CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
Ranger Over Drive
- Thread starter us74k5
- Start date
Lot of guys like them. i have one in My C30 and its ok I would rather have a NV4500 or a Clark 5-speed , or even a gear vendors o/d
cabledawg
Secret Squirrel
Besides a little noise at highway speeds, I like it. I got mine for towing, but it helps alot with fuel economy for road trips without the trailer as well.
If your just looking for OD and can get a NV4500 cheap, go that route, it'll be more driveable. If you want it for towing or cant find NV4500's for cheap (which was my problem), get the Ranger. I liked the split gears for towing up/down grades.
If your just looking for OD and can get a NV4500 cheap, go that route, it'll be more driveable. If you want it for towing or cant find NV4500's for cheap (which was my problem), get the Ranger. I liked the split gears for towing up/down grades.
Like said above its noisy, the extra shifter, more holes in the floorboard,its not as "user" friendly , its considerably heavier, the cost benefit isn't as cheap as first led to believe, Drive train length ,
They are kinda cool if you wanna play old school trucker going down the road though, (but I have a 5x4 in my Peterbilt for that). I wouldn't due it solely on the fact that its "cheaper" because its really not ( in my opinion) and you give up a lot of drivability ..... yes being able to "split" the gears is nice but honestly I only use mine for the O/D on the highway . and once I used it to split 3rd and 4th going up a steep mountain grade loaded .
chevyridinhigh79
1/2 ton status
whats a ranger overdrive and where can i get one? better gas mileage sounds great!
well I bought one. The reason I stayed away from the NV4500 was due to cost, and because everything I have is set up for the SM465. Plus if I ever blow the sm465 up, they are stupid cheap to replace. That was my reasoning:-)
chevyridinhigh79
1/2 ton status
what exactly does it mean to split your gears? is the ranger any different from the black box or other over/underdrive units?
cabledawg
Secret Squirrel
It was cheaper for me as the cheapest I could find a NV4500 was $3k, the Range only cost $1800. As for weight, it's less than 100 lbs. It only adds 7.5" to the drivetrain, and one would have to modify driveshafts for the NV4500 anyways.
All I'm trying to say is that some stuff has to be changed either way, weight is insignifigant, length is only an issue for a K5, and the trans price is dependant on where you live and what is available.
All I'm trying to say is that some stuff has to be changed either way, weight is insignifigant, length is only an issue for a K5, and the trans price is dependant on where you live and what is available.
cabledawg
Secret Squirrel
Without the Ranger (or any aux trans) shift pattern is 1-2-3-4
With the Ranger the shift pattern is 1-1over-2-2over-3-3over-4-4over or
1-2under-2-3under-3-4under-4 if using the underdrive version.
The Ranger allows an "in between" gear for the wide ratio transmissions like the SM465.
basically rather than shifting the tranny in to 5th gear you push in the clutch and shift your second transmission.
But you can do it with every gear ( but its really only effective for the wide 3rd to 4th shift and for O/D ).
chevyridinhigh79
1/2 ton status
oh okay. its like having two transmissions. but whats the difference between underdrive and overdrive? is one better for a certain task than the other?
not to be a dead horse of to put down the O/P or yourself for buying the ranger.
But your figuring is a bit off in my opinion.
Ranger is 1500.00 plus shipping AND drive shafts,
which sounds good but your still putting it in front of a used SM465 .
A rebuilt NV4500 is 3000.00 by your sources plus the adapters and MAYBE drive shafts ( I needed shafts because I was swapping out a TH350/NP203)
But you would have a brand new rebuilt trans with most likely a warranty that exceeds the 1 yr warranty for the ranger box
OR you could do what I did and for less than 3000.00 buy a complete running and driving donor truck . and the adapter bell housing , and swap the t-case for the passenger side drop . ( I used the dodge because I had one and it was fixed rear yoke)
theres always a cheaper way if your patient lol
For less than 3000.00 I bought a complete running one ton 4x4 with a NV4500 in it
if you wanting to increase your MPG then you'd want the o/d version.
if you wanted to increase your low speed grunt then you'd want the u/d version
chevyridinhigh79
1/2 ton status
oh okay. thank you for clearing that up for me. any pics of the K5 the ranger went in?
Mines in a 77 C30 with a highdeck BBC, I bought it that way I haul trash and fire wood with it .
I will say this about the Ranger O/D's they appear to be tough
I will say this about the Ranger O/D's they appear to be tough
I will post pics of me mating it up to my sm465 as soon as it shows up. And it was under $1500 shipped to my door. Also, something that needs to be thought about with the advantages / disadvantage of an NVG4500 is this. What happens when that NVG4500 breaks? It is fairly expensive to repair, whereas with an sm465 you can simply purchase another one for $50-100 easily. Also, I know that you bought a donor truck, but look at all the work you had to put into it, and the space you must have to be able to do that. I personally live in a culdesac, and my driveway has room for one truck and that is it. So the ranger O/D unit was really the best option for me. Not everyone has the ability to go buy a donor truck.
Rebuilding a NV4500 isn't expensive or hard and there every bit as tough or tougher than a SM465.
And yes I do have the room to store derlict vehicles . so that is one benifit i have over you guys who live in town .
going rate for a good used NV4500 is around 350 bucks I have 4 of them on the shelf in my shop. not including the ones already in trucks. a good SM465 is right about a 150-200 for 32-spline. 10-splines are a little less. a NV4500 is not cost prohibitive if you do your shopping right
And yes I do have the room to store derlict vehicles . so that is one benifit i have over you guys who live in town .
going rate for a good used NV4500 is around 350 bucks I have 4 of them on the shelf in my shop. not including the ones already in trucks. a good SM465 is right about a 150-200 for 32-spline. 10-splines are a little less. a NV4500 is not cost prohibitive if you do your shopping right
Well I wish I had known you had some! I already ordered my ranger over drive unit. And after calling around, looking for the bellhousing, and the setups, I couldnt find anything under $2500 for a complete setup. And when I inquired about rebuild costs, I was quoted somewhere in the price range of $700...
