DNE2 overdrive on a 400

[towjoe]

I bought a old motor home today (1985) for the 454. It is a 32-34' unit with the 19.5 tires. It appears to have one of these overdrive units hooked to back of the th400 between it and park brake. There is a 3 position switch on shifter to operate it. Anyone ever seen or played with one of these? Just curious first one I've seen. Another Kool thing is it has from what I've studied today a jake brake in the drive shaft at center carrier bearing. Somewhat of a different deal

 

[89Suburban]

 

[bucket]

I've never seen or messed with anything like that before. But it sure sounds cool! Is this something like a Gear Vendors unit?

 

[J Knight]

Never heard of an od for a TH400 but I know there are a few types of jake brakes.
One is a true jake brake that works with the exhaust valves which basically turns your engine into big air compressor.
One is an exhaust brake that is basiclly a baffle in your exhaust mounted after the turbo.
One is a fluid damper mounted in or near the clutch. I think this one works sort of like a torque converter in reverse fashion.

 

[skysurfer]

Post up a pic. Probably a GV unit, but could be a US Gear over/under. US Gear is out of production with no aftermarket support so with any luck it's a Gear Vendors. The thing on the drive shaft can't be a Jake, more likely a cable-actuated drum brake.

 

[towjoe]

It's a Doug Nash enterprise overdrive (dual range) it's about the same theory as a gear vendor. Still trying to figure out why mine has 3 switch positions instead of 2 like all the info I read on them says. What sucks is its for a 2wd and has the parking brake connected to the back of it as part of overdrive. I was hoping that it would have came off and could put a transfer case on. The big motor homes use a 4x4 trans with a remote output on them with a self contained fluid and park brake to start with.

The jake brake is a electric driveshaft retarder that is water cooled. All I have found on it so far is the kit online and there like $4500 but no other information. It goes in the driveshaft at the middle carrier bearing.

I'm hoping to get time to cut this driveline out of this motor home in next few weeks to study it more. I've bought 4 of these big rolling turds in last couple of weeks and 3 of them have been 454 powered. Just a pain in butt to get them pulled out plus the 30 plus footers are fiberglass body so there hard to get rid of without driveline lol.

 

[bucket]

I've bought 4 of these big rolling turds in last couple of weeks and 3 of them have been 454 powered.

I might be interested in a complete big rolling turd if you end up with one that is still useable as a running/driving camper.

 

[HotRodPC]

Oh man. Gold Mine, you lucky fugger !!! That's another one of the untold secrets of big motor homes. Many times running 4.56 or 4.88 gears, on 19.5 tires, probably even into the 5.xx, and the the OD is needed. But those external units are strong as hell. That Th400 will most likley also be a noisy ass straight cut rear planetary gearset. All the good **** right there.

 

[HotRodPC]

It's a Doug Nash enterprise overdrive (dual range) it's about the same theory as a gear vendor. Still trying to figure out why mine has 3 switch positions instead of 2 like all the info I read on them says. What sucks is its for a 2wd and has the parking brake connected to the back of it as part of overdrive. I was hoping that it would have came off and could put a transfer case on. The big motor homes use a 4x4 trans with a remote output on them with a self contained fluid and park brake to start with.

The jake brake is a electric driveshaft retarder that is water cooled. All I have found on it so far is the kit online and there like $4500 but no other information. It goes in the driveshaft at the middle carrier bearing.

I'm hoping to get time to cut this driveline out of this motor home in next few weeks to study it more. I've bought 4 of these big rolling turds in last couple of weeks and 3 of them have been 454 powered. Just a pain in butt to get them pulled out plus the 30 plus footers are fiberglass body so there hard to get rid of without driveline lol.

Yeah without drivetrain, they are tough to get rid off. You usually take them out to the country and set them on fire is how you get rid of those around here.

 

[Driver4r]

Yeah without drivetrain, they are tough to get rid off. You usually take them out to the country and set them on fire is how you get rid of those around here.

Fibre glass stinks when its on fire. You also dont want to breath in to much, cause there will be alot of floating glass particles.

 

[towjoe]

I'm in good enough with guys at shredder they buy them as scrap autos from me with a large dockage. Junked out 4 motor homes in last week and they brought $300-950 each. When I get a chance ill post picture of that overdrive unit and the Jacob brake setup from driveshaft. There both laying in my barn now along whith the 454's and generators out of 3 of the motor homes. 4th was a dodge and I don't have any luck selling 440's so I left it in it.

 

[Driver4r]

I'm in good enough with guys at shredder they buy them as scrap autos from me with a large dockage. Junked out 4 motor homes in last week and they brought $300-950 each. When I get a chance ill post picture of that overdrive unit and the Jacob brake setup from driveshaft. There both laying in my barn now along whith the 454's and generators out of 3 of the motor homes. 4th was a dodge and I don't have any luck selling 440's so I left it in it.

If you were closer i would have been able to sell it for you.

 

[Stroked]

If you were closer i would have been able to sell it for you.

No kidding. A 440 would probably sell faster than a 454 around here.

Looking forward to seeing some pics of that overdrive unit.

 

[HotRodPC]

I'm in good enough with guys at shredder they buy them as scrap autos from me with a large dockage. Junked out 4 motor homes in last week and they brought $300-950 each. When I get a chance ill post picture of that overdrive unit and the Jacob brake setup from driveshaft. There both laying in my barn now along whith the 454's and generators out of 3 of the motor homes. 4th was a dodge and I don't have any luck selling 440's so I left it in it.

It may not have been the labor to you to pull that 440, but if you were able to get it reasonably quick and a place to store it covered up, I"d have kept it. It might lay around for a few years, but that's one of those motors that will for sure sell in time, and for good cash. 383, I'da scrapped for certain, but I think a 440 was probably worth holding on to. Then again, I'm one of those hate scrapping anything potentially good.

 

[towjoe]

a quick picture of overdrive and the driveline brake