John, That's about what I had in mind. 3mpg increase + $3500 = 20k mile payback ~1.25yr for me!

Not too bad...just need to save pennies!

MJ, Isn't the speed limiter gonna limit how fast you can go, unless it's already defeated???


Tony

 

Can somebody that has a gear vendor on their rig with the G56 trans tell me the part number so I can double check to make sure they're sending me the right stuff? I'm having mine installed and was thinking about some questions they asked me when I ordered which makes me wonder.. I would hate for my driveshaft to get cut and then, opps, its not the right unit..

 

I don't think it matters what trans you have for the GV unit connects to the back of the transfer case in the 4 x 4 application. The literature with the GV unit is a bit old for Dodge has been running the same transfer case for years. I’ll have to see if I still have the paper work for you.

Welcome to the “Billy-Big-Rigger” shifting club! Banging those gears with the GV is awesome!

Nice gauges by the way.

 

GV is in now and I am impressed. I have driven it for about 5 days and can tell my mileage is way up. I have yet to refill so I can't give numbers yet plus I had 3/4 of a tank when I dropped it off for install. I can tell you that the overhead is reading about 23mpg up from 19mpg. It has always been 2mpg off (to the better).

The only thing I am dissapointed about is that they could not make the 4x4 lockout work. Something about the amount of amps or volts on the 03 models was not enough to trip the lockout. Anyone else have trouble with this on an 03??

 

Do you have a 273 case (electronic) or a 271 case (lever)? I have the electronic and it gives you explecit instructions on which wire to tap. I would get that done ASAP!!! You will break stuff. I know you wont do it intentionally, but someone else could on accident.

 

I have the lever shift. I want to get it done asap but they (Gear Vendors tech) said that there was a problem with 03 models only and the amount of volts or amps from the wire that is supposed to be tapped to the computer box that locks out the system during 4x4 use. I would like to hear from other 03 users to see if they had this problem. There has to be a fix.

Mike McCarthy of Gear Vendors is trying to track down the fix but I figured it would help if I posted the problem as well.

 

I just got in from the first trip with the GV and all I can say is wow. I'm running 80 mph @ 2000 rpm now. Before GV I could never go faster than 90mph because it was bumping 3000 rpm and that made me nervous but now I can run 100mph @ 2500 rpm.

I went as fast as 105 before I backed out cause I was scared the tires couldn't take it any more. I have full confidence that it would run 115 mph maybe 120 before red lining no joke I kept thinking to myself an automatic with 3:73's and a GV unit would be like a 7,500 pound Corvette up there on the top end

Ok, so anyone thinking about GV all I can say is go for it. I love it and I dont think i could ever have one of these trucks without one. A 500 rpm drop may not sound like much but it makes a huge difference. Self install looks easy if one has the time for it and can save you big bucks but the place that installed mine did an A-1 job.

 

Just a suggestion... Change your fluid early the 1st time. (Amsoil MTG is OK per GV) .. If I could do it over, I would drop it at 2-4000 miles.

I went 10K and it was filthy! I will do it at 5k the next time to see if it is better.

After you get used to it try NOT using it on the highway... You then realize just how bad the G56 equipped RAMs final drive ratios really are. It is just SOoooo wrong!

I love the flexability .. I get almost as much usage of 5th "over" as I do 6th over. (5th over is the same as 6th) However it is "direct" I use 5th over instead of 6th most of the time. Stronger and better MPG than 6th.

6th over is wonderful... :-) Best MPG seems to be around 68-72(3) mph

Flat with no headwind maybe a little slower would yield the best MPG, but if you need more power for a hill or to buck a strong headwind you need a little more RPM to get more efficiency 1400-1500 RPM is a little low 1700-1750 is better.

Gear vs wind resistance is the trade off. Am I willing to go 55 to get 1 MPG more... NO ... Time is $ For me getting 19-20 MPG at 70-75 works.

Getting 21 maybe 22 at 50-55 does not. Adding 4 hours every 1000 miles holding up traffic to get 1-1.5 MPG is not worth it to me. Let alone edited by admin 80 % of the people on the highway.

I have yet driven a long flat route.. This sumer I will drive cross country and will see what I get for MPG when not in the hills. If I get 20 MPG now in the hills, I suspect I will be surprised at just what I may be getting out in the "flats".

 

Yeah I'm liking that 5th over. It seems to me with my mostly empty running that's practically all the splitting I'll ever need is the 5th over and the 6th over. I can see where the lower splits could really come in handy with heavy loads though but one of them, I believe 3rd over, seems to be exactly the same as 4th so probably if you are running at that speed for whatever reason the best gear to run there would be the 3rd over instead of 4th.

Twenty one mpg is looking like a real possibility here but I won't ever realize it until I start keeping my foot out that 100mph stuff sucks it down the same as 75mph without the GV I've got a set of dynatrac freespins I'm putting on this July I'm figuring at least 4 or 5 mpg with both these addons. It would still take forever to pay for themselves but that sure is nice on your range when you get mileage like that.

My plan on oil changes was to dump the GM dino oil they put in there @ 1000k break in period and run Amsoil MTG from here on out changing every 5k miles. These things aren't filtered and the life of the unit is in keeping good clean oil in there.

 

Nice Pix, I put my activation switch on the left side of the shifter so it can be thumb activated.

Shifting that thing is fun, I like the 4th to 4th over shift myself.

 

I hit 120mph "once" in my 99 with a GV OD.

Never again! Duallys don't ballance all that well.

Be careful, 6th over pushing 100mph+ will push your EGT's through the roof.

......Jim

 

what do you guys recommend for my application. I have an auto with 35" tires and 3.73 gears. My rpm's do stay low, but I want alittle more for tow and such. Would I benefit doing the GV underdrive? Or re-gear and then the GV overdrive?

 

You should be fine w/o re-gearing. My 06 could still use another gear with 35"s.

Although I won't be installing the GV OD on my 06 because I will be using it to tow my camper and enclosed trailer to off road locations such as sand and mud.

I trashed two GV units trying to get my self unstuck off road. They will wear out the reverse cone clutch even when not engaged in OD. The same with too much exhaust braking.

Don't get me wrong, it is a good unit, but if you abuse it, or work it off road, it will break. Just something I thought you might want to know before considering purchasing one.

.................Jim

 

Put you stock rims and tires on for towing.

 

As far as 3rd over and 4th under the difference is about 400 rpms. Which means while pulling my 16k fiver up to Eureka, I would redline in 3rd and hit 4th and would slowly loose speed. Now I hit max in 3rd, slip to 3rd over and I can pull this all the way to redline. Then I hit 4th under and can pull that up to the top. Truck is stock. That 3-4 gear split is the best gear split that I use towing. 6th over is nice empty. 4th over and 5th under are real close. 200 rpms I think. I loose that shifting up hills. I have 4k on my unit right now. I will change at 5k just to see it. Then I will try 10k.