35 40series,overdrive or not.

[Buick35]

I just got off the phone with Glenn who took over for Loyd Young after he passed away to ask if he still dose overdrive conversions. He said he dose while the parts are still available.Between $2500 and $3000. Id have to send him the rear end. I don't think that I drive the car enough to warrant an overdrive but then again I might drive it more with one. Not sure what to do.Some people including my wife said keep it original.Any thoughts from those who have one? Thanks.

[Lawrence Helfand]

I purchased a Gear Vendors overdrive for torque tube installation and had Glenn and Bob install it. As Jay Leno has installed them on his cars with great satisfaction I thought it a good choice especially with some of the issues experienced by Matt Harwood and others with the Borg Warner unit. It is a very robust unit and can handle big horsepower drag racers. It is not inexpensive but worth every penny. The addition of OD is a delight and works beautifully with the torque of the straight eight. It is essentially a fourth gear and makes for a more usable vehicle. My 41 Century is otherwise original and the installation is reversible with a replacement torque tube and shaft.  There is no kick down or free wheeling like some ODs. They have a website but I am happy to answer any questions you might have. 

Edited August 11, 2021 by Lawrence Helfand (see edit history)

[Buick35]

Thanks. Do you mind me asking how much a year vendors o.d.is? I was told $2500 to $3000 for the Ben dix one.Also I read where gear vendors has less of an r.p.m.drop.

[Bloo]

The usual Lloyd Young conversions were Borg Warner, not Bendix. They are the same as used in 1950s American cars. They are meant to be on the back of a transmission. I have had factory installations and loved them, but am a little on the fence about installing one in the middle of a torque tube. As originally installed these had kickdown, freewheel, etc.

 

Gear Vendors is a continuation of the Laycock de Normanville overdrive as used in British cars and Volvos. These originally were on the back of transmissions too, but Gear Vendors new production are made to go in drivelines or torque tubes. They are actuated electrically with a switch. They are the most expensive option.

 

There is also Mitchell, although they do not support torque tubes in anything except Model A or early V8 Fords. In that case, you would be completely on your own with the engineering, machine work and installation to get their overdrive put in a Buick or other torque tube. It has been done. It is probably possible to do it for less money than Gear Vendors. The Mitchell is a synchromesh 2-speed transmission (direct and overdrive), and has two choices for the overdrive ratio. It shifts with a cable or linkage.

 

 

[Matt Harwood]

Whatever it costs, Gear Vendors is the only way to go if you want an overdrive.

[Jack Worstell]

We have a Lloyd Young   OD    in our 1937 Special and it works great

 

But as provided by Lloyd...there was no provision to drive a speedometer cable

( leaving the cable in the trasmission meant 30% low reading on the speedometer )

and no provision to drive a governor.

We took the unit apart .........and secured back in the drive gear for a speedometer cable and

the drive gear for a governor. onto the output shaft.

So now the speedometer  reads on the money and the governor cuts out the OD

( and hence "kicks in" the free wheel provision ) below about 28mph

Just as originally intended

 

Makes a world of difference in the ease of driving the car

....we now can cruise at 60mph now with ease 

 

Jack Worstell

[Lawrence Helfand]

5 hours ago, Buick35 said:

Thanks. Do you mind me asking how much a year vendors o.d.is? I was told $2500 to $3000 for the Ben dix one.Also I read where gear vendors has less of an r.p.m.drop.

The Gear Vendors was about 3400.00 with the torque tube kit which is beautifully engineered and makes for a very straight forward installation. You could do it yourself but welding skills and machine skills are required. It is less of an RPM drop then a BW but as I have a 3.90 in my Century its really perfect without a big gap from 3rd gear.  At 65 miles an hour Its turning 2370 rpm a 21 % reduction. Glenn did a perfect job but didn't charge me near enough in my opinion and I happily added to his bill and would have even if it was just the OD install but he also changed out my motor/trans mounts and replaced my pinion/carrier/rear axle bearings and seals and a couple of rubber bushings. Not a young man but you wouldn't know it by his ability to handle a heavy duty job like this was.  

[Marty Roth]

When Lloyd was still with us, he completely installed his Borg-Warner ODs in my 1912 Oakland, 1930 Packard, and 1934 Buick 50 Series.

They made all the difference and were worth every penny.

Driving at a comfortable speed with a 30% reduction in engine RPMs is especially comforting, 

and with deference to Matt, Ours gave no issues whatsoever in tens of thousands of miles of cross-country, and National Tour driving.

[BINKYBOY]

Would someone please send me Glenn's phone number ?  Lloyd did an overdrive on a Marmon for me years ago.  Great, great man.  What a treasure.  But I don't know who Glenn is, or how to reach him. Thank you.

[Bloo]

@Jim Nelson probably knows.

[Buick35]

614 571-4908 517 E.Mound St.Circleville,Ohio 43113.

[BINKYBOY]

Thank you, Buick35.  Much appreciated.

[Lawrence Helfand]

Glenn and Bob installed a Gear Vendors OD sold with kit for torque tube that I provided them.. Masterfully installed by these gentleman and a wonderful  transformation making my 41 Century more flexible for actual real world driving. The torque of the Buick motor is perfectly suited for an OD. 

My only complaint is how uncomfortable I felt when they handed me the bill as it was not nearly enough money for the install and all the other work I had them do...just crazy inexpensive so an adjustment was in order. Glenn is older then my 70 plus years by a bit and a wealth of knowledge and experience but specialists like him are few and far between and I find frustratingly irreplaceable when they are gone.  

[Jim Nelson]

I had Lloyd do my first OD.  (38-46s).   Then I had to buy my 35-58.   I suffer from Buickitis and to drive my Buicks in this area, you must be able to go at least 60 mph or more.   So I has Glen do me another OD.     I'm about to get back on the road.    Some electrical issues first.    The 35-58 has a 4.88 rear resulting in a 3.41 final with OD.