The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Brownie Transmisson info. needed

As I seem to recall from my 1960's hotrodding days, the 3 speed "Hearse" shifter (It took transmissions to the graveyard)had a spring-loaded neutral gate. The Competition Plus 4 speed shifter didn't have that feature. I think I'd be prone to disable the reverse gate and use a 4 speed shifter, even if one leg of the 4 sped H pattern needed to be blocked off for my 3 speed Brownie.

I've got a 1961 ALF on a GMC pugnose chassis, with a 401 V6 and a 5 speed Clark transmission with 5th. gear direct drive. I'm planning to remove the fire bed and driveline mounted pump, and use an under/direct/over Brownie in place of the pump. The fire apparatus is too far gone to repair economically, so it will be getting a commercial 5th. wheel and a gooseneck trailer hitch, and become a heavy-duty trailer towing vehicle.
Jerry

Hello Jerry, Sounds like you have put the right amount of thought into your Brownie shifter. My memory and age must be about the same as yours. I actually liked the spring loaded aspect of the Hurst shifter as it helped my shifting not get tangled up which would require a trip under the car and on my back to line things back up again. I had less trouble with the Hurst shifter than even the factory OEM shifter on a 1962 Corvette I drove back then.
I also have a 1946 Seagrave canopy cab, that is lined up to have a Cummins repower and will be a 5th wheel tractor also (no fire equipment) and used for car/tractor and hay hauling. Do you have a picture of your '61 GMC pug?

Mine has the spring load, it holds the shifter towards the direct/overdrive side of the pattern and doubles as an anti-rattle. I like it. It gives blind feedback on where things are. Given the length of the lever, it's not too much force to overcome it.

Here's a few pics:

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/61_GMC_001.jpg

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/61_GMC_008.jpg

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/61_GMC_004.jpg

This one was GIVEN to me by a fellow bolter from Gallatin Tennessee, and I spent a few hours getting it running and drove it home about 100 miles!
Jerry

Hey Jerry, You probably should have went ahead and drove that Firetruck another 1500 miles to my place in Utah.....then you wouldn't have to mess up any knuckles working on it! :-)
That is a very nice looking truck you have. My Dad used to drive for Allied Van Lines in the early 60's and I remember rigs just like your truck being worked in that business. On the shifter question. The other good thing about using a Hurst, the footprint is a bit smaller. My original shifter is a brute and very tall too tall for the shift handle. It almost reminds me of an ape hanger handle bar on a H-D. I will have to determine if I will modify the height and also what to do about the lock out device that is currently not complete. I may try to refurbish and return it to service.

I don't yet recognize the transmission. That large side cover is unique and distinctive enough when you see another you'll know it.

When you get it out in the open some better pictures might help.

I have been asking around, OLDGMCTRUCKS and Just Old Trucks and others to see if anyone can help ID this Aux. transmission. Here is ta question for this group. Does anyone here have a collect of truck related literature that would include sales, service/repair, operation or parts for the aux. transmissions. Maybe a positive ID can be made if some original literature will show up.

ATHS has just such a library in Kansas City.

Did you get some better pictures? Some of the transmission out in the open without the crate would help.

I think this aux. box predates Fuller and Spicer...but not sure. I think it is a variant of the original Brown-Lipe design. I will include the several casting numbers from the box. Maybe these numbers will assist in a positive ID.
shifter cover: 4879
main case: 5075
side cover: 5660
Grigg, I will check with the ATHS and see if they can help with the ID of the aux. box. More pictures will come in a few days.

Why not carefully check the ratios, take it apart, replace the bearings, use it, who cares who made it if it is useable?

Ed

Hello Ed, I am going to do exactly as you have suggested. Internal inspection, replace bearings and seals as needed, determine the ratio, install, set up shifter and run the box. MFG. does not pose a serious threat to my project......but, I would sure like to be able to say what it is that hangs under the truck instead of shrugging my shoulders. I am patient, the ID will be made! :-)

I have not seen that particular transmission before either. Based on the shapes of the castings it does resemble a Brown-Lipe, but there were many more manufacturers of aux boxes pre-ww2, so who knows...

When you get the ratios figured out, let us know what they are.