If you are thinking of a G-V or have one , pick one up & its Compleat or not Few thing you way want to know . I called G-V to get a 350 adaptor for a unit , the unit was Originally was set up for 400 , I know the Coupler adapter around $700 ish , @ end of call I was told / mention a core ,! I ask what core ? The 400 coupler return , I said was going to keep ,well that changed price by almost double ,, From my take on how G-V policy/operate , You buy a kit unit , you decide to change transmission they want part back ( coupler) for less then 1/2 what it cost , used or new , To purchase New coupler with out core is $1,200 ish. If you happen to pic up a GV unit with out "adapter coupler" expect to pay $1,200 ish just for , not including New gear for speedo to match rear gear , More if missing other parts , I have not seen the invoice brake down , seems to be over double $ on all replacement parts if not a Compleat Kit ordered , If GV unit Does Not Have Serial # tag , they will not sell No parts
Yep. Years ago I pulled the GV off my dads MH before he sold it. Okay, call of GV for TH400 tail housing (this was behind a C6). At that time, maybe 15+ years ago they were 700/800$. Also they take it units and rebuild them, you save a few bucks. One that has been rebuilt (if memory serves) uses the same serial number plate but has an X stamped at the end of the number. They didn’t mention a housing exchange to me at that time though.
Rick is in business to make money...no doubt about it. I got hefty discounts on a couple units through my involvement with Drag Week, which he's been a heavy sponsor.
Under stand but donot !!! A existing customer, & multiple sanctioned license. When I was told price of coupler , I said that more then 1/2 the price of New unit kit Correct ? Yes , what's New unit kit to my door , 2,842 ,,,, 4 mouth maybe plus back order .. I'm sorta a ""Sour apple"" This is why over years I do not Run Adverti*****t sticker , Boy has things changed in early 2000s to present. Used to be those Sticker Stood / Mint something. I'm unable to Run Drag Week @ full potential because lack of multiple bar Jungle gym for High 8 second ride. I will hopefully get going on a ch***is set up like Brian with multiple leaver sticking up to pull in the 32 , Not my pic ,
Making hot rods go fast and having excellent language skills don't always go together....and the making hot rods go fast part is more important to me
I inquired at a show about a GV for an older CruiseOmatic.. yes they had made one ….Price …. way more than ANY OD transmission from GM or Ford including an adapter….no thanks.
Yes my Grammar & writing skills """ **** """ price I paid for working @ 12 ,not going to school , Thinking $ , racing,Hot Rods more important, Owning a car driving big trucks before 13 around the county , tunning my own engine to surp*** 200 mph pre 2000. Averaged 175 on mile 1/2 speed way, Never setting in car like that form of racing , Acquaintance with Frank Hawley I was tight with Jonny Rocca , @ 18 -19 had a chance to go to work for Roy Hill , did not because of Ford Banner , witch was stupid Nothing about engine was Ford , I am Vague on purpose some times Jungle gym = Roll Cage / RollBar multiple Sticks sticking up =Lenco I am a No one & Ok with
Back to the GV discussion. Way back when they were a new thing, they understood every used unit moved to another application is a lost opportunity to sell a complete new kit. They'll sell adapters and parts if you pay enough and are patient enough, but they don't care if you aren't and they don't. It's just business; nothing personal. jack vines
I don’t think the purpose of the thread is to say GV is screwing folks. More of a “heads up” if you are interested in buying a used unit. Be aware of the additional costs.
It doesn't sound like they're screwing anyone. Sounds like they were up front about the difference in price whether you had a trade-in (core) or not. In some applications there's really no other option than a GV, so unfortunately they have a bit of a monopoly on the market.
No replacement part prices on web site Just complete kits prices, I did not see any foot notes on there policies, ( I question in the phone call ) I m sure the salesman said there is no mention of this in literature, ( core policy) If you pic up just a unit (O-D) for 1k, times you purchase all needed It looks to be well over a kit price .. I'm going to be playing with the Mill & lathe ,,, The unit is a well made part thoe
^^^^ Plus in most cases it’s easier to add the OD to an existing transmission, than change one out with OD.
If you're buying anything used, it's buyer beware that any parts you will need for it are 1) Available; and 2) Don't make your purchase prohibitively expensive. It ****s that the costs are structured that way, for sure.
There is one alternative A DNE2 I’m running one behind a th400. Does its job. EZ hook up. Spares? I guess thats things you hope ya don’t need.
Pick up a used TH400 for a few hundred. Get the Cliff Ruggles book on Amazon, and a rebuild kit. That will be cheaper than getting the correct adapter.
Stay very far away from Gear Vendors! Their customer service is next to none! In Y2-K I bought a GV for a 5 sp, 2nd gen, Diesel Dually PU to help middle daughter pull her horsey trailer. I needed to split first to second gear starting out at a bottom of a seep hill, and get the rpm's down at 70mph (4:10 gears) crusing. EVERYthing was working out great! 1st problem with them, in 4th or 5th direct, or OD at exactly 54mph there is a noticable vibration feel and hear. 53 mph or 55 mph the vibration is not there. So don't suggest not driving at 54mph, it's not that simple. Long hill, keeping the rpm's in the "sweet spot" and the Exhaust Gas Temp's from climbing to the piston melting point, plus avoiding the 54 mph vibartion it is hard to do. 1st complaint to GV, they wanted to know what the GV output shaft and rear end pinion degree was. Had to get a magnifying gl*** out to see and take a picture. Barely ONE degree difference. (look up how many tenths of a thousand is one degree) They said it had to be the same, and balance the drive shaft. (more on the shaft **** later) I took as block of wood and a big hammer and smacked the pinion shaft. Perfect pinion angle from GV output shaft to rear end pinion angle. Still vibrated at 54 mph. They then told me to balance the DS. Went to a electric motor building shop. They told me at 10000 rpm it is was a 'little out' but nothing to worry about. GV said I had to go to a regular shop that builds drive shafts for they balance more accurately! (BS) So I went to the southern part of the sate to a company that supplies drivshafts to NASCAR. Explained everthing to them, they told me GV was a company that had no customeer service. So long as you are buying they will help. got a problem, you will get a run-a-round. $500 later I had a perferct balanced drive shaft made with special U-joints. Still had the vibration. GV said the DS HAS to be balanced! I had that NASCAR company send GV their specks on my DS. GV said for me to take a hose clamp put on the DS, run the truck then stop and keep turning the hose clamp until the vibration goes away! Then they said if that don't work use TWO hose clamps! This is nothing but a ruse from them! I jacked op the truck with 4 jack stands under the leaf spring pads. Had the vibration at 54 mph in any gear. Took a video and sent it to GV. They said I couldn't do it that way for the weight had to be on the tires, and that the tires and sheels was causing the vibration spinning freely! We took the drive shaft completely our! Visible vibration a 54mph. Sent that viedo to them. They said I couldn't run a GV unit w/o a drive shaft! I sent at my expence the unit back to GV and they said they would 'look at it'. When they sent it back, there was evidence they NEVER even opened up my bax and looked at! Their responce was there was NOTHING wrong with the unit and for me to balance the DS! Screw them! I wnet to a lawyer. The lawyers told me all that company would do since there is 3K miles between us, is keep postponing, running my lawyer fee up to around $10,000 or more., then I "might" get another unit! Went to a 2nd lawyer. He said basicly the same thing. Stay away from Gear Vendors. For they are the "Flim-Flam Man.
Only have installed one. Out of the box would not work. After talking with the tech line I found this
Was he from or near the Leesburg area? A guy with that name would bring stuff to have welded at the small shop I worked for. I believe he owned a farm close to the area and was making bank by being one of the first traffic light signal control Co. in the area. Same guy?
Thanks, I was a young man back then, early 20`s. I worked for a fellow named Floyd Gooden, and heard he was in to racing, never realized he got that big into it. Pleasant guy, always smiling, sad he p***ed. Be well.
Jonny was racing in 60s 80s match racing cl*** ,Then around 90 Pro Mod cl*** 33/34 Willys "Tin Indian" Mercs where Iron Horse , Black Horse
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