Overdrive, Hone-O-Drive

Unless you are running a Ford 9" differential it probably is of no use to even consider one for any flathead application.
And then there's the $3,500 cost to consider.
 
I have an original one from the Fred Hone era in 60 & 70's. Anyone have any experience using them with an open driveline ?
 
I personally don't have any experience with it but in that 70's time frame a friend had one installed in one of his cars. It worked well but after a period of time it failed. As I recall it had something to do with improperly heat treated gears.
 
the one i had mounted mid ship in the car with a spline on each end looked like a big milk bottle. the one they make today bolts to a 9" rear
 
richard crow said:
the one i had mounted mid ship in the car with a spline on each end looked like a big milk bottle. the one they make today bolts to a 9" rear
Click to expand...

They had a couple of different designs. Some Chevy ones bolted to the
trans tailshaft, like a Gear Vendors unit. The Ford ones always attached
to the 9" itself. You'd see them occasionally on Gurney Cougars and other
big block pony cars.
 
Friend had one on a Boss 429 car, was great till it spit it out. I still have it, but all the planetary gears are all broke. Didn't know they were still being made. may have to check to see if I can get parts.
 
What would be the advantage of one of these vs the Gear Vendors unit?
Maybe because it bolts directly to the 9" center section?
Also. don't see any reviews after 2014
 
I have one, a Model 400 which is the divorced mount configuration. At one time I modified the housing to adapt to the rear of a 4 speed in a 32 BB truck that I was restoring. The truck got sold before I could try it out. Someday I might find a vehicle to put it in. They are a simple design, mechanically shifted unlike the gear vendors unit that has it's own pressure pump and shifts via electric solenoid shuttle valve. I think I paid around $600 for it on eBay over ten years ago.
 
Kahuna said:
What would be the advantage of one of these vs the Gear Vendors unit?
Maybe because it bolts directly to the 9" center section?
Also. don't see any reviews after 2014
Click to expand...

The Hone "advantage" is exactly as you state.
I have a GV unit on a '68 Mustang. It's about 65 pounds
in a 50 pound sack on something with a tight driveshaft
tunnel. Would work much better on a truck with more
real estate available under there.
The GV is hampered by needing to marry up with the
trans tailhousing and the abysmal 666 rpm drop in
overdrive rpm..... and a pretty significant unit cost.
 
Something wrong with these numbers
My RPM drop is 750
The weight is less than 30#
Maybe the adapters used add a bunch of weight
 
Gear Vendors RPM drop is right off their official info.
Usually quoted as a 22% reduction, I also have seen
it in print at 666 rpm.
Don't know what the unit weight is. Don't really care.
My comment of 65 pounds in a 50 pound sack refers to
trying to cram too much stuff (GV unit) into the tight
confines of a Mustang driveshaft tunnel.........
 
Kahuna said:
What would be the advantage of one of these vs the Gear Vendors unit?
Maybe because it bolts directly to the 9" center section?
Click to expand...

That would actually be a disadvantage. The general idea is to reduce un-sprung weight, which is something that a unit like this would be adding a lot of to the axle.
 
Couldn't care less. I'm not looking again for that 666 rpm drop
in print. I've got nothing to prove to you. I saw what I saw.
I sure didn't dream it up.....
 
Here's my Hone-O-Drive in a "before" picture in my '34 pickup attached to a '57 Ford 9" station wagon rear end. (The current picture files are too big to upload.) I bought the unit in 1975 from the factory in Santa Fe Springs for $750 (whew!). It changes the 3.50 rear end ratio to 2.50 for cruising above 35 mph.
 

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