Brian forwarded this to me. Here’s an odd tractor with Willys running gear and 2 inline trannys.
“FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ALL TERRAIN ROCK CLIMBING MACHINE 18 HP WISCONSIN WILLYS JEEP RUNNING GEAR TANDEM TRANSMISSIONS WITH A HIGH AND LOW TRANSFER CASE HAS BEEN SITTING AROUND FOR A FEW YEARS HAVE NOT REALLY USED IT. COME TAKE A LOOK. $1200.00 EMAIL ME WITH YOUR PHONE NUMBER AND I WILL CALL YOU BACK I DO NOT RESPOND TO EMAILS WITHOUT A PHONE NUMBER. ”
Brian also included an interesting discussion about dual trannys from the WillysTech board.
“Edward Landstrom wrote: Another possibility for an overdrive: It used to be a fairly common practice to mount a second transmission in tandem with the main one to provide a super-low gear for such applications as converting a car or truck to a farm tractor. While it wasn’t nearly as common, I can also remember seeing one or two that had the second transmission mounted backwards to serve as an overdrive. It would only work in two-wheel drive and there wouldn’t be room for it in a CJ, but for a wagon or pickup it might be just the thing you need. In fact, this is probably where I saw it done years ago (too long ago to remember for sure). Are there any how-to articles available (maybe in a 40’s or 50’s magazine) or has anyone on this list done it? I may even try it myself if I can find out some of the details; what transmission will work, what is the best way to mount it, how should the transmission be modified to get a suitable ratio and ensure proper lubrication, do you have to do anything to the input (now output) shaft to compensate for the pilot bearing that used to support its outboard end, etc.? Even if you’ve tried it and it didn’t work, I’d still like to know what not to do.
Stephen_J_Perialas wrote: Ed, you are showing your age….. I remember the 2 tranny deal for lowering the gear ration on what we used to call a “Duddle bug” old truck or car engine seat and frame used as a farm tractor….
Luke Schulze wrote: One of my neighbors a couple of months ago drug home a “model T” “Duddle bug” He actually called it a duddle bug (I hadn’t heard that name again until now) It was really cut and spliced, but had a flat head v8 and dual transmissions, there was basically a small drive haft connecting the two transmissions together. Really kind of interesting to look at. I have also thought about this but could not come up with a good method of connecting the two trannies together…
Jeff Gent wrote: A little FYI, for those interested, Advance Adapters also sells what they call a Ranger that is basically a two-speed tranny designed to go in front of your existing tranny. You can get it in either overdrive or underdrive. It’s more expensive than their Saturn OD, at around $1500, and does lengthen the drive train.
Glenn Goodman wrote: Does anybody remember what they used to call a Brownie box? Not the camera, this was a 3 speed box that fit behind the tranny and had an underdrive, 1:1 and an overdrive. There were other configurations available, too, and they used to be very popular in the older big trucks. I drove a couple dump trucks that had it and a buddy put one in his pickup. Another one of those deals where it’s only good for 2WD, but still an improvement for the highway. I’ve been keeping an eye open for many years for one of these. Anybody know anything more?”