After talking about it for a almost a year, I have finally done the deed and placed the order for the Gear Vendors Overdrive for the Dart. It is supposed to ship sometime next week, and take a five days on the road. I am very excited to be this far. More than likely I will not start the install until weather gets a little worse. It is too pretty out not to be driving it. I will keep you posted as to progress.

Sam

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you would think being an overdrive unit it would make better time ;-D


Greg

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http://www.youtube.com/hyperpack

Sam

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Sounds great. Look forward to seeing the install and getting a ride/drive in it when you're done.
Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

I'll try to share install process and impressions. Salesman said all the right things. I am eager to start but still working in laundry room renovation. I do not wish to be be dogged by guilt of an unfinished project. Plus, cruising weather is still excellent. Plus bike rides are a draw in this weather.

Sam

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Frickin' awesome, Sam....if you can, please post pics of install and such...very interested...

brian

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https://tinyurl.com/yynpj4v2

Yes, what he said

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Richard (aka Fingers)

Will do. It has not shipped yet, and they say it will take five days to get here, so I do not know when it will show up. I will likely wait a few weeks until I am tired of the cruise thing before beginning the project. I susually slow down the driving and do more working on the car after Standard Time starts back up. I will share the experience of the install and the driving.

At last week's Sunday cruise a fellow with a 60's Chevy panel truck was singing the praises of his Gear Vendors OD. He has a 750 hp 502 CI small block with an enormous blower sticking out through the hood and a 5+:1 rear, and has been pleased. He was quite enthusiastic about it, which made me feel better about spending the money.

Sam

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The stuff arrived Friday. I dug through the boxes trying to make sense of what was there. Had a dinner date, and worked Sat, so could not really get a closer look until last evening.

The part about replacing the park pawl seemed intimidating, plus I could not find the wider replacement pawl that is supposed to be included in the kit. I have sent them an email asking where it is supposed to be packed. I am going to dig out my FSM to see if the park pawl is covered there. GV's instructions did not turn any light bulbs on for me. Maybe it will make more sense when I see it.

I have to order new rear leaf spring bushings before I begin the project. It may be a month off yet.

Sam

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I expect you to be really happy with the GV unit! They're pricey, but nice.

I ran one in a daily driven/weekend strip Polara, for 5+ years - 4600lbs or so, with a supercharged 360 and 727. It was a blast. With the 3.90 gears we had 1, 2, 2+overdrive was perfect for the strip runs, but you could still do 70mph on the freeway without getting buzzed to death.

I hope to be running the same unit again soon, with the same motor, but in a duster this time.

That sounds pretty awesome. I have been watching youtube install videos. Although it is Ford, here are three.

Taking it out of the box.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfv-AHggf2I

Part one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDQZkyU8gXE

Part two.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBt8-BlzxNI

This series of videos was very helpful. I will try to post progress when I get to it.

Sam

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My buddy put one of these in his C body. He has some good pics you might want to check out. http://s265.photobucket.com/user/kipgar ... 20%20Trans

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Mattelderca
78 NYB (gone now), two S series, three old Snow Cruisers and a Doo.

Thanks! Those photos are excellent, and add much to my understanding. I may have missed it, but I do not remember reading in the instructions that you must put the tranny in 1st gear to get the tail shaft off.

When I called GV about the larger park pawl, which the instructions said was included in the kit, they told me they no longer supply a bigger one, but redesigned the casting to take the smaller one. It seems their first customers were truck applications like motorhomes, which had the bigger pawl, so the tail shaft was universal, and it was easier to supply a large pawl to car owners. I guess maybe they have two different tail shaft adapters now, one for trucks, and one for cars. When I suggested it might be time to change the instructions, he chuckled and said yes I guess so.

The speedo cable extension was damaged in shipment, and they pretty quickly agreed to send my a new one. Small price to pay for them to assure a new customer they will be taken care of.

Rear spring bushings are on the way. When they show up I will have everything to start this project, but will likely wait until the good cruising weather is over.

Thanks again for the link to your friend's photos. They are great, and will be studied again.

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