The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline m43 Brownie

I have a 1950 1 1/2 ton GMC 350 truck with a 3 speed M43 Brownie but can't find anything about this box on the net. I suspect that it doesn't belong on this truck but I'll keep it if gives me a better cruise speed. Does anyone have any info on these?

Stricly a guess here. Wasn't a brownie used in Macks? This isn't a quad box is it? Try one of the Big Truck forums, and you should find it quickly.

From what I have been able to find, some were used on the big GMCs but I can't seem to find this model. Another thing that makes it tough is the tag lists several different companies and their divisions. If I remember correctly it goes:
Brown transmission co a division of ????? a division of ?????? a division of Spicer Transmission. Of course Spicer's site doesn't mention it at all.

http://www.6066gmctrucks.org/spicer-5831-b.htm

http://www.thedieselstop.com/archiv...ollapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1.htm

Your looking at a Brown-Lipe transmission. I don't have anything on an "M-43". My guess is that stands for Manual trans 4 speed main, 3 speed aux. Brown-Lipe was a supplier to GMC through '42 at least. That's where my info ends. I do have a number of models listed. If you find a 3 digit or 4 digit number (numbers-no letters) post it and I might have some info for you.

The only thing I have found so far is a serial number: 014821

Thanks

How many speeds is it? Does it have reverse? Can you post a Side-On pic?

rd, If your truck is a 350 series, you've got a 2 Ton, 16000lb.gvw truck. GMC's 1 1/2 Ton truck during that era was a 300 series, 14000lb.gvw. As far as the aux. trans. is concerned, a good way to tell if it is factory, or added on later, is to look at the workmanship of the way it's installed.

It's a three speed with no reverse and the installation is a farmer special. The pictures of the Brownie are at

www.salemfarmgarden.com/truck pix

Thanks

Well, let's see. I've got models 6031, 6031A with direct on 2nd and OD on 3rd. Same with a 5531 model. And a model 703 used in conjunction with 3 and 4 speed units. I can't get the link to work.

For some reason it left off the pix part

www.salemfarmgarden.com/truckpix

Thanks

Nothing in my book is apparent that yours is listed. It looks definitely related. It's probably after '42. See if you can find a Motor book from the 50's. What do you want to do with it?

Thanks for looking. I am hoping to rebuild and use it. Any ideas on cleaning it? What the pictures show are after a good can of oven cleaner and a 3000 psi pressure washer using hot water. That stuff is really stuck!

rd, What's the "Truck", look like

Duals on the rear, 12' dump bed, 270 straight six and a good straight cab that is in a million pieces in my shop right now. I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

I posted some pictures of it this morning.

Good look'in 'ol truck ya have there rd. Thanks for the pictures.

Thanks Spanky! If I can remember the camera tomorrow I'll take some current pictures. The cab goes out for bead blasting tomorrow.

If anyone is still looking at this. The brownie was a Watson M43 3 speed brownie. Over, under, and direct.

Dummie here. What's a brownie? Maybe a multi-speed rear end?

Why is it called a brownie?

"Brownie" is the nick name for an auxiliary transmission made by the Brown-Lipe Company.

Mike B

Watson boxes were labeled such, bought or taken over by Brown-Lipe, Spicer. Not as strong as later boxes labeled 5031, 6041, etc., the 5, 6 stands for Engine torque rating in hundreds, Fine for a gasser, not diesels.

The left shift rail, rear position should be OD. Move the shift rails and count the revolutions. With the shift lever installed, OD would be right and fwd.

Ed