Topic: od unit
in Forum: C3 Driveline Components
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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.
a newer one with Overdrive already in it. Manual or auto.

Manteca, CA - USA
Joined: 11/20/2005
Posts: 3623
Vette(s): 1978,two tone,Metalic Rootbeer & gold
1975 L48 4 speed
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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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.
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.
TKO500 5 spd.
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975

Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.
Lifetime Member #26
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?
Check out this link. http://silversporttransmissions.com/gm-corvette-c3-1968-1982#t56-magnum-6-speed
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
TKO500 5 spd.
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975

Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.
Lifetime Member #26

Equinunk, PA - USA
Joined: 10/31/2007
Posts: 2468
Vette(s): 1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.
IF you're interested in a auto unit, I have a 700R4 I'll sell reasonabley. It will need a re-build.
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.

Moderator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
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
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.
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|
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.

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|
Joel Adams
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in Forum: C3 Driveline Components
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