Hello all,

I have the chance to buy a GV unit with an attached c6 for 1800 bucks. Pretty solid price all things considered, or I ran across that hot rod hauler article outlining the E4OD swap. I am all for a 4th gear since I turn about 3500 rpm at 70mph with 3.70 gears on the Portland Freeways. Local guy has an unknown 2wd E4OD for 500 bucks or so. I figure I would be in about the same price between controller, cooler, exhaust work, and miscellaneous parts.

I haven't seen much for desirable years for E4ODs, speedo gear changes around 92 seems to be the big one.

My truck is a shortbed 2wd with a warm 351w.

So the questions are which one would have longevity and ease of maintenance?

Is there a highly desirable year for E4ODs?

How much HP can the GV unit take? ( I am in the neighborhood of 400)

Truck is just a driver being only a half-ton and is not used for towing.

Thanks!

 

have you thought about having an early non electronic aod built for it? It would bolt up, no electronics, and should hold up fine.

 

Yes AOD crossed my mind as well but they are gold in the greater portland area. I do have a 4r70w but that is saved for my other project currently. My source for the E4OD does have an AODE available as well though.

 

I believe 96 and 97 are best E4OD years. IIRC there were pump, gearset and bearing upgrades throughout the years.

 

The thing to think about with the C6 / GV is this is a non-lock up converter trans.
The slipping of the converter builds heat that kills auto trans and the slipping gets worst when the OD kicks in.

If my car / truck had a C6 then I may look at the GV OD but in you case I would look at the E4OD being about the same price in the end with a better out come I think.
Also the A4OD if you do not set up the TV cable right kiss the trans good by.
I hear it can be a PITA if your carb is not a factory setup for it.
Holley's are even worst as the adapter bracket dose not give the right ratio and you need to use a LoKar cable.
Just what I hear
Dave ----

 

I have a GV on my high boy and I love it. granted a manual transmission makes it all easier but even with an auto they work great. and they're stronger than anything you'll put in front of it.

One of the biggest advantages it the extra gears you won't get with a 4spd auto. in my 4 speed the GV won't work in 1st bit it does 2-3-4 so I end up with a 7 speed. with a c6 you'd have a 6 speed.

The GV isn't the answer for everyone but they're a solid option.

 

I wouldn't hesitate to put a GV in any non OD equipped truck but I would hesitate to put an E4OD in a truck.

 

I would go with a ZF 5 speed.

 

FYI the GV is the only option that I know of as an add on to the old school transmission, auto or stick, you have now.

The Advance Adapter Range Spliter, only used with manual trans, is no longer made
I think I got one of the last ones just as Covid hit and had to wait for it.
Just after that they stopped making / selling them.
Dave ----

 

Thanks for the great replies guys.

I think I am going to go with the GV. It's already attached to a c6 so it's really just an R&R at this point. Yes the drive shaft will need to be shortened but thats not impossible. Also with the c6 I don't have to fab up a shift solution. Plus I can upgrade the torque converter while I'm in there. Add a transcooler as well since I'm there. I want to keep the truck on the road as much as possible.

 

Keep us posted how you make out with it.
Dave ----

 

As an update

I've got the trans out and getting ready to put back in with a new converter.

now its time to figure out the wiring. It seems like I could simplify the wiring and just keep it to an on off switch since its just a two post solenoid that activates the OD unit.

I am open to suggestions on how to accomplish this. The GV instruction manual isn't as thorough as I would hope when it comes to the wiring solution.

Thanks

 

Is this a new or used GV unit?
As 440 pointed out the GV will not work till going 30 MPH I think it is as that is how fast you need to be going for the pump to build enough PSI to make the GV unit shift. The GV unit is like an auto transmission where the transmission is turning a pump like the converter dose in a auto.

Now because of that I thought the GV unit had a box that goes in line with the speedo cable that got wired in so it knows how fast before it will send power to the solenoid to let it shift? Are you saying there is no box and it can shift at any speed?
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But there is a "master switch" that if you dont want it to shift to OD you can turn off is this what you are wiring up?
Dave ----

 

440 how is the split between the gears?
I am thinking it is like my Advance Adapter Range Splitter that some are so close unloaded it is not worth splitting but the 3 to 4 is as it is a big split on the NP435 trans.
Do you have a hi / lo switch on the side of the stick like in a 2sp rear truck?
I have to twin stick it for hi / lo LOL
Dave ----

 

This is a used unit.

I have all the wiring associated as well as the control box. It just seems like there an easier way to wire it up. I would think the on off dimmer switch would be easiest and engaging the OD like you would shift into 4th gear but just manually.

I currently do not run a kickdown rod so i shift manually anyway on the column so if i did drop out of 4th to 3rd or second I would disengage the OD unit at say under 40mph.

Provided I understand all this correctly.

Thanks