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Topic: od unit

in Forum: C3 Driveline Components


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od unit (1/13)
 12/27/14 10:57am
dwa175
Former Member

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leesburg, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1979 coupe and now 2007 c-6


Joined: 7/19/2014
Posts: 195

hi  looking at a overdrive unit for my 1979 corvette stock,  I am looking at GEAR VENDORS,ANY of use used them or other    dea175
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Re: od unit (2/13)
 12/27/14 1:51pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1406

Well, what's the price difference between cramming a gear vendors unit in there, or just replacing the whole tranny with
a newer one with Overdrive already in it.  Manual or auto.


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Re: od unit (3/13)
 12/27/14 9:50pm
aceintheholeLifetime Member
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Manteca, CA - USA

Vette(s):
1978,two tone,Metalic Rootbeer & gold 1975 L48 4 speed


Joined: 11/20/2005
Posts: 3623

 I fell for that pitch about 8 years ago and I have had nothing but regret. I could talk on this subject for an hour. I had to cut a dozen relief cuts in the tunnel and beat it out several times, destroying the value of the car. These things were never meant to go in a C3 vette. The company was very helpful, assuring me that they had a Corvette expert there, the head man in the company, but after making the purchase, and repeated calls,  the guy was never available, they finally wore me out and I just gave up calling. I did all the work myself, except the driveshaft, and it still cost me $2500. The whole thing is absurd. Do yourself a favor and don't make the same mistake I did. Any more questions ? Feel free to ask buddy. 

______________

Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.

 
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Re: od unit (4/13)
 12/27/14 10:32pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1406

aceinthehole said:  I fell for that pitch about 8 years ago and I have had nothing but regret. I could talk on this subject for an hour. I had to cut a dozen relief cuts in the tunnel and beat it out several times, destroying the value of the car. These things were never meant to go in a C3 vette. The company was very helpful, assuring me that they had a Corvette expert there, the head man in the company, but after making the purchase, and repeated calls,  the guy was never available, they finally wore me out and I just gave up calling. I did all the work myself, except the driveshaft, and it still cost me $2500. The whole thing is absurd. Do yourself a favor and don't make the same mistake I did. Any more questions ? Feel free to ask buddy. 


/thread.


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Re: od unit (5/13)
 12/28/14 12:53am
Sarge81Lifetime Member
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.


Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2379

Not sure if you have a auto or manual as asked previously.  But....
I looked into a Gear Vendor unit for mine. I wasn't totally sold on that unit. So I wound up going with a (now defunct) Keisler Tremec TKO 500 5 speed kit.  

The TKO is a "Ok" transmission. It's good for road racing and general cruising. As far as drag racing, forget about power shifting it. They don't like high rpm's and trying to be slammed into gear. I spent a few hundred bucks upgrading it withcarbon fiber syncro's and brass shift fork blocks. It helped some with grabbing gears at high r's, but if I had to do it over again I'd do something like a Tremec 6060 6 spd. Better shifting qualities over a TKO.


______________

GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.
3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




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Re: od unit (6/13)
 12/28/14 5:26pm
dwa175
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leesburg, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1979 coupe and now 2007 c-6


Joined: 7/19/2014
Posts: 195

ita 4 speed std     dwa     note  auto have overdrive.
Re: od unit (7/13)
 12/28/14 7:34pm
Sarge81Lifetime Member
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.


Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2379

I see they are selling those units for around $2700. So after shipping cost and having your driveshaft shortened or a new one made you'll be near $3k. For that kind of money your better off in my opinion to buy a whole transmission and kit. Then you can sell off your old 4 speed such as I did and recoup some money. 
I'm not sure what your budget is, but I what you think about doing a hydraulic clutch kit while your at it? 


They took over some of the proprietary rights from the defunct Keisler Engineering.

The TKO 500 kit is around $2700 and the T56 Magnum 6 spd. is $3400  


______________

GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.
3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.


Lifetime Member #26
Re: od unit (8/13)
 12/29/14 1:38pm
manchestersharkLifetime Member
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Equinunk, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.


Joined: 10/31/2007
Posts: 2381

    IF you're interested in a auto unit, I have a 700R4 I'll sell reasonabley. It will need a re-build. 

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Re: od unit (9/13)
 12/29/14 2:58pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1406

manchestershark said:
    IF you're interested in a auto unit, I have a 700R4 I'll sell reasonabley. It will need a re-build. 


I'm not really sure what he said, but I think he said he has a 4 speed.


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Re: od unit (10/13)
 12/29/14 6:42pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20126

Back in the day, Joel Rosen(Motion) installed some Hone O/D units in Shark cars. Those are about the same physical size as the GV units. The amount of cutting and fitting to get that unit in was incredible. The trans tunnel had to be widened quit a bit, and the frame/crossmember modified to the hilt. In the end, the cost wasn't worth the trouble. He only did 3-4, if I remember correctly. I have a tech article on it somewhere, and it shows what all is needed to complete the install.
There IS a kit available to put an overdrive gear into the stock Muncie 4 speed. It is still a 4 speed, but 4th gear is overdrive. About $300 for the kit, last time I looked, plus the labor for the conversion, and it all fits exactly like it came from the factory...no cutting or any other modification. It involves changing the cluster gear, and the 3rd gear on the main shaft of the trans, and flipping the 3-4 shift lever over on the outside of the trans. It's a pretty neat set-up, for someone wanting to keep the stock look/trans, but have an O/D ratio in 4th. The bad part is it will not work in a BW Super T-10 trans....only the Muncies. Ouch
The next best option is to go with the Keisler, or similar swap to a 5 or 6 speed. Lot more work, but you get better ratios all around that way.


|UPDATED|12/29/2014 3:42:48 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: od unit (11/13)
 12/29/14 8:02pm
Vman73
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Gig Harbor, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1973 L82 4 Speed Coupe - Very original, well documented driver/survivor. 2016 Bend Regional NCRS Top Flight.


Joined: 10/2/2014
Posts: 405

I've got a GV unit on my motorhome and it works great. Can't imagine how it would even fit into something like a corvette !!?? I'd research some of the other suggestions.

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valkman57@sbcglobal.net
NCRS Member 61302
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Re: od unit (12/13)
 12/29/14 9:14pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1406

Adams' Apple said: Back in the day, Joel Rosen(Motion) installed some Hone O/D units in Shark cars. Those are about the same physical size as the GV units. The amount of cutting and fitting to get that unit in was incredible. The trans tunnel had to be widened quit a bit, and the frame/crossmember modified to the hilt. In the end, the cost wasn't worth the trouble. He only did 3-4, if I remember correctly. I have a tech article on it somewhere, and it shows what all is needed to complete the install.
There IS a kit available to put an overdrive gear into the stock Muncie 4 speed. It is still a 4 speed, but 4th gear is overdrive. About $300 for the kit, last time I looked, plus the labor for the conversion, and it all fits exactly like it came from the factory...no cutting or any other modification. It involves changing the cluster gear, and the 3rd gear on the main shaft of the trans, and flipping the 3-4 shift lever over on the outside of the trans. It's a pretty neat set-up, for someone wanting to keep the stock look/trans, but have an O/D ratio in 4th. The bad part is it will not work in a BW Super T-10 trans....only the Muncies. Ouch
The next best option is to go with the Keisler, or similar swap to a 5 or 6 speed. Lot more work, but you get better ratios all around that way.





I find this interesting.  Here's part of one on ebay:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Muncie-M21-Overdrive-Cluster-Gear-Italian-Steel-Auto-Gear-M21Y-WT297-8H-/201252074545?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2edb8ef431&vxp=mtr


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Re: od unit (13/13)
 12/30/14 1:14am
stingrayjim jrLifetime Member
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SHELBYVILLE, TN - USA

Vette(s):
1976 L48 auto

1978 L82 4speed

1994 LT1 6speed


Joined: 7/5/2002
Posts: 3942

Didn't realize Kiesler is now out of business, but anyhow, their transmission was a Tremmec TKO just for information.  They sold a kit and had their own off-set shifter as the Tremmec at the time was only a top loader in the center of the transmission.  Few years later there was a bolt on offset shifter made for Tremmecs 5 speeds.  

Hopefully your transmission mount is a bolt in, mine on my 1978 was a weld-in crossmember.  Kiesler claimed it was a simple (ok air quotes "simple") bolt in installation.  Unbolt the motor mounts and radiator,jack the motor up,  slide the transmission upside down into the tunnel and pull forward and rotate....  yeah right.......  I know Darryl's was a bolt in crossmember so he didn't have toooo much trouble.. ;)  but as for the T56 six speed, i'm not so sure about, but I kinda recall its a very very tight fit...  but had I to do it over again, I probably would do it over again with the 5 speed.  I don't race or drag with it (much) so it is a good cruiser transmission.  By the way I am running a 4.10 rear gear and in 5th gear I turn about 2200 rpm at 60-65 mph... roughly 20-22 mpg with a zz4 355 hp crate motor and 750 holley...



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StingrayJim
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