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#684261 10/08/2010 3:25 PM
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I recently purchased a 50 burb and it is all stock, & it has no master cylinder or arm, what does one look like ( installed) so I can look for one, and I noticed a pull cable that goes from cab to transmission (small) arm, is it a kick down or overdrive of some sort? Please help because I want to get this thing on the road quick.
Thank You,
Mike

fabguy #684389 10/09/2010 2:01 AM
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Bubba - Curmudgeon
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Post some photos of the "pull cable" and where it attaches. Your truck is not "all stock" - the only cable-looking thing attached to the transmission is the speedometer cable (and it does not attach to an arm and does not pull anything). It sounds like an overdrive cable. Do you have an enclosed driveshaft or an open driveshaft (can you see a u-joint)?

brake master cylinder

master cylinder and pedal

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It is a closed driveline, the arm that the cable attaches too looks a little like a boomerang. It came from colorado, and has a 4 spd transmission w/ a 216 engine. The cable goes from the tranny to the bottom of the dash right next to the steering column but it has no knob on it. Several people have told me that the overdrive only came on open drivelines, and they have found it strange too be on a closed driveline.

fabguy #684547 10/09/2010 4:02 PM
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Bubba - Curmudgeon
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There were non-GM overdrives available for closed drive-lines. If you can post a few photos, perhaps someone can ID what you have.

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ok will do, just gotta get to my shop to get them.

fabguy #684549 10/09/2010 4:07 PM
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Bubba - Curmudgeon
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Does the cable attach to a box behind the transmission or to a lever on the transmission?

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If I remember right, it attaches to the transmission, I will double check when I go get the photos a little later, Although there is a large housing connected to the trans that connects to the closed driveline tube.

tclederman #685898 10/14/2010 12:21 AM
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Originally Posted by tclederman
Does the cable attach to a box behind the transmission or to a lever on the transmission?
Yes it attaches to a round box connected to the transmission, there is also a throttle cable type attachment next to it. I am posting some pics of it, here are the links to them.
Tranny box? view from pass. side
Tranny cable? view from drivers side
Please let me know what it is.

Last edited by fabguy; 10/14/2010 12:34 AM.
fabguy #686280 10/15/2010 1:15 AM
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Anyone, anyone?

fabguy #686360 10/15/2010 6:41 AM
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This appears to be an aftermarket overdrive attached to the rear of your transmission.


"It's just a phase. He'll grow out of it." Mama, 1964

1956 Chevy 1/2-ton 3100
1953 Chevy 6100 "The Yard dog"
1954 GMC Suburban Now with a new proud owner.
Cletis #686391 10/15/2010 2:04 PM
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Originally Posted by cletis
This appears to be an aftermarket overdrive attached to the rear of your transmission.

Dude, you need to carefully degunk that and get it clean to where you can see who the manufacturer was/is. If you still have the torque tube drive shaft that could be one of the rare TT overdrives. Get working on it.


~ Cosmo
1949 Chevy Half Ton
Rocinante, like Don Quixote, he is awkward, past his prime, and engaged in a task beyond his capacities.
"...my good horse Rocinante, mine eternal and inseparable companion in all my journeys and courses." ...Don Quixote, Cervantes
"If you come to a fork in the road, take it."...Yogi Berra
"Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength." ...Eric Hoffer


Cletis #686395 10/15/2010 2:29 PM
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Oh wow, really. Well thanks for the info

fabguy #687299 10/19/2010 12:34 AM
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You may have a Truckstell "Tip-toe-matic" overdrive; a dealer and up-fitter option installed in Chevy cars (mostly) from 46-54, although I have read of some being found in 1/2 ton suburbans and pickups. Look.
Good find! I wish I had one to "try" and install in the front torque-tube driveshaft of my 3600.
I hope it works!!


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Frank50 #687438 10/19/2010 3:05 PM
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I hope it works too. We should have it started by this weekend, hopefully primered all of the outside also. We got the spotlight working, need a bulb for the other side though. Thank you VERY much for the good news.

fabguy #687451 10/19/2010 3:42 PM
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I bet we do not have to ask, but please let us know when you get it running and how well it drives/shifts/etc.

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I agree with Frank,. I too think it is a Truckstell overdrive.

Cletis #687814 10/20/2010 7:55 PM
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That is indeed a Truckstell torque tube overdrive transmission. "Tip-toe-matic" si their name for the way it should operate. There is a decent amount of info on the web about it. I would bet that your Suburban truckstell has a number of A-101 on it. The small cable is operated by the clutch and brake rods located in the engine bay. They bring the trans into and out of overdrive while the trans is IN overdrive, which is controlled by the Bigger cable to the rear of the trans. There would have been a decent sized lever by your steering column.
When the column shift lever is placed in reverse, the whole unit dumps out of overdrive capability. The unit has a hill holder feature and cannot be operated in OD mode in reverse. These units have nothing to do with Borg-Warner units of the same vintage and no parts will interchange. They are also much more rugged than the BW units.
Should the Tiptoematic feature not operate, don't despair, the overdrive can still be used. But if you can get the TTT to work, it will truly be a joy to own and operate.


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