Author Topic: Gear Vendors Drama - UPDATED 3/20/07 (Read 35153 times)

Carlwalski · « **on:** July 27, 2006 - 09:48:44 PM »

The GV is @#$% up in the air at the moment......

LONG story short, GV have never made a Autoshift sequencer unit for a 727 car, so we're doing the research and design and I'm forking out the money to get it right and inform GVs about the problems while they sit there with their pencils and pads getting the info to build them correctly......for $0

Been going on for about 5 months now......and I'm ready to kill, honestly. lol

They won't pay a cent for the hassle and time due to errors from their module, parts etc....they've sent over 2, yes, two repaired faulty wires that played up and had shorts. One faulty footswitch that blew 8 fuses every 7 or so pushes......and we've sent the main module back once before, soon to be 2 times. The words major, MAJOR hassle still don't do it justice...no words can describe how useless GV's are......

I'd wait a good year before buying from them, honestly.

When they do get it right it will be thanks to my restoration team as we are not maybe, we are building it for them. I almost don't want my team to pass on info because then they make it using our info and setup and go on to sell thousands and here we are way down here getting nothing for it except labour bills and stress......

I'm still gunning for it and will eventually get it.
"Good" thing is in the whole world I'm the only guy with a Autoshift unit behind a 727.

Basically, in short. Gear Vendors have never made this unit to sit behind a 727 box. The voltages it takes to kick the OD out of gear are miles off, when my resto team adjusted it, it worked but wasn't right and would kick out of gear at any time. GV hot-line is OK, just the fact that I'm paying for it all when the product shouldn't be for sale to the public when it's not ready and doesn't work. The speedo censor doesn't work and kicks OD out when ever if feels like it, if at all. They've sent other a repaired module and broken/repaired wires in a brand new kit" When I paid for it I didn't pay for a repaired product....I paid for a unit that worked the first time with all parts NEW.

They've sent out a product that is 1/2 complete at best and now we are fixing the errors and giving them feedback.

When the system has worked it's great, but it chooses to at the moment. Good thing lately is my diff doesn't whine.
Now the Challenger will be in the garage for another 6-8 weeks while GV have the unit sent back, repaired, then sent back to us again and even then we won't be sure if it's going to work......my mechanic has been on the phone for the last 3-4 weeks talking it over, GV won't listen and basically say "That's how it should work, so it should" my mechanic is basically saying: "Listen mate, it's miles off and it's not....." at the end of the day we're not getting what we paid for.

Sorry for the rave, but, shlt..............

Cheers,
Carl

1BADFISH� · « **Reply #1 on:** July 27, 2006 - 10:04:02 PM »

Jeez Carl, that is terrible. I was wondering where you have been these days. Its a shame that you spent that much time on Lucy and now its held up in the shop over issues that should not exist. I hope it all gets sorted out, i'm not real familiar with the GV units...but they sound great when they're working properly.

I hope your Cuda is working good for you.

Carlwalski · « **Reply #2 on:** July 27, 2006 - 10:08:51 PM »

Thanks mate, 'Cuda is due into the shop for some minor tuning and will be out Friday (goes in Wednesday).
Needs throttle adjustment, carb tune, electric & viscous fan installed and the windows need adjusting.

Then I'll feel happier driving it......once the Challenger is finally out the 'Cuda will go back in for the Go-Wing, paint touch up, new door panels...etc.......

Yeah, Gear Vendors is good but that shouldn't be selling a product when it's not 100% ready for sale to the public.

EVIL72 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2006 - 11:22:11 PM »

Sorry to hear this NZ, this is total B.S!!!!
I can't believe GV would send out a product that they didn't at least test

. That's a great way to lose alot of business.
Then to have YOU pay all the bills trouble shooting it for them, they should at least rebate ya some cash for all your troubles!
Any good company would do it to make things right and save there reputation.

Carlwalski · « **Reply #4 on:** July 27, 2006 - 11:58:07 PM »

Thanks Evil....yeah, problem is their warranty: http://www.gearvendors.com/ltdwarranty.html read the second paragraph. It doesn't cover part failure or defective products. What BS. I never read the warranty as I thought with a "professional" group like Gear Vendors and a new product there was no need to and I'm sure 90% of people would have done the same. I did expect somethings to go wrong, though, very minor things, not the trouble and errors we have been getting. We had the system in ready to go within 1-2 days......tried to use it and that's when the trouble began, from then it's been something wrong, we fix that and something else plays up, fuses out or dies. Now we are in about week 19 or 20................

Just not on and I don't think I have a legal leg to stand on, if so I'd probably have to fly over.......
They say when buying from overseas beware, that is true. Joke is, the overseas parts departure is right near the rubbish bin, some orders get mixed up.......looks like I got rubbish we now have to fix..........

gomopar440 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 28, 2006 - 05:53:31 AM »

Aside from the electrical isues with the Autoshift, how does just the mechanical aspect of the GV unit work for you?

Plum6Pak · « **Reply #6 on:** July 28, 2006 - 06:13:26 AM »

Sorry to hear about this Carl, next picture we see of you you'll be pretty bald I'm sure. This is good information for those of us considering one of these setups. Keep us informed and don't be such a stranger around here.

Carlwalski · « **Reply #7 on:** July 28, 2006 - 06:41:57 AM »

Quote from: gomopar440 on July 28, 2006 - 05:53:31 AM

Aside from the electrical isues with the Autoshift, how does just the mechanical aspect of the GV unit work for you?

Basically, this is how the Autoshift works (oh, should work once WE fix it).

You install the main gearbox unit by replacing your existing tail-shaft and shortening your drive-shaft and slightly to moderately beating the underside to clear a few places to give the GV unit some breathing space.

You get a module, foot and button switch (which can mount to a B&M type shifter), an rpm censor, a position censor, linkage rod and some shift lights that are tiny (which is good). Once it's all connected properly and ready to function right it should do this: With the car in first it's ready to split your existing gears (into 6).

Shift from 1st to 1st over, when you shift to 2nd direct using the Slap-Stik your voltage readout should be around 3 (can't remember correctly) which sends a signal from your position censor (a tiny linkage that when the shifter moves pushes the Autoshift lever along the resistor, your signal goes to the module which basically says: "We have shifted" your module then waits for the rpm censor to pickup the drop in rpms and the rpm censor is then suppose to send the info back to the module and say: "OK, we're out of gear kick OD out now". All done in about 1/2 a second.

Our problem is the rpm censor isn't telling the module to kick out so you'll be screaming your rpms tlts off.
It decides when it wants to, if at all......we've done everything possible to fix the problem but at the end of the day an rpm signal is an rpm signal and you can only do so much as it will allow. It's a basic setup that just isn't working. So, we think it HAS to be in the module. Also, our position censor isn't getting the required (what GV thinks is a 727 readout in voltage) GVs unit requires about 3.5 in 1st-0 to 2nd, 2.7 from 2nd-0 to 3rd etc.....where as the 727 is really only pushing out 1/2 those read outs so it's not getting the voltage for a signal to say to the module: "Hey, we've kicked out".

There's a way around it by adding in resistors to give the censor it's correct voltage at those certain points but when this is done the linkage and censor case only allows very minor adjustment and lever length.
You adjust it but is still not enough with what they have given us......we are at our absolute limit not even .05".

So, we are sending the unit back (I think unless they can "phone fix it") but I doubt it as they have been useless thus far and my mechanic Adam should be running GVs. So we maybe sending it back to get the module set up for our voltage readouts, we'll take the voltage readouts at the shift points and they'll recalibrate the module to suit. We will also ask them whats up with the rpm censor as it's not working AT ALL.

I am happy with the actual mechanics of the system, it shifts perhaps a little harsh, not performance harsh just "jolt" harsh.....mind you we have only had it up to mid rpm range under 1-/2 to 3/4 throttle, tops, as we don't want to run the risk of doing 60mph in 1st-Over and have OD kick out due to error of being faulty and send pieces of my engine all over the place. I think once it's done it will be perfect, worth it? Not sure yet. My mechanic doesn't mind it so much, he loves the Research & Design (R&D) of it all but feels sorry for me for forking out the $ for this "big" name company.

Sorry about the long post but it still only covers half of the issues and stress...........

Thanks Glen.

gomopar440 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 28, 2006 - 06:49:52 AM »

No worries NZ. I usually feel better after being able to vent to others that care when something like this gets me frustrated. By sharing this experience with everyone here, you're helping out those people even thinking of using this system. I may want to try it sometime in the future, after I hear something positive about it of course.

I've always wondered about how difficult it must be to coordinate the Trans upshift with the OD downshift both at the same time. This is supposed to resolve that issue but if it never pans out I may just ditch the 727/GV idea and use a 618 with a BB adapter plate instead.

Carlwalski · « **Reply #9 on:** July 28, 2006 - 06:59:04 AM »

Quote from: gomopar440 on July 28, 2006 - 06:49:52 AM

I've always wondered about how difficult it must be to coordinate the Trans upshift with the OD downshift both at the same time.

Not sure I follow....as that's not how it works.

The GV Autoshift unit an easy shift patern once you know how. The upshift is simply pushing the lever up, the gear box/module kicks OD out for you when you do this. That's how it works but at present the module isn't klicking the OD out. Or, are you talking about the old/stock unit.

A618? That idea crossed my mind, trust me. Good thing on my side was we purchased the original or stock GV unit first before the new Autoshift unit came out. So we can bolt that in and have it running perfectly. But, that is an unco shifting trans and splitting 6 gears smoothly is 1 in 100 and if you get it wrong good by engine.

Give it time, I will keep you posted on it. I'm sure it will be worth it, and basically thanks to us they will get it right for others, but that's my gripe......we're the guinea pig and they're the lab........

gomopar440 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 28, 2006 - 01:12:05 PM »

Yea, I was referring to the original style GV unit when I was talking about the upshift/OD coordination.

The new Auto Shift type intrigued me but I'll wait and see how they handle the situation with yours before I even consider picking one up. I hear you about not wanting to scatter you engine because of what basically could amount to a missed shift. That doesn't sound like a very happy way to disassemble your engine.

ShelbyDogg · « **Reply #11 on:** July 28, 2006 - 01:27:48 PM »

Carl, You spoke so highly of that unit in the past. Was it worth it?
I don't see why you needed 6 gears at all. It would have been so much easier to use a 518 with the 2 vacuum switches to throw you into overdrive. Less headache, and Mopar all the way.
Good luck with that thing,
Rob

P.S., now that you have a Challenger and a Cuda, Tell me where you think the better car is. I always knew which one was better. (trying not to start anything, but I have both now too)

Carlwalski · « **Reply #12 on:** July 28, 2006 - 05:49:18 PM »

Gomopar440 - yip, you're dead right, I'd definitely wait until Gear Vendors have their act together.

Rob - Like I said, I'm not going to be sure it's worth it until I get it running 100%. At the moment I'm a little angry over the matter so naturally it's going to be easy for me to say it won't be worth it but I feel it will be worth it as when it's worked it's been great. If I felt it wasn't going to be worth it we wouldn't have spent the last 20 weeks pursuing the GV faults, errors and GV employees.

True, I don't "need" 6 gears or 6 short ratios, then again, I don't need a Cd player, amp, headers.......it's something I want, a personal taste preference. The idea of ripping through 6 short ratios dropping only 1/2 the rpms a stock 727 does, sounds pretty awesome to me.

As for best car, hard to comment.....of course Lucy will be my #1 as she was my first Mopar, I've had her the longest and we restored her. The 'Cuda does feel a "little" smaller, don't take this out of context, a "little" very minimal but I can definitely tell. As far as looks go a 73, 71 or 70 'Cuda has nothing on the lines of a 70 Challenger R/T, curves, accent line, the bulge hood, rear tail-lights and of course that honey comb grille with double headlights.

HemiOrange70 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 28, 2006 - 06:15:10 PM »

way too go NZ, you just ticked all the "little cuda" guys off LOL

Carlwalski · « **Reply #14 on:** July 28, 2006 - 08:27:25 PM »

Quote from: HemiOrange70 on July 28, 2006 - 06:15:10 PM

way too go NZ, you just ticked all the "little cuda" guys off LOL

They can't do much against us "Big" Challenger guys.

Na, seriously, I love both and would hate to part with either.

It's like asking someone which of their kids they love more. Some questions just shouldn't be asked.

Author Topic: Gear Vendors Drama - UPDATED 3/20/07 (Read 35153 times)

Carlwalski

Gear Vendors Drama - UPDATED 3/20/07

1BADFISH�

Re: Gear Vendors Drama.............

Carlwalski

Re: Gear Vendors Drama.............

EVIL72

Re: Gear Vendors Drama.............

Carlwalski

Re: Gear Vendors Drama.............

gomopar440

Re: Gear Vendors Drama.............

Plum6Pak

Re: Gear Vendors Drama.............

Carlwalski

Re: Gear Vendors Drama.............

gomopar440

Re: Gear Vendors Drama.............

Carlwalski

Re: Gear Vendors Drama.............

gomopar440

Re: Gear Vendors Drama.............

ShelbyDogg

Re: Gear Vendors Drama.............

Carlwalski

Re: Gear Vendors Drama.............

HemiOrange70

Re: Gear Vendors Drama.............

Carlwalski

Re: Gear Vendors Drama.............

Author Topic: Gear Vendors Drama - **UPDATED 3/20/07** (Read 35153 times)

Author Topic: Gear Vendors Drama - UPDATED 3/20/07 (Read 35153 times)