Gear Vendors Drama - **UPDATED 3/20/07**

[ShelbyDogg]

It's a question that doesn't have to be asked, I agree but I keep reading that the prices of 71 Cuda are still above a '70 Challenger.  I guess the buyers never drove a Challenger and are buying them for the fender grills and front grill's looks.  Don't get me wrong, I love the looks of a 71 Cuda, but the interior panels never came with a carpeted, wood-grained, reflector, dress up on the door panels.  The most I've seen in Cudas was a shiny moulding-type red strip in the groove and a 'cuda emblem.
I guess they were built for speed?

For the price of your gear vendor's 727, you could have converted over to a Keisler 5 speed with a factory pistol grip and console. Just my 2 cents......

Rob

[Carlwalski]

True, I could have but I'm a TorqueFlite-727 fan and prefer the performance & cruise factor these fantastic transmissions have to offer. Anyhow, the Kiesler is more expensive, these problems were not foreseeable. 

I also wanted to maintain the original transmission.

[moper]

Glen, I looked for this posting after the one you answered in the 518 thread.
The car I have doesnt have that autoshift, I'm certain. Just the std control box. Interesting aboutt he sliding sensor and stuff. I havnt seen an Autoshift in anything, so maybe you can clarify a couple things. FIrst, the rpm switch, what does it trigger off of? Your coil? the "tach" feed from an ignition control box?

second, the sliding sensor thing...where on the gear shift is it? Under the console, or on the trans under the floor? Seems like the rod going forward from the slap stic is the right spot, and perhaps there is room to add a dedicated bracket or rod to that assembly to eliminate all the slop in the factory linkage?

3rd, how is that "voltage" signal generated? Off the speedo?

Just tossing out some ideas.

[Plum6Pak]

Hey Moper, it's Carl, not Glen, I'm Glen, I think Carl was just saying Thanks Glen after his reply for an earlier post. Easy mistake. I'm sure Carl would will forgive you for calling him such a vulgar name. 

[moper]

rats..I'm terible with names to begin with..Sorry to all...

[Carlwalski]

  Doesn't bother me. 


Moper - The rpm is off the coil I think. It's from the direct rpm source. The gear position sensor is connected to a link that attaches to the shifter rods. We've done all you can do possible with what they have given us, trust me. lol Even when you modify it it can only go so far as it will not reach [P] when moved (long story).

The linkage is fine it's just not reading enough volts. The volts relay to the module which turns "on" and waits for a signal from the rpm to kick out the OD. Problem is the rpm signal is all over the place if it works at all.

Something isn't right in the module. We have had the position censor working 100% Adam corrected it but it had no room for adjustment. So he took note of the rpm volt readings OUR car is getting not what GV recommend and sent GV a fax of these readings along with an rpm chart to sort the rpm signal out.....haven't heard back as yet.

I'm not sure how the voltage is generated. But, I'm kind of positive inside the position censor there's a resistor with certain points at each shift (P,R, N, D, etc...) problem is the settings are way off.....

Thanks for your input but in all honesty if Adam/Dave can't get it sorted not many people will.


Cheers,
Carl

[moper]

If it's off the coil, what ignition is used? MSDs, Cranes, and similar multi spark units will not send the right signal for conventional setups. You'd have to run a tach adaptor between the control box and the rpm sensor wire, and my guess is, it still would be off a bit...

[Carlwalski]

Thanks moper, we run a tach adapter and the signal for the rpm is spot on.


Adam, my mechanic has faxed Gear Vendors a chart of the correct voltages and positions of shift that they occur at and where we want it. The guy there said he sees what hes saying now but it was a little out of his league in terms of tech so he'd get there tech guru at GVs to call him tomorrow (today).

I'll find out later today what the plans are. We all seem to think it's in the module and censor.
But only Gear Vendors knows how the module is set up..........electronics = 


 

[moper]

Seems to me, GV wants to fix the problem, but I'd bet they have to have an outside electrical engineer spec the parts to get the results. Why dont you do the same. I'd think it's a peice of cake to get the proper parts to "step up" what you ahve for readings, to what the module needs for inputs. Good luck with it...Now I'm glad this car didnt have it...

[Carlwalski]

Gear Vendors wants to fix the problem but they don't know how.......

Gear Vendors has to flash the unit and it can only be set up by them as it has to work in conjunction with the rpm signal and other parts of the entire package. It's not as easy as you seem to make out, if it were we'd have it running........what pi$es me off is they now how a setup for TorqueFlite cars (if this works) so they won;t be complaining. When someone orders a 727 autoshift unit they flash and calibrate it to our specs and be done....

All this while costing me money...that's my biggest biff. 

Gear Vendors got our fax and it went to the head office, then to the Manager and hes put a big kick up their ar$e!
Told them to flash and recalibrate the module unit using our voltage readouts and shift points and get moving fast......good to see someone finally making some promt decisions.

They said it should ship by your Friday (our Saturday).....so it was good news. 
We're hoping this will sort out the rpm drop signal and GV agree....only time will tell.

I should know if it all works mid to end of next week. 

[Oldschool]

Good luck with it NZ!      

[Carlwalski]

Thanks Oldschool. I won't hold my breath though but at least they're moving quickly this time......



 

[Carlwalski]

LOL Na, I just want to leave it be and forget about the whole thing. I've mentioned to them several times and I get the same story: "Prototype, if we knew it was going to be shipped all the way to New Zealand, these things happen...bal bla bla...." Once it's running I may send an email to management. Year One also said they would do what they can as it's one of their suppliers. They said email the whole event to there customer relations office and they may start a claim......lots of drama and drama I don't want to start. I just want it to work and enjoy it.....

 

[tactransman]

I wish all my customers were as understanding and easy going as you NZ.    

[Carlwalski]

Thanks Terry..... 


If I were in the States I'd pursue it further but I ain't and I'm not a fan of flying and if I were Gear Vendors wouldn't be worth my time.....an AC/DC concert on the other hand, yes.