Morning All, I've got a 1951 451 GMC dump truck with an Eaton TSDP 16600 2 speed axle. Everything that has to do with the vacuum shift needs replaced. I was thinking if I have to go through all of that, what's the feasibility of upgrading to electric shift. Has anyone done the conversion? If so, was it difficult? What should I be looking for in an electric unit?
On a side note, would anyone know what the TSDP stands for? It's on the data plate, but when I try to research it, I'm coming up blank.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy) 1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1956 Cadillac Sixty Special Fleetwood (The Godfather) | 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif) | 1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe | 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy) 1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1956 Cadillac Sixty Special Fleetwood (The Godfather) | 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif) | 1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe | 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
TSDP ="two speed dual performance ". Some 1952-1954 400, 450, F450, D450 and S450 type 16600 had electric shift. They were either 6 or 12 vote. If this helps for parts
I put a 6V Timken axle out of a GMC 450 into a later '57 GMC 350, 12V Eaton-axle truck one time. Thought it would just shift faster but no, it was too fast. Had to buy a new motor. I wanted to save the owner some money by using the motor out of the original axle but the Eaton motors are different. As I recall, it was expensive. So At least the Timken motors came in 6 and 12 V. So, obviously the electric Eaton axles were made for both 6V and 12V trucks.
1951 3800 1-ton "Earning its keep from the get-go" In the DITY Gallery 1962 261 (w/cam, Fenton headers, 2 carbs, MSD ign.), SM420 & Brown-Lipe 6231A 3spd aux. trans, stock axles & brakes. Owned since 1971.
A vacuum shift axle is a lot smoother shifting and somewhat easier to use than the electric models. With a couple of solenoid valves and some creative plumbing most of the mechanical bits and pieces of the vacuum shift system can be upgraded to electric switching and the original vacuum shift rear end can be retained. A 2 position toggle switch on the shifter makes shifting the axle easier, and the vacuum axle has a lot fewer parts to fail in the shift system. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
My recently converted axle shifts great. Originally a single speed axle, I acquired a 2-speed pig from one of our members, his doner is a 1956 2 ton, mine is a 1957 2 ton, both GM corporate 15000 lb. axles. The pig was a bolt-in fit. I salvaged the shift knob, cable, and valve from the doner, ran 3/8" copper tubing along the frame rail, rubber hose to the shift diaphragm. Once you get used to vacuum or electric, they both work fine. Just like anything else, there is a learning curve and you find the sweet spot for how much rpm, torque, clutch or no clutch, etc.
1957 Chevrolet 5700 LCF 283 SM420 2 speed rear, 1955 IH 300U T/A, 1978 Corvette 350 auto, 1978 Yamaha DT175, 1999 Harley Davidson Softail Fat Boy
