The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Truckstell overdrive

Aloha! anybody running one of these? need a few parts too.

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Somebody emailed me about one of those and I never heard back from him. They are quite rare.

I have seen the BW units incorporated into a torque tube, but this one is new to me. I'm curious if any of the internal components are the same as the BW. I'm close by, give me a call.
Fred 562-598-9308

That's cool! I have read a little about them but those are the first pics I have seen. Where did you get that? Looks like it just fits/replaces a 1/2-ton torque-tube. Tell us more.

I found 4 units earlier this year, when I was still looking.
They were all terrible overpriced and the sellers didn't know history or condition.

I spoke to a few transmission pros and they all told me that these units are too difficult to repair and find parts.

These are an early version of an automatic.
When the main lever is engaged, the overdrive gear kicks in automatically when the 3speed tranny is in high gear.
The original linkages were connected to the clutch and gas pedals, giving further options to engage or disengage the unit.
Gives a 2.96 rear ratio with the original 4.11 rear gears !
Sounds like a very cool thing for all us torque tube guys, right?

Well, in my research, I found only one guy who claims they are bulletproof - everybody else advises to stay away from them for a frequent driver like mine.
I ended up swapping the 4.11 rear gears of my coupe with powerglide 3.55 for next to nothing in cost and still getting all the reliability I need.

Good Luck - keep us in touch how it works out for you.

That is a very cool looking setup. It looks like it would solve many of the problems associated with the highway speed issue. I'll bet there are few actual moving parts inside that aren't easily replaceable.

What is this thing worth...

Stuart

Aloha!!

I got this out of a '49 Carryall suburban, the guy removed it only because he didn't know what it was and thought it was inappropriate for his restoration, and man he did a great one too. it was going to go in my '51 Burb, thats a 1/2 ton torque tube and 3rd member on it BTW. A buddy that owned the '49 Burb prior to the guy I bought it from is the guy that told me about these, he loved it, I didn't even know it was available for our cars/trucks!!

I finally talked to a retired fire dept mech. that informed me it was made by "Truckstell", he knew that from truck experience.

And thats how I found all the literature on it, installation, owners and maintenance manuals too, after a long and hard hunt BTW. The guy i got the lit from has one in his '38, drives from the west coast to Indiana in it, frequently.

It is for Chevrolet and it is a dealer installed option. Called a "tip toe matic", which gets confused a lot with a chrysler product, most mechanics, no, I cant say everyone i have ever met, gets them confused.

Anyway I sold my Burb and included it, and the lit., got a '50 wagon, bought it back, (no lit though!) and I am going to put it in my wagon, my daily driver.

My local "transmission pro's" don't know beans about it, and frankly I am in Classic car mecca of Southern california, LA county. Cirello, chevy guy and still doing trannies, great american race ride along mechanic? never even seen one. Elmer, mechanic in Pattons army and had a shop since WWII, never even HEARD of one, Stu's trans, famous, raced at Ascot,,, nope, never,,,,Tony at Memory lane, heard of but never seen one, (sure)(Cirello is his dad) Gene, in Paramount, still doing powerglides and cadillac's? Cooks machine? nope, you get the picture I'm sure. the list goes on man,,,so to have found a few that say to stay away amazes me, all due respect, out of who knows how many people and 3 post it boards, i have only met 3 people who knew what they were, because they had one, most confuse it with a chrysler product, anyway those 3 swear by them and couldn't imagine life without one. I'd ask those you know if they really had experience with one, i kinda doubt it. All due respect though

Now there is some thoughts on it probably having Borg-Warner gears, a small company like truckstell couldn't have had their own gears made up, thats an expensive process, so they probably are interchangable with something? so far i have heard Ramblers use the same gears in theirs, this from a guy who has one of these in his car, loves it, and works on them, when needed, and it isn't often, so he says, and another guy into them that also has a Stude with OD says they 'look' similar to it, but hasn't checked side by side.

Truckstells only difference was it was all mechanical, no solenoids to engage it, BTW.

I have enough positive feedback that I am gong to install it, and again this will be in my daily driver, 1950 wagon, 261 powered, stock 4:11's.

I posted this because on another board most were happy to see the pictures and learn about them, shoot I'm still learning about them, and was hoping to actually find more that HAS them, to learn more. they are too rare for me to listen to a few that think they aren't any good and take it to heart. And the stories out of the few that I have met that have them, i think they sound bitchen. and if it sucks after all is said and done? oh well, i got a cool and unique, vintage, period knob under my dash!!! and nothing modern

I will keep ya posted, it's still a learning curve, and I'm meeting cool people almost everyday, oh yeah I forgot, 4 people who have em, a 1948 woody in San Pedro has one in it. In fact my first post i mention needing parts, never mind, found em, a cable, not a gear, the previous owner still had it in his garage, and a guy back east is sending me a linkage part to copy and return. The linkage part isn't necessary to operate, but is a "nice to have", anyway, got it, done

oh yeah, it doesn't replace the torque tube, you have to cut yours and modify the prop shaft, as per the instructions, that i no longer have but are on the way, thats why i called "Cooks machine" to see if they had any memory of one, once I get the install manual they'll do the cutting/modifying.


CHEERS and many mahalo's, Aloha Nui Loa

Excellent research job! Just found your thread on the other forum.
- You are doing the right thing, giving it a try, since you already have a unit at hand.

The obvious main reason for me to stay away from them, was the ridiculous price that these parts collectors wanted.
My favorite was the guy who has one looking just like yours for $2K
For that amount you can get a really nice brand new Gear Vendors unit!


The pros I mentioned were retired (some from LA county) and did repairs on those in the 50s.
They remembered them as early version automatics with a recurring problem that's 'just a b!#$& to repair' to paraphrase one.

But as always with obsolete unusual vintage accessory - you gotta do your own experiments and never take anybody's sole advice or experience as gospel.
These experiments are all mostly about fun, especially the figuring out part.
For a daily driver I would not connect the linkages to the pedals, simply because of saftey concearns.
I would be worried about a clutch or gas pedal hanging up at the worst moment and when least expected. - Glad they left the break pedal alone.
The main engaging push-pull knob for just freeway driving is all that's needed really.
The clutch and gas pedal linkages are just there to allow for additional ways for disengaging the OD.


With a 4.11 rear it would be alright, but the truckstell is only 500 rpm lower compared to a 3.55 rear without overdrive.
It appears when these powerglide rear ends first came out, it was the end of the truckstell production for chevys, as the last 103 model was an early 50s version.


My conclusion was, if I ever find an affordable unit that's mechanically sound - Have fun and go for it without regrets !

Keep us in touch, regardless how it works out.
There are a lot of 'torque-tubers' looking for these and just not enough experience or info going around.

Sounds like you got all the literature already.
I have the complete instructions for the earlier model 101 and the later 103, if you need anything.

kimo,
I do a lot of B/W Overdrives. Many of the internal parts, planetaries, roller clutches, blocker plates are universal. Anything with a B/W, be it Rambler, Stude, GM, Ford, Packard, etc have interchangable components. The main differences are the case and the input shaft to connect to the OEM transmission. It is quite possible that yours has B/W internal components.
Fred

Thanks guys, yeah I didn't want to offend your mechanics, old retired dudes are the bible for us, so I believe em, but I mentioned Elmer, from HB, he hates Chevy's, so he is biased, big time! When my wife pulled up in her clean '54 2dr hardtop, he say's 'we used to junk those by the hundreds", I replied with "well yeah since they were the top sellers the law of averages would only make sense you would", he wasn't happy.

Had a guy here in LB that would have probably known about them, V8 Lee, he's left this world though.

$2000!!! oh I don't blame ya. where do they get these ideas? it's not like 1 sold recently anywhere to use as a comparison price!! NO, I'm wrong! I just paid $450 for mine!!! theres the comp we/THEY should use!!!! rat bastidges!!! 2 grand,,,,,

Fred that was anothers thought, same gears, different case, I am going to phone you up. You've probably seen my wagon down there, northside of the pier, parking lot, or at the jetty.

later guys

Related to this discussion there is an instruction manual for one on eBay .
You know, my 50 3600 3/4-ton has a short torque-tube front half of the driveshaft, then the carrier bearing then an open driveshaft to the rear end. I wonder.....??

He's one of the 4 owners I know of mentioned above, and a heck of a nice guy. Thanks for the link

I have more time to read more of the above posts now, long story, wife, ER, appendicitis,,,,,

Ok, yeah the guy with the Ebay auction, George is his name, has been the leading source of knowledge on these for me, he's who I found years ago that supplied me with the manuals, and he took my advice on offering it on ebay, he doesn't have the pedal linkages either, and has never seen them, and no complaints, he's the one goes to Indiana with it, so thats a good idea about what your saying on leaving them off anyway for safeties sake, good idea, but I'll still copy the ones coming out just for being lucky to see some.

He also told me he put a powerglide ring and pinion in his '38, plus the Truckstell!!!

I'm thinking keeping the 4:11's for towing our '51 22' Silver Streak Clipper, 2000 lbs, for getting it out of the hole and whatnot, whatta you think, a little easier on the clutch as well?

That is the final goal, an all vintage roadworthy wagon we can tow the trailer to,,,anywhere. when I said all vintage I mean no disc brakes (I will upgrade to bendix though) or radials or billet or MII steering or V8, another list that can go on and on so please don't go there. Definitely vintage speed equipment though!! Both my wife and I are into the unique and oddball things and this is what floats our boat.

see ya in a bit

How do I get a service manual for a Truckstell Tiptoe-Matic 101?

I have a Truckstell overdrive model # on the tag is 151. it was on a 235 with a 4 speed tran don't know what year truck was but the old owner said
all working when he removed it. any info on this would helpful. thanks

Truckstell dates back to the Model T and Model A Ford days- - - -so the company predates Borg Warner by a decade or more, at least. I had a friend with a Model TT truck (1 1/2 ton, maybe?) that had one built into the torque tube behind the 3-pedal planetary transmission. I've never actually been inside one, but I've seen a couple in running vehicles.
Jerry

I have a complete set that I think I have sold to stovebolter-friend.

The Truckstell unit was made for cars and had a "kick-down-pedal" (Tip-Toe-Matic). On a truck you have to fabricate/cob a hand engage/release.

You have to cut throw the torque-tube and driveshaft (I think) and then clamp the Truckstell unit to the front end of the cut-off torque-tube and driveshaft (I think). I think that I have the installation instructions as a file somewhere.

http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/175613/
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Truckstell...ual-for-Chevrolet-26-pages-/151703445195
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/truckstell-overdrive-model-101-vs-103.783592/
http://www.oldchevytrucks.com/blog/index.php/2011/02/1950-chevrolet-deluxe-ton/

https://books.google.com/books?id=G...0overdrive%20for%20Chevrolet&f=false

Why is this thread in Engines instead of Driveline? Am I missing something? It’s a resurrection of an old thread so maybe when it was started there wasn’t a Driveline Forum.