We mounted the Gear Vendors rocker switch under the air vent controls here:
We could have used the existing vent plate screws but didn’t want to mess with it. Easy enough to drill two small holes adjacent to it and it is out of the way but easily visible.
The supplied power switch is the same as the headlight dimmer switch and is designed to be mounted to the floor. As I thought my foot might get a bit confused, we mounted a toggle switch near the lid of the console. I located a black toggle and you are hard pressed to see it but it is easily reached if you ever wanted to split the gears (not sure why you would do this in anything other than a big RV).
When driving with the gear vendor set to automatic, the unit will not engage until it reaches 75kph. You can feel a slight thud as the unit engages and it will stay in this ‘over-driven’ state until you drop down to say 60kph. The engagement is barely noticeable and we did –notice it- as we were actually listening for it to engage.
On the drive home, I estimate she is revving about 5-600 rpm less. At 100kph she was doing 2300rpm whereas before she was up to 2800 or thereabouts. The car feels much more comfortable and the fuel needle is more ‘stable’ shall we say.
Overall impression: For an initial build you would have to weigh up the cost of the GV against an overdrive gearbox. For a retro fit, the GV is an option worth considering as on this car it required no body/tunnel mods. Either way, you will need a new tail shaft and this will run to around $700 incl gst.
Early impressions are very positive and I think it will grow on me even more. I can’t see myself using the gear splitting as this thing has torque aplenty, so suspect I will just leave it in automatic and let it do it’s thing.
Now for those ‘fully-sick’ exhaust cut-outs. These may be considered high performance drag mods to assist you obtain the most out of the ported aluminium heads and free flowing exhaust at high rpm- like when you slam her into second or are approaching the line- OR just for wank value; take your pick. Either way, the remote control is cool, the grandson loves them and ‘chicks dig them’. Here they are in action:
Have a safe and productive Christmas.
Cheers
Jacko and H
