I had the GV unit in a 1 ton and now have the US gear unit in my 550. Bill is correct that
the GV unit is a small auto tranny, the US gear unit is a small electronicly shifted manual tranny. much stronger unit. If you have a 4x4 the US Gear unit can be used in 4by where as the GV unit canot.

Barney

 

Good call on that, Barney! I completely forgot about the 4WD thing.

 

I forgot about that also.

 

Thank you guys. I learn something new every day.

 

If you are in an area where fuel prices are high and you drive 20k or 30k a year, then the costs can be recovered in a few years.
I also thought about adding the 19.5 rubber & wheels to help as well.
I decided not to since I discovered all of this just recently and just don't think it suits me with 329K on my '02, 7.3.
Good luck,

 

Jumping to 19.5" rims (Risckson maybe) and nice commercial highway tires would be, IMHO, the step before adding an extra overdrive unit.

That way, mileage goes up, ride improves, tire wear extends, and you'll also gain some ratio.

 

329k is not too bad. My 99 f450 (built in 12/98) has about 430k on the original engine, thats why I love 7.3. Changed injectors at about 300k and transmission at about 250k and it runs like new.
19.5 rims on the other hand is not a bad idea. Would I have to lift it a bit or I could fit them in the way it is?

 

19.5 rims won't gain you alot. look at your 450 and 550, they have 19.5's. almost the same diameter as the 16's you probably have on your 250. they are a great improvement for towing and hauling alot of weight but not much for MPG.

Barney

 

That's some very impressive numbers for a truck that has 4.88 gears!
Engine is always turning 2500 rpm.

 

I have 373 and id just like to rev under 2k cruising down the highway. I run about 2500rpm all the time and I personally hate it. Our trucks have more then enough power once rolling to carry itself under 2k with even a mild load.

 

Do gear vendors still work if you have 4x4?

 

I thought you could get the GV to go between the transmission and xfer case; Which requires new driveshafts and also could get them that replaces the rear tailshaft of a 2wd. You also haev the option of a divorced mounted unit but that is strictly 2wd operation only because the front output to the 4x4 isnt overdriven that way.

Are there any other ways for it to be mounted?

 

I was on their site and looked at 4x4 and it shows gear vendors in x-fer cases. On the setups that install on the back of the tranny, do they replace the tailshaft and housing and allow you to keep the stock drive shafts?

 

unless GearVendor has changed something drasticly in the last 2 years they will not go between the tranny and T/case. they mount strictly behind and work only in 2WD. US Gear on the other hand mounts between the tranny and T/case and can be used in 2 or 4WD.
Barney

 

The GV WILL work w/ a 4x4, you just have to turn the unit off electronically. Think about it, who in the hell needs O/D or to split gears in 4wd anyway????

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the US Gear, being a mechanical unit, has to be controlled mechanically to be shifted in and out of O/D, and when the shift is made you have to let up off the gas to do it? No thanks, I'm trying to make my drive easier, not harder. BUT...if you are full time hauler, in and out of mountains and such, the US Gear seems to be the tougher unit.

Also, noone has mentioned the less revolutions your engine and tranny have to turn...ie, traveling the same mileage, but not really putting the wear and tear on drivetrain.