Need a Brownie Box/Spicer Expert

[Sled Puller]

Working on a Cummins/Alison/ Brownie conversion.



We were told it was a Brownie auxilary 3 speed. The tag says Spicer. Same company?



model-5? 831

serial 295615

other- 300289





We have a driveline vibration, and have eliminated everything except this box. The rear yoke turns very rough, but no up or down play, or leaks.

Can the rear bearing be changed without removeal?





We may be trashing the box and getting a longer driveshaft. Have to make a desicion soon, any information will be helpful.

Thanks,

Gene

You can call 800-376-9797, or e-mail -- email address removed --

 

[moparguy]

No expert, but.....

But from what I remember from Large Cars experience a couple years ago when he installed a Allison and Brown-Lipe in his 97 hotshot truck, Brown-Lipe was purchased by Spicer.



LargeCar posted the shop name and phone number in Texas that helped with his conversion. They had several Brownies ready to install and would take phone inquires, however, the archives don't go back far enough to retrive that info. Great huh.

 

[Sled Puller]

The guy who had the conversion done paid for a brand new box, he has since died, but we have all the paperwork, in 1992. Along with his new Cummins and Alison.



He got took, this thing is at least 25 years old.



We took it out, seems to be a bearing, or a shaft inside looseing its splines.

Heavy little bugger, very thick cast iron. Have e-mails out for parts and service, hopefully Monday we can get somewhere with this thing.

It needed to be on the road last week, but it ain't going to happen.



Gene

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

Gene,

Did you find out any thing?



I tried finding info on the net w/no luck.



What exactly does the Brownie do. I think you said it was a 3spd aux transmission.



Ratios?

 

[philb4]

aux ratios-n-stuff

Brownie boxes as most are called are nothing more than a second transmission used mostly as a gear splitter going up or down a few hundred rpm. In a large truck you may shift in the mid gears 3rd under,3rd direct, 3rd over then to 4th to start over again. Depending on the load you may skip gears. These boxes have no syncronizers as the main box does not have any also. My 51 mack L has a 10 speed 5 plus a direct and over spliter with no syncros. Brownies come in smaller sizes such as the first thread in which the ratios may be under 1. 54, direct and . 73 over. I have one of these forw a 54 white 3000 using a cummins 5. 9 and an allison at540. I paid 500 for it and found several others from ford gas jobs in the 70's 800-900 series. hope this helps. phil

 

[Sled Puller]

I took it to Doug at Enterprise. He took it apart and cleaned it up, it had a tar like gunk all over it. Really was binding it up.



Cleaned it all up, found out NOTHING was wrong with it, put it back in, still have a nasty driveline vibration.

It did need that crap off of it, it would have caused a failure eventually.



Going to have the driveshafts balanced again at a shop in Ohio. Tried Pennsylvania the first time. That will leave 48 more to find the problem!

Thanks for the replys.

Gene

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

I wouldn't mind having a brownie in my 3500. . just think what I could do w/18 fwd gears and 3 reverse

 

[Sled Puller]

FIXED!



That NEW driveshaft?



You guessed it, welded the yoke on crooked. Got it fixed, drives nice now.

Time to pay the shop a visit that built the shaft. Especially after we went back and told them it still had a vibration, and they insisted it was in the transmission.

Dang people should check on their employees more often!



Thanks for the replys,



Gene

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

MGM,



Is there any place that I can find out more about brownie boxes? sounds interesting even if I never get/need one.



I had a similar problem w/my laptop. . sent it in to get the DVD fixed, came back and DVD still broke and wouldn't boot (took a week) a week later its now fixed. Nothing Like attention to detail. Joe blow doesn't care, he never see's the books.



Thanks,

 

[Sled Puller]

I got this in an E-mail:





Spicer bought out Brown-Lipe many years ago. (Then DANA bought Spicer) B-L made all sorts of trans/ rears for old trucks, and probably cars. The Aux. trans were popular on the west coast, and seldom seen here on the east.

The 5831 series is the smallest they made, at least from the late 40's onward. It weighted 155 lbs and held 4 pts of oil.

If you transmission does NOT have a letter behind the 5831, it has the following ratios: 2. 00/1. 00/0. 75 There are about 7 suffixes, A through G with various ratios --some are double under/under/direct.





Also, Marvin at Reliable Trucks (800-282-9638) was very helpful.

They have several for sale if anybody is interested.

Gene

 

[pcorssmit]

Any ideas on a rough cost for one of these in decent shape? I've been wanting a US gear for a while, but don't really "need" one that bad. Are these generally married or divorced?



It seems that one of those would be really nice to have in a 2wd manual trans truck to get the low range for slow speed manuvering w/trailers. Or with a 4x4 you could go really slow--not that I can get my speedo to move in 1st gear low anyway.



Pete

 

[Sled Puller]

Divorced units, expect $400-$800.

 

[pcorssmit]

Anybody know how long one of these is? We've got a discussion going on on the 4x4 board (Pirate4x4.com).



Pete

 

[tgbol]

I had a Brownie in a 1960 Chevy 1 ton utility truck back in the late 70's. The truck had 5. 13s in the rear with a 394 Olds engine. The CGVW with car trailer and equipment was 18,000.

The Brownie was 25% under, Direct and 15% over. We could keep the engine with in 500 rpm all day long. If I remember right the unit was about 26 inches from yoke to yoke. We mounted where the center support for the drive shaaft was. Really made a difference when pull ,White Horse and Conners summits in Nevada. We even hauled a White half track from Portland to L. A. with it.

 

[philb4]

brownie box pics

I have a 3 speed brownie out of my truck I can take digital pics and measurements if wanted...

 

[cjohnson1]

Re: brownie box pics

Originally posted by philb4

I have a 3 speed brownie out of my truck I can take digital pics and measurements if wanted...

That would be great! I am shopping for an aux transmission for my motorhome while I wait for the engine to be put together. Funny how you guys know what info I need.

Will pick up the Allison this week.

Just ordered the engine manuals a few minutes ago and the Allison manual should be here today or tomorrow.

Will be firiing up the Blue Wrench in about three to four weeks.

The S. O. insist I start thinking new carpet.

Carpet, Smarpet... Woman I got MAN things to worry about!:-{}

CJ

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

:-laf you tell her CJ. . I'm right behind ya. . really



I'd like to see it too. I think I want one in my '70 CrewCab

 

[LarryB]

Oo. Hey! I want one too. Somebody get it all figured out for me will ya?



Dang, I just bought Mrs B new carpets. What was I thinking.



I found one a couple years ago in Portland, OR. They guy said it was 20% over/direct/20% under. Perfect! And he wanted $500. When I got there I found out it was 2/1/. 5 Whoa time out, nevermind. I am too cheap to buy a new USGear so maybe this would work for me. I don't really need anything accept a double over because of my 4:00 rears.



Anyway, I'll keep waiting.