Learning session

[benno440]

Could i please get some pointers, experience, advice.

My mates 69 charger has a beefed up 440 and torqueflite going to a 9" 4:10 gears.
he is not real keen on the high rpm on the highway and he is looking at the gear vendors overdrive for the TF.

is anyone able to share some experience on them and how they work, are they worth it? and is there any other options to accomplish this?

 

[rrowdy]

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GV uses an overdrive design almost identical to the Laycock overdrives that were used in the older Triumph's, Volvo's and Healys.
There's an oil pump that applies pressure to Two pistons when a solenoid valve is energized and dissengages a cone clutch for overdrive.
They can be shifted under power and are used in some trucks and motorhomes but I was always concerned about the size of the cone clutch and also the smallish planetary.
I'd never run one behind a BB and race with it.

 

[benno440]

thanks, they say they stand up to 2000hp, and that top fuelers put them behind there engines. why wouldnt you put one behind a big block?

 

[rrowdy]

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Unless they've dramatically changed the design they used about a 6" diameter cone clutch with about 7/8" wide lining. They also used a small Three or Four planet planetary.
I used to convert these for use in vintage Four banger cars (Ford model A'sand B's),
for this use they worked exceptionally well but ran very hot in overdrive.

Here is an A-body link discussing these overdrives. http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?p=1969930555

Here's more information on what the insides look like and how it works.
http://www.buckeyetriumphs.org/technical/jod/JOD1/JOD1.htm

If I were to go to an overdrive I'd go with a A518/618 with a lock up converter.
PATC sells a conversion kit.

Good luck!