Just installed a gear-vendor overdrive unit in my 2004 F550 6L. Everything went in okay. The overdrive unit itself requires 9" of space between it and the catalytic converter. When the OD unit was bolted in, the 2 were side by side and touching. QUESTION: To remove cat or not to remove????? So I removed Cat and installed a straight pipe in it's place. Ran the truck for 900 miles -- seemed to have more power and less spool-up time off the line. No check engine lights came on. Gained 4 mpg with the gear-vendor OD unit. Does anyone have any input on long-term effects for the engine? I know that inspections require the Cat -- I'll worry about that later. T hanks for your help!

 

Photos Please!

If you don't have a means to post them, Email them to me and I'll dump them on my web site for a while. I'm sure others would be interested in this. I assume that you installed the OD on a two wheel drive rig? More info about the Gear-Vendor would be appreciated.

 

You can also get one for the 4 x 4 for about $ 2,800.00.

4 mpg increase is great!

I have been thinking about doing the same, but also putting gears in to offset taller tires. I think if you set the gears/tires/overdrive unit to put you at about 1800 rpm at 70 mph would be optimal. Around town driving would get better mpg along with quicker acceleration (torque) off the line.

 

check out gearvendor.com for more info on unit,back to my Q.will I hurt eng.without cat.longterm

 

The concensus of some is that the 6.0 needs a certain amount of backpressure to work correctly. Some say that the proper back pressure required is provided by the turbo itself, and the decrease of pressure after the turbo has no ill effect on the system. Others state that a certain value of back pressure is needed AFTER the turbo.

I would think the only harm that can come from the removal of the converter itself would be from legal ramifications, The unit itself should not decrease the pressure enough to hurt anything, especially if you are still running the stock exhaust with a muffler.

 

Thanks beemr for your input,yes I am still running stock exhaust I do have a after market air filter,local ford guys dont think it will hurt eng .but if anyone has more input Im all ears!!!!!!

 

Has anyone bypassed the controll unit on their gear vendor and just ran it off the foot switch.

 

Just so happens I was talking to Gear Vendor today and I asked about whether the unit would shift "automagically". The person I spoke to kept referring to control via the foot switch only.

 

to answer your question.....no it won't hurt your engine to run without a CAT. Alot of us have removed it perminently. Part of your fuel mileage gain is because you took it off. EGTs will be lower, turbo will work easier, less restriction = more power=better fuel mileage=less wear and tear.

Now do yourself a favor and get rid of your EGR valve.

 

bobin...what specifically did they say. I talked to Gear Vendors a few months back, and they said the unit's computer would shift in and out of overdrive by itself automatically...sort of plug & play.

However, you could not use it to over/under drive between shifts.

 

wow 4mpg. that would pay for it's self quick. how does it shift? does it pull better with all the extra gears? pics would be nice