Gear Vendor Overdrive

[azonsite]

I have a '91 460 with a C-6 and 5.14 gears and to go 65 mph I am running at about 3500 rpm and it feels like it is running fine, when I go to 55 mph I am at about 3000 rpm and the motorhome feels sluggish. When I was younger I raced small block Fords so 5-8K was common, my brother ran a big block and said that big blocks don't like high rpm's. So my question is, were these designed to run at the higher rpm or should I get an overdrive to reduce the rpm and what about the sluggishness? Thanks for the Info

[twinboat]

Gee, it did fine since 1991, why mess with it now.

My old Ford 428 CJ was happy, up to 5000 RPM.

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by azonsite

I have a '91 460 with a C-6 and 5.14 gears and to go 65 mph I am running at about 3500 rpm and it feels like it is running fine, when I go to 55 mph I am at about 3000 rpm and the motorhome feels sluggish. When I was younger I raced small block Fords so 5-8K was common, my brother ran a big block and said that big blocks don't like high rpm's. So my question is, were these designed to run at the higher rpm or should I get an overdrive to reduce the rpm and what about the sluggishness? Thanks for the Info

azonsite,
Well Sir, the 460 is a great engine. It was the competition for the GM 454 for years and many, many folks, including me, had great luck with those engines. While they are a big block and can run at high RPMs for short distances, grades etc., they're not as "at home" at is as they're younger brother, the V-10. The V-10 can run at as much as 4500 all day long as I'm told.

As for Gear Vendors, they were real close to us where we used to live in the eastern San Diego area and, there was always a motor home on one or both of their outside lifts, just about every time we drove by on highway 67. I've not personally had any real experience with them and or, any of their units but, lots of folks that I've spoken with, were pretty happy with the end result. Good luck.
Scott

[Mr_D]

We put one in a '88 Okanagan 17' Type B MH. It had the 460 and at least 4.10's in the rear as it had the TT towing package and 16" tires. Never got over 10 mpg but it did cruise quieter but it only weighed 8,800#'s too. I think it's be a waste of money in that old a rig.

[Skip426]

Welcome to iRV2.
JMHO . if it feels sluggish at 3000 rpm then dropping the RPM will just make that feeling worse , even a 15% overdrive would drop the RPM by 450 RPM and you would find constant downshifting of the trans to maintain speed. Longer time in a lower gear = more fuel consumed.

[Mr. Hipster]

Used after market overdrives when I had gasser mh's. Didn't help mileage but kept engine speed down, less heat and easier on accessories, AC compressor/alternator/water pump.
On the other hand engines in that era were cammed to run @ 3/3500 rpm.

[LVRVLUVR]

Originally Posted by azonsite

I have a '91 460 with a C-6 and 5.14 gears and to go 65 mph I am running at about 3500 rpm and it feels like it is running fine, when I go to 55 mph I am at about 3000 rpm and the motorhome feels sluggish. When I was younger I raced small block Fords so 5-8K was common, my brother ran a big block and said that big blocks don't like high rpm's. So my question is, were these designed to run at the higher rpm or should I get an overdrive to reduce the rpm and what about the sluggishness? Thanks for the Info

gear vender is a great add... about 4500 installed.... what it does is over drive the tailshaft. so you have 1gear and 1st gear over drive if you have a

3 speed , you now have a 6 speed they split to 500 rmps so if you can't pull 3rd up a hill and 2nd over revs, you can go to 2nd over.

my last one I've done was 2012 winnabago v-10

be sure to go to the wagon wheel saloon while you wait

[Wdebarmore]

Mine came from the factory with a Gear Vendors overdrive. Doubt I could drive over 55mph without it.

[PbdBlue]

Originally Posted by LVRVLUVR

gear vender is a great add... about 4500 installed.... what it does is over drive the tailshaft. so you have 1gear and 1st gear over drive if you have a

3 speed , you now have a 6 speed they split to 500 rmps so if you can't pull 3rd up a hill and 2nd over revs, you can go to 2nd over.

my last one I've done was 2012 winnabago v-10

be sure to go to the wagon wheel saloon while you wait

The Wagon Wheel is long gone!

[LVRVLUVR]

Originally Posted by PbdBlue

The Wagon Wheel is long gone!

that sucks....