious, where did you read/hear about the blown units, I would like to look into installing a cooler on mine, its been kicking in and out with the hot temps lately

 

[jcarey]

Thanks, Bulabula. Appreciate your help.

 

[BJMarshall]

Originally posted by ChrisTucker

Just curious, where did you read/hear about the blown units, I would like to look into installing a cooler on mine, its been kicking in and out with the hot temps lately

I haven't seen the failures, but I know GV recommends a cooler for the heavy applications. Check with them about it. I have heard of some problems while using them with exhaust brakes. Something inside just won't hold with the load going the other way. I ran one for over 100K in a gasser half ton truck with 500 hp+. I never had any problems. I only did fluid changes. I believe they have a pretty good warranty.

As far as where to get one installed, it's a piece of cake. Just bolt it on , get your driveshaft shortened, hook up a couple of wires and go. I had the driveshaft done ahead of time and when the OD came in, I think it took about an hour to get it going.

 

[ChrisTucker]

I just contacted gearvendor and they said on the older units like mine (12 yrs, 160k mi) that the solenoid is not vented and to drill a . 040 hole between the terminals to vent the coil. The problem with backloading the vendor (with an exhaust brake )was alleviated many years ago

 

[Shooter]

Originally posted by ChrisTucker

I just contacted gearvendor and they said on the older units like mine (12 yrs, 160k mi) that the solenoid is not vented and to drill a . 040 hole between the terminals to vent the coil. The problem with backloading the vendor (with an exhaust brake )was alleviated many years ago

You can't use the GV od if you are using an exhaust brake. The od unit is a overrunning sprage clutch, kind of like a ratchet but will self destruct if it is given reverse torque.

Put 80k on 00 w/GV and DTT auto. I still have the GV unit



GV has an electronic control module that will lock out or shift out of od if you shift into 4x4 or exhaust brake is activated. These are hard wired inpluts to module. Beleive me you do not want the module shifting out of od while decellerateing. It shifts really hard ( like walking back to pick up drive shaft and transmission parts hard ) . To shift the unit smoothly you need to apply enough throttle to have about 5* boost and shift out od: otherwise you will be looking for the semi that just rear ended you but there will be nothing behind you ( maybe drive line parts ).

It was the greatest thing for towing : 3rd gear and GV od was about 2250 rpm at 75. Did not need it back east but out here it was the difference between doing the speed limit or doing 55.



JMHO

 

[ChrisTucker]

Sorry,

but I have been running a gearvendor unit on a '90 chevy 4x4 3500 crewcab 6. 2 diesel for about 160,000 miles (truck has 4. 56 gears and a total of 174k mi) with banks sidwinder and exhaust brake towing 10k daily(construction trailer)and I have had no problems till latley. turns out that the shift solenoid is on its way out. Only about $20 to replace. But I have had no other problems with the unit even with the exhaust brake. If you read the instruction manual, I says you can use the unit as a "trans brake when downshifting" and they also say it can be used in reverse. I have done and still do all of the above to the unit the entire 12 years I have owned it and done nothing but changed the oil.

 

[willyslover]

Chris. . as you can see by my sign up date , I've been around here for a long time [not that it means much ]

but over the years here there have been several posts about it and a good member and wrench BPine has aslo talked about his unit and heat with me. I also was looking at getting one for my old rig which had 4. 10 gears but decided not to.

 

[ChrisTucker]

willyslover



I read your post above and the oil capacity has nothing to do with heat failure. The gear vendor holds 1 quart( that's "1 quart")of automatic trans fluid only, It is for fluid pressure to engage the the overdrive and for lubrication of the gears when in overdrive only. That is why I asked the question "has anyone seen the blown units due to heat failure". Once the unit looses pressure due to fluid loss or possible overheating, the overdrive simply drops out and will not function until fluid pressure returns. The unit can be run dry because it will not engage In my opinion there is absolutely no damage that can be done to the unit by heat looking at the schematics I have in my hand. My problem has been solved by drilling a small hole in the solenoid to vent the coil.

 

[jcarey]

You know, this is funny, even though this topic got way off post, I'm glan it did.



Chris, thanks. That's the info I've been looking for searching through the forums: some real world usage ove a long period of time.



Since we are off post and I'm learning a lot...



Chris, does the Gear Vendor split lower gears (like 1st over, 2nd over/under)? Some posts say no.



Do EGTs run higher in lower RPMs because the gear splitting allows higher vehicle speeds at lower engine speeds? Again, some say they do.



Everyone, thanks, this is good info.

 

[ChrisTucker]

jcarey



Yes , you can split all gears. There is a switch with 2 positions, Auto and Manual. In auto , overdrive comes on automatically around 45 mph. in manual you can run each gear in regular gear and then switch to overdrive. I have a Chevy 3500 with 6. 2 diesel and T400 auto trans. Towing up to about 20k lbs, I can use auto drive (no need to split the gears), anything over and I split 1/over, 2/over, drive/overdrive. I don't have a problem w/ egt towing except when pulling hills. Then I just drop the OD. My truck has 4. 56 gears so top speed w/out the vendor was about 58mph before I hit the rev limiter. This unit is not for everyones truck. If you have a low ratio, you will only lug the motor, especially if trailering. There are allot of guys that don't like gear vendor but like I said, I have 160,000 hard miles on it and only change the oil every 3000-5000 miles ( one quart of trans fluid)with no problems.

You can call gear vendor for the nearest dealer to you, PM me if you need the number

 

[jcarey]

Chris, thanks. I learned a lot.