Gear Vendors overdrive
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,396
Likes: 2
From: North Manchester Indiana
Gear Vendors overdrive
Hey, has anyone ever used the gear vendors overdrive,,,makes a a4 into a 8 speed.....
2500 bucks exchange,,,,uses a shortened torque tube,,,,,,
2500 bucks exchange,,,,uses a shortened torque tube,,,,,,
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
Gear vendor
I have used gear vendors since 1987 on various vehicles. I have one left over from a previous vehicle sale and when I bought my 04 a4 I was eager to install it. Much to my surprise the tranny was at the rear axle. I called Gear Vendor and was told they no longer do the install on C5s, as they had some problems with the shortening of the drive line. The unit is designed to bolt onto the rear of the tranny and the drive shaft bolts onto the GV. The people at GV advised me to try Ligenfelter as they use the units on some of their cars. Was stone walled about any information. I have been looking for one of their conversions to see if they mount it ahead of the tranny or between the tranny and the diff. If I get any info I will post in on the forum. The units have a 22% overdrive and are really strong. I had this one on a turbo charged Suburban that weighed more than 7.000 lbs. with over 700 ft. lbs. of torque for 14 years and had no trouble whatsoever. I feel they are a great unit. 
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 532
Likes: 0
From: herminston oregon
gearvendors od
Originally Posted by tiojames
I have used gear vendors since 1987 on various vehicles. I have one left over from a previous vehicle sale and when I bought my 04 a4 I was eager to install it. Much to my surprise the tranny was at the rear axle. I called Gear Vendor and was told they no longer do the install on C5s, as they had some problems with the shortening of the drive line. The unit is designed to bolt onto the rear of the tranny and the drive shaft bolts onto the GV. The people at GV advised me to try Ligenfelter as they use the units on some of their cars. Was stone walled about any information. I have been looking for one of their conversions to see if they mount it ahead of the tranny or between the tranny and the diff. If I get any info I will post in on the forum. The units have a 22% overdrive and are really strong. I had this one on a turbo charged Suburban that weighed more than 7.000 lbs. with over 700 ft. lbs. of torque for 14 years and had no trouble whatsoever. I feel they are a great unit.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
gear vendor
They shift very quickly. The set up is like an auto tranny. They run 10 weight or tranny fluid, depending on what GV is doing at the time. Over the years they recommended different oils. They can come with a manual only switch or a govenor(speed)control which automatically shifts up or down at a pre-set speed. They also have an option to shift at higher speeds for trailering.
On my suburban I changed the front and rear diffs to 3.73s and with the GV was getting 20-22MPG at 75 on the hwy. with the 7000lb. plus car. It was a deisel, tho.
The upshift is smooth-like an auto and the downshift is a solid shift as it locks up in direct. All shifts can happen at full throttle. I have over 100,000 miles on this-some very hard use- and all it has ever needed is oil change. I would recommend highly if you purchase one to get the larger capacity, finned , alumunum pan to help with the heat generated.
You will not get 8 usable gears-1st & 2nd over are not really practicle with only the 22% OD, you will get 6 usuable with 3rd over & 4th over.
On my suburban I changed the front and rear diffs to 3.73s and with the GV was getting 20-22MPG at 75 on the hwy. with the 7000lb. plus car. It was a deisel, tho.
The upshift is smooth-like an auto and the downshift is a solid shift as it locks up in direct. All shifts can happen at full throttle. I have over 100,000 miles on this-some very hard use- and all it has ever needed is oil change. I would recommend highly if you purchase one to get the larger capacity, finned , alumunum pan to help with the heat generated.
You will not get 8 usable gears-1st & 2nd over are not really practicle with only the 22% OD, you will get 6 usuable with 3rd over & 4th over.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
gear vendor
Read post-I didn't say top two not usable. 1st and 2nd on an auto not usuable due to low overdrive ratio. When I ran mine(usually against Cumminings) I ran 1st, 2nd,3rd,3rd with GV overdrive,overdrive in auto with direct in GV, and last over in auto with over in GV. You can certainly run thru Gv overdrive in 1st and 2nd on an outo, but the time to shift coupled with the low ratio overdrive kills the time. Most autos run to 6,000 rpm or over will not drop below 4,000 for the next gear in 1st and 2nd and will pull fairly hard. The taller ratios in 3rd(direct) and overdrive can take advantage of the break the GV gives.
