MY 1969 PETE ON YOUR STEPDECK? SHOT IN THE DARK!!

That thing is gorgeous. Needs work, but I love that original paint colour.

 

The truck that I learned on was almost a twin to that one. Same color, same Hendrickson pad suspension, Luber Finer on the left, air cleaner on the right (except the one I learned on had that box looking air cleaner). It had a 5x4, this looks like a 6 6 13 or maybe a 9 5 13 plus a 4 or 3 speed brownie by the shift knob. Aluminum frame too.

Have fun with it!

 

I believe that the original transmission was probably a five speed main box, maybe four, with a four or three speed auxiliary (brownie). I would guess that the original main was switched out for the thirteen speed as indicated by the knob. I need to go back and look to see if the air hoses are attached, it could be someone just put that shift knob on. Be right back.......

Yes, there are air hoses going to the shifter, so you should have an RT 6-6-13, or maybe an RT 9-5-13 for the main transmission. The auxiliary should be either a three speed or four speed. If three speed, it will have and under - direct - and overdrive; if four speed it will be deep under, under, direct, and overdrive. Some of the four speeds were not progressive, i.e. a huge gap between 1st and 2nd, and then even (more or less) splits after that.

For your purpose you can just leave the brownie in direct and drive with the 13, and then shift the brownie to overdrive for your highest speed.

There is a bit of a learning curve, and if you get both boxes into neutral you may end up stopping and starting over again. I know I did a number of times while learning.

The shift pattern on the auxiliary will likely be:
1st - to the left and forward
2nd - to the left and back
3rd - to the right and back
4th - to the right and forward (against the dash!)

 

@BIGZILLA heres a couple pics of the 69 I had. 335, 13 speed, SQHD on Hendrickson leaf. It was originally a dump truck (transfer). The boss put the new 8 ton crane on it in 1982. I bought it in 1997 to use as my yard crane. You have a real classy year Pete there. Hope you have a secret bank account that the wife cant see once you start the restoration!! LOL.

 

That truck is just plain cool!

Oh, by the way, if you get to using the brownie and round the gears a bit, it may get stuck in gear - don't panic.
There are two shift rods that go from the shifter to the auxiliary trans. If it is stuck you will see that the clevis pins that attach the shift rod to the trans are not in line with each other. A big screwdriver will usually suffice to pry one against the other until they are even again, which will be neutral.

Your truck brings back a lot of memories, probably looked at much more fondly now than at the time.

If I am not explaining things correctly, I'll bet truckdad can straighten me out.