GearVendors behind ZF5 4x4 - Anyone done it and care to share their setup?

Black dawg

Registered User
Joined
Jan 9, 2006
Posts
3,995
Reaction score
703
Location
sw mt
I think the double over is fine. My thought is why would you need double over while in 4wd? What's the minimum speed for a gearvendors anyways, 50mph? If you're in a low traction scenario that requires 4wd should you really be driving highway speeds? I'd have the gearvendors after the transfer case, that way you're only buying one shaft.
Gv functional working speed is somewhere between 15-20 mph depending on rear end gear ratio. It has to have a certain amount of driveshaft speed to engage......even without the GV supplied electronics. You can turn it on moving slower, and it does nothing until you reach that speed.
 

BlindAmbition

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2020
Posts
340
Reaction score
293
Location
SoCal
I spoke to someone at Gearvendors who returned my call. They said 4x4 could be used if it was before the transfer case. It still requires a minimum speed, so I'm not sure how useful that will ever be, but good to know.
 

BlindAmbition

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2020
Posts
340
Reaction score
293
Location
SoCal
I have two GV units. Maybe I could double them like the rock crawler guys double up transfer cases

I'd be driving down the freeway at idle speeds

If I get enough of them maybe I wouldn't even need a driveshaft at all, just straight from transmission through a series of GV units to the rear axle.
 

BlindAmbition

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2020
Posts
340
Reaction score
293
Location
SoCal
Update on this, I got the setup on the bench and bolted together. Bolted to a wide ratio 460 ZF5 that I'll be either swapping cases on or drilling to fit. Will need to create a brace to handle the weight as well.

You must be registered for see images attach
 

The_Josh_Bear

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2016
Posts
1,916
Reaction score
1,498
Location
Western WA
I think the double over is fine. My thought is why would you need double over while in 4wd? What's the minimum speed for a gearvendors anyways, 50mph? If you're in a low traction scenario that requires 4wd should you really be driving highway speeds?
Shoot, I do this on purpose just to go for a fun drive in the snow! The people out here are scared of the snow...I love it. So a few times a year I get to run around at 50-60mph on the un-plowed freeways while everyone stays home cause driving is scary! LOL

I spoke to someone at Gearvendors who returned my call. They said 4x4 could be used if it was before the transfer case. It still requires a minimum speed, so I'm not sure how useful that will ever be, but good to know.
Good to know, it seemed to me that 4x4 wouldn't matter if it was before the T-case since all the power goes where it should.

Update on this, I got the setup on the bench and bolted together. Bolted to a wide ratio 460 ZF5 that I'll be either swapping cases on or drilling to fit. Will need to create a brace to handle the weight as well.

You must be registered for see images attach
That's pretty cool! I hope the t-case linkage isn't too much of an issue.
 

u2slow

bilge rat
Joined
May 8, 2007
Posts
1,817
Reaction score
814
Location
PNW
When I said highway speeds, I meant on the interstate at 80+. I wouldn't think you'd need double OD to run 50-60?

Don't forget the 450-class vehicle it came from may have had an axle ratio as deep as 5.13 and only 30-31" tires.
 

hesutton

The Anti-Anderson
Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2005
Posts
8,200
Reaction score
738
Location
Bowling Green, KY
Have a US Gear UNDERDRIVE on my '86 crew cab that i put a 460 ZF5 in. Love the underdrive. The F350 SRW has 3.55 gearing in the axles and it cruises well on the highway. However, when hauling, the underdrive splitter is king! Makes moving weight much easier. It turns my ZF5 into a 10 speed.

Love that the US gear as it allows me to underdrive 4-low when reversing a trailer/camper. This is especially helpful when backing up a slope.

Heath
 

BlindAmbition

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2020
Posts
340
Reaction score
293
Location
SoCal
@hesutton I have a US gear underdrive as well, not setup for ZF5 though. Would you still recommend it with 3.73 or 4.10 gears or would you rather have an overdrive then?
 

IDIBRONCO

IDIBRONCO
Joined
Feb 5, 2010
Posts
12,235
Reaction score
10,925
Location
edmond, ks
No they don't work that way. They bolt onto the back of a transmission and only shift to a higher gear or a lower gear.
 
Top