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Chevy Gear-Splitting Unit - Rev It Up And Go

Underdrive And Overdrive Your Factory Transmission With Some Help From Gear Vendors

By Mike Harrington, Photography by Mike Harrington
  • 1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    Houston, we have liftoff. Take a few minutes to clean some of the spillage and the area where the new gasket will be installed.
    1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    Houston, we have liftoff. Take a few minutes to clean some of the spillage and the area wh
  • 1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    Fitting the adapter piece on a Tri-Five Chevrolet is no problem, as there is ample floorboard room under these vehicles. On other GM vehicles like the A-body, it may be necessary to peen out the tunnel or order a crossmember from Gear Vendors that drops the transmission an inch.
    1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    Fitting the adapter piece on a Tri-Five Chevrolet is no problem, as there is ample floorbo
  • 1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    Next, the coupler is installed and checked with a straightedge to make sure it's flush with the surface. If not, shims are provided to move the coupler forward if need be.
    1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    Next, the coupler is installed and checked with a straightedge to make sure it's flush wit
  • 1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    Once we were satisfied it would fit properly, we took the adapter out and bench-installed it with the coupler to the under/overdrive unit.
    1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    Once we were satisfied it would fit properly, we took the adapter out and bench-installed
  • 1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    Once it was all together and one complete unit, it was bolted back onto the TH350. We didn't have to unbolt the transmission at all. All that was required was to remove the tail housing and install the Gear Vendors unit.
    1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    Once it was all together and one complete unit, it was bolted back onto the TH350. We didn
  • 1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    A final shot of how the Gear Vendors unit looks once it's installed.
  • 1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    Now it's time to shorten the driveshaft. Gear Vendors provides a new yolk for the driveshaft.
    1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    Now it's time to shorten the driveshaft. Gear Vendors provides a new yolk for the drivesha
  • 1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    Simply install the shortened driveshaft and that's about it for most of the major wrench turning.
    1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    Simply install the shortened driveshaft and that's about it for most of the major wrench t
  • 1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    The wiring and speedo cable are installed again. If you have electronic gauges, the Gear Vendors kit comes with a vehicle speed sensor (VSS) for the speedometer.
    1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    The wiring and speedo cable are installed again. If you have electronic gauges, the Gear V
  • 1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    The computer wiring is really a simple matter. If a hole does not already exist on the lower firewall, one will have to be drilled for the electronic controller. One wire goes to the 12-volt source, the other is the ground, another goes to the dash switch, and another to the foot switch. The last two wires go to the solenoid on the Gear Vendors unit and the VSS. A total of six wires, and it's no problem.
    1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    The computer wiring is really a simple matter. If a hole does not already exist on the low
  • 1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    We decided to keep the dash on the '56 as stock looking as possible.
  • 1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    The electronic controller was hidden on the floor under the dash.
  • 1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    The dash switch was also installed low so it would not be prominently visible on the stock-looking dash. All the driver has to do is reach down and flip the switch to manual or auto mode. Once we mounted the dash switch, the wiring was routed and tucked away out of sight and mind.
    1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    The dash switch was also installed low so it would not be prominently visible on the stock
  • 1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    The floor switch looks just like an OE dimmer switch. In this case, we just used the OE dimmer switch since the '56 already had an ididit column with the high beam switch on the column.
    1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    The floor switch looks just like an OE dimmer switch. In this case, we just used the OE di
  • 1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    If everything is wired correctly, the red light will come on when first fired up and we'll be ready to roll and put this Bel Air on the highway.
    1956 Chevy Gear Splitting Unit Installation
    If everything is wired correctly, the red light will come on when first fired up and we'll
By Mike Harrington
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