The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts New to Big Bolts, with a new '51 6400 2 Ton

Hi All,

Well I have just started looking at this '51 Chevy 6500 that belongs to my cousin's and will soon belong to me as I am the only one that will get it back on the road. I haven't figured out how to post pictures yet but I will soon and then I'll get a few up.

I have a few questions so far, I've been lurking on this board for a short time now and done a few searches for the answers but haven't come up with them. The first is about the brownie box. It looks like someone might have added it later as the mounts look homemade. It is a fairly large box with the two shift rods entering in the front of the top cover, it has what looks like PTO covers (the same style as an SM420) one on each side. The only tag that I find on it has the number J26-7 and I don't see any other markings. Any ideas would help I am happy to research it if I can get a place to start. The second question is about motor/tranny. I know the I-6 would be cool to keep in it but the original motor and Trans is long gone. I have the parts to build a 383ci SBC and a SM420 trans out of a 63 chev pickup. I am a welder/fabricator by trade so installing a V-8 where a I-6 was is not a problem, I've done it more times then I care to remember. The question is will the rest of the drive line be up to the task of a torquey small block.

The new thread about wheels has been real helpful as I am pretty sure the truck has the widow maker split rims on it. So thanx to all that answered to that thread.

The last question that I have today it about the brakes. I think that it has the hydra-vac power brakes on it (a master that you push with the peddle that operates a vacuum assisted slave cylinder). But (and here is the question) it seems that the vacuum lines go through a lever control that is mounted on the steering column before it goes to the vacuum booster, what is the lever thingy?
Thanx For all the great info that I have already gleaned from this board and thanx for any info I get in this post.

Jaysin

Well after chasing around the net I think that the brownie box is a Spicer 5831. As of yet I don't know which one (with/without overdrive0 as I couldn't find any numbers on it and it is now snowing so I don't think I'll be going back outside to crawl back under the truck. Does anyone know where the numbers I'm looking for would be located? Thanx

Welcome,

By your description, and without pictures my guess is also that the auxiliary transmission is Spicer 5831. The only info that will help figure out what ratios will be stamped on the small aluminum tag on one side near the top. Click my picture link below and look in the "auxiliary transmission" folder, I have pictures of a 5831, and others. If you can find the tag I can probably tell you what ratios.

The entire drivetrain should be fine behind a V8.

The vacuum lever under the dash is for high and low in the rear axle, a two speed rear.
There is also a vacuum line that goes to the Hydrovac, one of the parts of the system on the firewall is a check valve.

Grigg

Grigg~ Thanx so much your Aux. Trans pictures helped. I thint that it is definitely a 5831 but i looked all over it earlier and didn't find a tag like that (I suppose I could have missed it) I'll have to look again. The lever that is on the steering column sure seems to be connected to the Hydrovac and the rear end doesn't seem to have any sort of linkages or vacuum diaphragms on it, how would I tell if it is a two speed. Thanx

The two speed rear is big and ugly looking, and standard equipment on the 6400.

Could it be someone switched the rear for a different one, possibly from a 1.5 ton with faster gears and a single speed? Then also used the two speed vacuum switch to interrupt the Hydrovac for some unknown reason?

I believe I have a folder with pictures of my 6400 before I started pulling it apart, same link below. Mine had two speed, all the vacuum lines and switch, and th Hydrovac, and I took lots of pictures.

Grigg

Jaysin & Grigg I am thinking this truck may have air over hydraulic brakes and the lever on the column is a hand brake like the trailer brake on full air systems.
Jaysin dose the truck have any air tanks in the frame rails anywhere and are you sure that that is a master cylinder at the pedal and not a treadle valve? Are the lines simple rubber push-on with a clamp or do they have fittings?

I'm now officially confused..
Pictures would be helpful,

Grigg

Here are some pictures of the Aux. trans and the rest of the truck otherwise known as The Green Hornet.
The Green Hornet Pix

Looked at the pictures, not so sure it's a Spicer auxiliary after all. Is is covered in grease, so a tag should be hiding somewhere.

It's a single speed rear axle.

Lever on column is probably some sort of trailer brake actuation valve, possibly for vacuum trailer brakes?

Grigg

Grigg,

The aux trans is not terribly covered in grease. I've really not been able to find a tag so I can't tell you for sure. As I said at the top, the only tag I could find on it said J26-7.

Thanks for the help. If you come up with anything else, please let me know.

Jaysin

Not too long ago I was eyeballin an old military trailer that had an air/hydraulic combo brake system. There was a QD fitting on an air hose hose by the pintle eye that ran into what looked alot like a hydrovac can, just smaller, with a master cylender on it that pushed the wheel cylenders. That might be what the lever is for, manual trailer brakes, check the back of the truck for a hose connection. Of course tracing the hoses coming off the lever system would work too.

Again I think they where air over hyd. The valve on the column is a brake valve; I don't see any vacuum lines on the firewall either. Can you get us some pictures of what the brake peddle is hooked to

Great pics. Could that unit be a power divider of some sort???

No if it where a power divider it would have two outputs one for each axle it's just an auxiliary transmission. The question is what brand and modal?

Hey Guys~ thanx for the help. HevyHauler, You are right I am looking for a brand/model on the Brownie Box. I still havent had any luck chasing down info on this box, would anyone know the names of the different companies that produced brownies. Could it be from a larger truck (as it is a huge box)? Gaining info on these truck especially when they have been modified can be a real pain but I know that I'll figure it out. Thanx again for all the help.
Jaysin