Cathouse
Thanks so much for the Brownie information. I think though that my unit is probably not a Dana/Spicer 5000 or 6000 series. The missing tag was in a different spot than 5831's I've seen, it has no brake, and it is flat topped (I read somewhere that the Dana/Spicers were round topped. I also don't think it could be a 6000 series because the one unit I've seen is much bigger. I've been told that the size increases with the series, i.e. 5000 is smaller than 6000 series. I'd bet it's even smaller than a SM420. You mentioned PTO shafts. I'm wondering if you meant to say PTO cover plates; spots where you would bolt on a PTO. My unit has two; one on each side.
My mount holes are different than on the 5831 on the GMC6066 site. Where the 5831 crossmember is sort of a banjo type vertical plate, mine would have to be a horizontal plate with 4 holes about 9" apart in a square pattern.
My biggest concern now is the ratios. If it's just 1.26:1 under I'm not sure that it will be low enough for me. I guess I need to mount it and the shifter and linkage to a frame of some sort so I can check the shift pattern and ratios. It's too difficult to push and pull the shift rods without the leverage of a shifter, with the thing rolling around on the floor.
Just a quick dual box story. 30 years ago when I was young and stupider I drove a big water truck for a drilling company. Twice I nearly killed myself because it had marginal brakes and I couldn't find a gear when I needed it. Worst was when I rolled out of control backwards off of a steep curvy muddy hill because it powered out just at the top of the hill. Neither box had syncros so I couldn't find a lower gear or even stick it back in the gear it had been in. Luckily the rear tires tobogganed around the curve thanks to the muddy uphill berm, instead of climbing the berm and flipping the truck.
Thanks again
Sidehill
