re watson trans overdrive unit

Discussion in 'General Chevy & GMC Pickups Talk' started by bondodawg, May 7, 2001.

  1. bondodawg

    bondodawg Member

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    Jan 1, 2000
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    I HAVE A WATSON TRANSMISSION UNDERDRIVE DIRECT OVERDRIVE UNIT MADE
    BY SPICER MANUFACTURING MODEL # 46 CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHERE TO GO TO GET MORE INFO ON THAT UNIT IE. APPLICATION ,RATIOS ETC THANKS
     
  2. Craig

    Craig Guest

    I did some checking but came up short.What year do you think it is?
    Craig Hager
    tech1@chevyduty.com
     
  3. myfine55

    myfine55 Member

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    Jan 1, 2000
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    >I did some checking but came
    >up short.What year do you
    >think it is?
    >Craig Hager
    >tech1@chevyduty.com
     
  4. sowletrans

    sowletrans Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2008
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    Model 45

    I have a Watson Transmission Brown life Gear DIV Spicer MFG Model 45 S/N Z49445
    And I have not been able to find out anything on it also.But maybe some of what I gave you will help you.Good Luck Jerry
     
  5. 67Cowboy

    67Cowboy Member

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    Aug 4, 2008
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    Overdrive Unit

    I'm doing some research on these and would really like to see some photos of what you guys have ?!?
     

    Attached Files:

  6. BobS

    BobS Member

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    Aug 8, 2008
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    Location:
    West Central Minnesota
    Re: Overdrives

    I'm kinda curious about these as well. 67Cowboy, what is that first picture of?

    Bob
     
  7. roadsterfan

    roadsterfan Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
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    Underdrive-Direct-Overdrive

    Hello- I've got one of the these too. It is called by its nickname, a 3 speed "Brownie", used as a second transmission behind a 5 speed Clark, or whatever trans is in the front. It provided an underdrive for pulling, drive for one-to-one, and an overdrive for cruising. Got mine from behind an older Cummins Diesel, but they are useable about anywhere. Was thinking of putting mine behind a c-6 or a TH400 to make use of the overdrive, but really its original use was to make a fifteen speed trans out of a 5 and the Brownie 3 speed in 1950's semis.... They are really heavy duty, and have provisions to bolt on a PTO too, in case you want to run something...compressor, generator, hydraulic pump, etc. Haven't seen many, but i don't frequent the older big truck wrecking yards.

    If you can come up with a shifter to get the three rods to move correctly, the rest should be easy. I haven't seen what the original shifter looked like, but maybe that'll give me a reason to start looking. The mounts on mine look like 1" thick by 2" wide bar-stock...pretty heavy for a pickup. The guy I got mine from thought they went for about $600 and up.... I traded for mine and thats about what I have into mine. Curious what you are putting yours into... Oh...ratios are 20% underdrive- then 1 to1- then 20% overdrive, if memory serves me correctly...

    Steve
     
    Last edited: Feb 26, 2009
  8. jottoh12

    jottoh12 Member

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    Dec 27, 2009
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    Watson linkage and...shift on the fly?

    I am thinking of picking up a watson from a neighbor. It looks exactly like the pictures in this thread. I am wondering what others have done for linkage and also, if yours is up and running, if this hum-dinger will shift under load just fine and if is it a bit noisy or not. I am putting it in a wonder bread van behind a t19 ford toploader. Yikes do I need more gears for my tiny hercules diesel! Thanks!

     
  9. PapeCAT

    PapeCAT Member

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    Mar 7, 2010
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    I may have a watson as well. I'm not 100% as there are no identifiers on the unit. Here are the pics.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  10. jottoh12

    jottoh12 Member

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    Dec 27, 2009
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    PapeCat, Were you able to identify this "brownie"? It sure is a sleek looking unit. IS it a 3-spd over/under? Just wondering...really nice pics!
     
  11. jottoh12

    jottoh12 Member

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    Dec 27, 2009
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    Whoops, I see by quoting your post, the pics were added to my reply! Sorry guys...Is this a lipmann?
     

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