Tremec bolt in 5 speed (true or false)

[Randall Miller]

I'll throw this out there as I have a GV in a 69 Pontiac w a 428. I have never really figured the thing out for max performance as advertised.
For the life of me I don't know when the gear is split. There's no indicator asside from a red light and a green light. One is auto shift and the other is manual and I sware I never felt 5 gears in my auto 3 speed in Auto.

For instance. I'm in second of some sort. Am I in high second or low second? Mine is a floor dimmer switch to shift. Spinning at 5k and I tap the dimmer and shi* now I'm at 6500...I was supposed to shift into 3rd.

I think it's a coordination thing that my brain, foot and hand haven't figured out. From a dead stop I think you get it although the gears go quick. If you're just passing time and decide to 1/2 shift, I have no idea. I blame my inability to figure this out on my latest spun bearing. I downshifted when I should have upshifted and a rev limiter won't save you.

The final gear + GV to OD is as advertised and great....even though I wish it was more than .78.

I may still do this with my new to me RR GTX w 4 speed and D60 3.54. If I buy another, I may have to promise myself to never try and half shift it...or ask if I can disable that feature.

Just sharing my experiences
Rudy

 

[5.7 hemi]

The GV on auto doesn’t go into OD until about 45/47mph. Now on manual, when in 1st, before the trans shifts, you can push the button and now have 1st over then the trans will shift to second, hit the button again, 2nd over and so on. So a 3 speed auto will go to 6 speeds over all in manual, same 3 speed auto will go to 4 speeds overall when left in auto.

 

[Kern Dog]

Yeah, but that sucks ***. If your car is the least bit fast, you'd be a real bad *** to be able to split gears by switching it back and forth between 1st, 2nd and drive.
Yeah, the .78 ratio is not great either. The Braintrusts at Gear Vendors are the epitome of L A Z Y in terms or product evolution. The unit has been the exact same ratio for the entire time that it has been on the market.
I had a GV in my Charger and can say that for freeway cruising, the unit worked as advertised. Mine would stay engaged even when I slowed to a slop instead of dropping back to direct drive. I'd start out in 1st over, essentially with a 3.05 gear instead of a 3.91 and it would feel lazy.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Buddy had a G/V unit, it caused a vibration, wouldn't do it till you shifted into O/D.... He went round & round with GV, tech support & Customer Service... Both did nothing for him... In the end he took it out & scrapped it... He said he wouldn't feel right passing his problem on to someone else....

 

[Kern Dog]

Mine had a bolt on yoke so I had a slip and spline drive shaft made for it. I had vibrations at every speed in every gear. I suspected the drive shaft . I sold it to a guy in Tennessee that found that the bolt on yoke UNbolted and a traditional slip yoke could be used. He reported no vibrations and was quite happy with it.
I did not regret selling it. To me, it was a compromise, not a solution.

 

[Randall Miller]

The GV on auto doesn’t go into OD until about 45/47mph. Now on manual, when in 1st, before the trans shifts, you can push the button and now have 1st over then the trans will shift to second, hit the button again, 2nd over and so on. So a 3 speed auto will go to 6 speeds over all in manual, same 3 speed auto will go to 4 speeds overall when left in auto.

You're right and good explanation.

I didn't have vibration issues with mine and appreciate the comment that you'd have to be a badass to split gears w a fast car. Generally the thing made me feel inept and sort of stole the joy from my simple old classic I've had for 20 years. I am currently taking my GV out and reinstalling my 2.56 rear. I just want to drive it without thinking about what gear I'm in. I have more reasons for taking it out but this is a big part of it.

There is room for improvement and further development with todays technology. They need Dakota Digital tech mixed w their product. I have their stuff in a full convertible Jimmy and it is really impressive.

I didn't post my experience to bash GV. I just wanted to share that it seems everything has some kind of shortcoming and it isn't God's gift to OD. I'd hate for someone to read this thread, buy into their hype, run out and buy a GV just to blow their crap up like I have.

Rudy