by dougtappan Sun Nov 30, 2014 7:57 pmDoes anybody know if the 4 speedtrans in I think the 2nd gen vans were overdrive in 4th gear?
+3
donivan65
Twinpilot001
dougtappan
7 posters
4 speed trans
dougtappan- Number of posts : 310
Location : hopkinton ma.
Registration date : 2014-08-19
Twinpilot001- Number of posts : 6186
Location : spokane ,Wa.
Registration date : 2009-09-28
to my knowledge?? there were NO 4 speed trannys in GM vans - There are however 3 speed trans on cars & trucks that were also available with an overdrive gear !!=yet those were all shifted electrically too!! Ford econos did have an actual 4 speed trans =yet it was notably a weaker trans than standard 3 speed trannys then.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
I have a real 2nd Gen 4 speed,,,,,,,,and it is a 1/2, 1, 2, and 3rd gear in actual life,,,,,,
kookykrispy- Number of posts : 1533
Location : Helendale, CA
Age : 50
Registration date : 2009-05-22
They were not overdrive. It is an iron Borg Warner T-10 with a ultra wide ratio. 3.44:1 1st gear low. 4th gear is 1:1. Works great when paired with a freeway rearend such as 2.56 or 2.73. I run one in the wikivan with a 2.56 rear
Twinpilot001- Number of posts : 6186
Location : spokane ,Wa.
Registration date : 2009-09-28
Hey-doni= what years did gm actually put those 4 speed trannys in tye vans as a factory option?? curious?
Thats a better idea id guess a likely done to compete with fords 4 speed tranny offering?
Cool!! I learned something!!
Thats a better idea id guess a likely done to compete with fords 4 speed tranny offering?
Cool!! I learned something!!
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
It came on 68-70 Chevy/GMC vans,,,,,,,,it has a special shift column with 3 levers on the bottom,,,,,,Reverse is a cable to a separate lever on the trans,,,,,,they are great for towing,,,,,,lots of torque for starting off and 4th gear is 1:1 ratio,,,,,,just like a normal transmission,,,,,,,
dougtappan- Number of posts : 310
Location : hopkinton ma.
Registration date : 2014-08-19
Thanks Donnie thats what I thought
oldgoalie- Number of posts : 55
Location : Wenatchee, Wa
Registration date : 2014-06-04
If you wanted a 4 speed a guy could use the Saginaw 4 speed with the 3 speed linkage. First can be where rev is and run a extra lever to the rev shift shaft, maybe a cable under the seat or a rod or something of that nature. Just a thought. Just an FYI, 99.9 % of 3 speeds and 4 speeds are 1 to 1 in fourth. In the late 70's ford made a 4 speed with 3rd being 1to1 and 4th being and OD. Looking for fuel mileage. They called it a 3 speed with OD, there where a few different versions used in cars and trucks. Ford used them in trucks with a 6cyl and 2:78 rear ends, what a dog those where. They where known as RUG or RAT trans, that was the name on there ID tags. GM and Dodge had one also in the early 80's it was a new prosses 833, if I remember right. Both GM and Dodge used them in both 4X4 and 2WD trucks. Those could probably be used in vans, but them being 3 speeds with the 4th being OD not sure how well the ratios would work.
BvrWally- Number of posts : 946
Location : Earlyville,Ohio
Registration date : 2008-05-19
Link to photo of 4 speed lever in a GMC Early: https://s87.photobucket.com/user/BvrWally/media/Steves4speed_zpsedf67593.jpg.html
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
This 4 speed shift lever assembly is really important,,,,,,it has lock outs built into it,,,,,,there are also lockouts in the transmission for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears but Reverse is free to do what it wants, whenever it wants,,,,,,,and if you pull a cable or lever connected to the Reverse lever on the transmission, it will lock up that trans solid if the transmission is in any forward gear,,,,,,I probably would destroy that transmission pretty fast if I had just got done parking my van and forgot to take it out of Reverse, because, when I take off , I like to LAUNCH my van,,,,,,something bad would surely happen when I popped the clutch in 1st gear, when that trans is locked up in both 1st and reverse gears,,,,,,
oldgoalie- Number of posts : 55
Location : Wenatchee, Wa
Registration date : 2014-06-04
I agree with you donivan65, you would really have to pay attention or figure out some sort of lock out. But it could work if a person really wanted a 4 speed. At least until maybe a 4 speed column is found.
VCVCSmiley- Number of posts : 73
Location : New Orleans
Age : 53
Registration date : 2010-09-16
I have a 4speed w/ a Borg Warner OD in my '66. I used the stock 3-spd linkage and moved reverse to a cable. The OD is great. The 4-spd part is just wasted shifting.
kookykrispy- Number of posts : 1533
Location : Helendale, CA
Age : 50
Registration date : 2009-05-22
dougtappan wrote:Does anybody know if the 4 speedtrans in I think the 2nd gen vans were overdrive in 4th gear?
No it is a wide ratio iron Borg Warner T10. 4th gear is 1:1 ratio.
1st gear is 3.44:1
