If one wanted overdrive?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 126
Likes: 10
From: Nevada
X2 on the gear vendors. No need to move the transmission or transfer case or add cross members. Just bolt it up to the back of the transfer case and shorten the driveline. Very close to $3,000 for the undredrive/overdrive unit.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
Cost was 4k when I did mine. The gear vendors is not my choice as you will cook the transmission. Remember without a lockup torque converter all you are doing is building a ton of heat when in overdrive. My last build was with a GM 4L80 behind a 390 and that was a drastic improvement over the E40D. Currently working on a 6r80 behind a 410 in a galaxy and that has been time consuming but will be far ahead of the E4OD or the 4L80.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,738
Likes: 217
From: Northern VA
I think AOD would be the easiest. Btw, I have an E40D 351W fuel injected that gets significantly worse highway milage than the old FMX 302 carb I had. Of course thats a 8600 lb rated truck versus an old F-100, but still.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 85
Likes: 1
I don't know what engine you are running, but anything with a 4-speed and an overdrive(automatic) will give you what you want. The 4L80 will work, and i believe it has a lock-up converter as well. The lock-up is great for mileage. The E4AOD is not as much hassle as some would have you believe. The wiring for the controller should be done by someone who really knows electronics though. Also it won't handle a lot of HP, so if you're running a big block of any major HP, you might want to look at Hughes for a tranny that will take it. The AOD's are monsters too, so make sure you have the room and the cross members for it, and it will require a shorter driveline due to it's length.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,904
Likes: 4,122
From: Angier, NC
I think the $$ to get overdrive depends on what you are starting with, auto or stick / 4x2 or 4x4.
Then you have, "do you want overdrive when in 4x4?"
If going with an OD unit like Gear Vendor or Advance Adaptor you have stick to auto, only 1 works with both transmissions. Then do you want / need to split gears and if so all gears or just the 1:1 gear?
When figuring $$ and what way to go you can't figure the drive shafts on a 4x2 as this will need to be done with any swap but add 1 shafts if 4x4.
just my thinking.
For me with a stick (T18 / NP435 4x2) the AA OD unit is what I want as I want to be able to split ALL GEARS when needed. Can't do that with the GV unit, have to be going 30 mph or faster to have it shift into OD.
Dave ----
Then you have, "do you want overdrive when in 4x4?"
If going with an OD unit like Gear Vendor or Advance Adaptor you have stick to auto, only 1 works with both transmissions. Then do you want / need to split gears and if so all gears or just the 1:1 gear?
When figuring $$ and what way to go you can't figure the drive shafts on a 4x2 as this will need to be done with any swap but add 1 shafts if 4x4.
just my thinking.
For me with a stick (T18 / NP435 4x2) the AA OD unit is what I want as I want to be able to split ALL GEARS when needed. Can't do that with the GV unit, have to be going 30 mph or faster to have it shift into OD.
Dave ----
More Turbo
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 591
Likes: 54
From: Pennsylvania
What about a brownie box? Probably way less convenient to drive, but it would end up giving you like 12 forward gears and presumably some would be overdrive. That also might be cost prohibitive though and would also require some modification of the driveline, and if you don't want to drive a stick shift you'd end up with double the misery 
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 64
I'm working on 2 different possibilities on mine, I'm either going with no OD and 3.00 gears, or the AA OD unit in front of the 4speed trans. The AA unit is only 1600.00, but only works with the newer 4 speed. Where you are running a 2wd auto, I'd just swap the rears for 3.00 or 2.73 and see how it drives, it's a cheap easy fix.
Eric
Eric
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,436
Likes: 19
From: Regina, Saskatchewan
Cost was 4k when I did mine. The gear vendors is not my choice as you will cook the transmission. Remember without a lockup torque converter all you are doing is building a ton of heat when in overdrive. My last build was with a GM 4L80 behind a 390 and that was a drastic improvement over the E40D. Currently working on a 6r80 behind a 410 in a galaxy and that has been time consuming but will be far ahead of the E4OD or the 4L80.
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 547
Likes: 11
Dennis