drat Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 Looks like a gear vendor OD might be chaeper slightly than converting to a 4sp 700r... anyone done one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plwindish Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 I switched out a THM 400 on my 76 for a rebuilt 200R4. Everything, linkage, trans mount, trans, and torque convertor installed was slightly under 2 K. I had looked at gear vendors and the unit was 3 years ago $2500 without installation and shortening the driveshaft. Comparing the gear vendors which I believe gives you two speeds with the rear end would with a 3 speed turbohydramatic gives you 6 gears and a 4 speed AOD would give you 8 gears. A red 89 Avanti convertible was at Dover last summer for one of the days had the gear vendor set up behind a 700R4. In front of the trans was a Paxton supercharged 350. I'll bet that combo could really boogie down the road! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drat Posted June 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 That makes me think a gear vendor is better for me. Ive priced out the tranny swap with new, rebuilt and throwing the dice (buying used and not rebuilding a tranny )and its closer to 3500 for a 4 speed 700r conversion. The gear vendor is slightly less and both need the drive line shortened. Im thinking a six speed sounds pretty awesome right now and will save a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avanti83 Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 Im thinking a six speed sounds pretty awesome right now and will save a little. We were talking automatics, are we still on that course or switching to T56 style manuals? If so, I have one in my 74, T56 that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drat Posted June 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 Still autos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamderosa Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 Will a Gear Vendors unit fit behind your transmission? I looked at doing this years ago and to me it looked like the GV unit would not fit between the transmission and the X-member of the frame. I decided to swap to a beef-up TH200-4R transmission and have been very happy with the result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PackardV8 Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 Agree, an overdrive Powershift would be a good combination. Gear Vendors overdrive unit would be a very tight fit in the Avanti X-frame. The standard length transmissions just barely squeeze in. The other question is do they make an adapter for the B-W auto? Don't find anything on their site and all I've ever seen were for the later GM, Ford and Mopar. jack vines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drat Posted June 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 I talked to some tranny guys they seem to think it would fit at the dif. Now... do they have ine available... thats anther question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfg Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 I remember an article which I read years ago where a new (at the time) overdrive unit was bolted up to a Borg Warner "8" 3 spd auto trans. (Ford, Studebaker, Avanti, AMC, etc) I think it was called a 'Hone' overdrive, and it did add considerable length to the transmission assy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PackardV8 Posted June 3, 2015 Report Share Posted June 3, 2015 I talked to some tranny guys they seem to think it would fit at the dif. Now... do they have ine available... thats anther question. Yes, it's been done often. It's just time and money. If you came to me, I'd say, "Bring $4,000." jack vines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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