doubleclutchinweasel

So are the car and truck transmissions, just for future reference.

Like Terry said, "685" means ENDT-675 237HP Maxidyne engine. "S" means "6-wheel" (tandem drive axles). "X" means "heavy-spec". Translation: "beast".

The type of clutch you have (Eaton, Mack, etc.) will determine the exact adjustment procedure. Most are fairly simple. That 5-speed has a HUGE step between gears. Upshifting at 1800 will probably drop down to 1200 or so before it meshes up. Downshifting will be about the opposite...pull down to 1200 and then get up to 1800 before slipping into the next gear. You'll get the hang of it. You'll also get the hang of "floating" the gears (shifting without the clutch). Pretty easy. Just feather the throttle to release the load on the gears, slip it into neutral (no effort required), let off or increase throttle to get the RPM right, and slip it into the next gear (again, no effort on the stick). And, like everybody said, only depress the clutch fully to apply the clutch brake while sitting still (otherwise, they can be a PITA to get into gear). No need to push it all the way to the floor if using it to shift.

Yeah, does that say "Hoover" on the nose?

1950-1953, with a few A20s being done in 1954. Here is a picture of one of the more well-known examples.

Could it be an A model?

Hey! I’ve got one of those cards too!

I do hear a lot of folks say they really like them. Tends to make them scarce and expensive.

...bump...

Or find you another Maxidyne to go with that 6-speed. I've seen your work, so there isn't much of a limitation on what you can shoe-horn in there! Comes down to cost and availability. Can't wait to see how it all works out.

Agree completely. For a hobby truck, any of the Du- Tri- Quadru-plex boxes would be fine, even behind the 350. But, at the same time, a 5- or 6-speed would probably be fine for a bobtail ride, too. There is still plenty of torque in that 350 to drag it around, even without keeping the RPMs in the sweet spot. Bobtailing my R600 with the 250 Thermodyne and the 15-speed RoadRanger, I usually only used 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th. It's be different if you had 80,000# behind it.

From what I have researched in the past few minutes, I think you are 100% right. The difference seems to be in how the deep reduction is operated (air or stick). I'm just not sure what LTK was wanting to know. Maybe I read too much into his question!

Maybe you need this...

So, again... Are you looking for something with NO air at all? Or were just just wondering about the shift pattern?

Actually, it looks like it also had an air shift portion on it. So, are you looking for a 12-speed with ONLY 2 sticks, or a 12-speed that ALSO has 2 sticks? LOL!

Well there you go! Learn something new on here every day! Thanks, 'Joe!

I don't know of an honest-to-goodness 12-speed 2-stick. But then again, most of my experience is with the "old" (Duplex/Triplex/Quadruplex) stuff. I have seen certain versions of the (overdrive 18-speed) 5 X 4 box called a "14-speed" before. And the overdrive versions of the 5 X 3 units were called "13-speed". But, the only versions of the "real" 12-speed I ever saw were air shifted. You have a knack for coming up with intriguing questions, don't you! I'll be curious to see what comes of this one.

Lots of guys on here with near-original B-models. I'm sure some of them will be able to get you some detail shots. Not sure about that notch in the frame where the steering box is...

You said a mouthful right there...

Spoked wheels definitely are easier to change on the side of the road with hand tools. No doubt. A spare spoke rim and tire is also lighter than a disc. Spokes can be more difficult to get true, though. Takes a little finesse. And I have heard stories of people twisting the rims on the spokes when heavily loaded. But, I never saw that in person. But, he's right. Somebody will probably be interested in those (especially the front) because of the disc wheel setup. Somebody on here every few days looking for hubs to convert one from spokes to discs. Not sure if he has hub-piloted or stud-piloted. Me, I'm still a pretty big fan of spokes! Just a stubborn old man, I suppose! Part of what made a Mack a Mack back in the day. To each his own...

Here was a flyer on the 673E, 180 HP version...

The 180s were very common, from what I remember.