Has anyone here ever run into an "American Overdrive Unit"? It was made in Redding, Ca and looks alot like a Gearvendor unit.

I am trying to find a wiring diagram for this unit.
Thanks

 

what is it out of?
bill E

 

It came out of a 76 F250 4X2. It replaces the C6 tail housing.

 

did you ever find any info on this OD unit, did you get it working?

I am looking to buy one, just looking for any past experiences

Thanks in advance,

Steven Holekamp

 

No, I never found a wiring diagram. I think I've made my own from figuring where the wires went. I also found some info about one being put into a GM product that gives a little insight.

I'm really worried about using it. Not because there is anything wrong with it, but I was going to put in my son's 79, because he has a 4.10. But I have decided to go with a 3.54 rear end to lessen the trouble of a on the road breakdown, and no one knowing what to do.

If you are interested, let me know. Bob

 

I would be intersted in whatever you know!! I know nothing about these units so pardon my stupid questions


What % overdrive is it?

Do you know if these were made in overdrive and underdrive?

I think "Hone-O-Drive" was manafactured in Redding, do you know if this may be a decendant of the "Hone-O-Drive"?

Does the output shaft of the automatic trans go directly to the unit or is there a adapter hub? I am trying to figure out how difficult it would be to mate it to something other than a C6

Have you looked inside this unit to see how it works?

if yes I would be interested what shifts it, band, clutches, cone, slider like in a manual trans? and if it has 3 or 4 planetary gears

Thanks in advance,

Steven Holekamp

 

Hone was an insert in the drive line. Had a short drive shaft in, and then one on to the rearend. Similar to a detached t-case. It had a manual shift lever.

This is very similar in looks to a Gearvendor. Replaces tailshaft housing, and bolts on direct to a C6. Has an oil line from the trans to the OD unit. Has a park interlock cable to disable OD in park, so vehicle won't roll.

As for how, why, type of shifting, %, have no idea.

If you don't mind the paying the price, I'd watch Ebay.

Note. Redding CA. seems to have been a hot bed for OD units;
There was Hone, American Overdrive, Mitchell OD or UD stand alone like the Hone. Gearvendor says they are not connected, and US Gear is all gear drive, so doesn't need a interlock cable.

Hope this has been of some help. Bob

 

Steven, go to Ebay and look up overdrive in the auto parts section. The is an American OD unit for a turbo 400, an a couple of Doug Nash units less the adapters from what the pictures look like. Bob

 

Thats what got me started looking for info, I have not gotten a reply from the seller on the OD ratio, I am a little worried if it really is made out of existing transmission parts it is likely a 45% overdrive(if it uses a planetary set from from a TH400 or TF727)

I am looking for a 30% od, GV are 22% this is going in a car so the DN is a little big, no place for you feet in the back seat

Thanks for the reply,

Steven

 

I've never heard of a 45% OD. That seem mighty steep. That means a 3.00 rear end would be = to a 1.35 in OD: a 4.10 would be = to a 1.84. Also. American, Doug Nash, Gearvendor all mount about the same. They all add about a foot to the trans length. Bob

 

As for the .45 overdrive, the T-56 in 94 up camaro, corvette, viper... is .5 in second overdrive. They run most of them with 3.23 to 3.73 rear ends, too. So it is done (or very nearly) by the OEM's.

 

Got a reply back from the seller he turned it an checked the rotation, it is about a 50% overdrive(probably TH 400 gearset it would be 48%), that is a bunch!!! you are going to need to shift this thing, with 4.11 you run about 110mph at 6000rpm, just right for the quarter mile, but with 48% OD you run 80mph at 2300, not many engines make power from 2300 to 6000, except the oems mentioned above with engine management, probably a better application for an underpowered truck pulling a load at 60mph and running empty at 80 in OD

 

I just purchased one of these off ebay, with no instructions.

Does anyone have the instructions for the Ford truck with C6 install?

I could probably figure it out, but I'd like to have the instructions anyway.

Thanks

 

I have the instruction manual. :-)
PM me your email address and i'll send it to you once i get it scanned...

 

Wow, a 4 year old thread. Just dropped in to say something really un-worthy.