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A StepVan. That's too damn cool!.

I thought I had posted this truck I saw. I was at our ATHS Tri-State Show in VA back in Sept and this guy brought a '57 1t NAPCO he restored into a welder rig. That's what he did all his life. He's a retired pipeline welder. I have always admired those guys' rigs. Some real custom-built trucks. The best part is this guy came up from LA just 10 miles from TX (hauled it).

The '57 truck came out of WA and was formerly a brush fire truck. Deluxe cab, V8. Now a 327. It has headers, finned aluminum valve covers and air filter. Looked just right in there, to me. Pretty much the same set-0up as my '72 :cool:

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Pretty cool rig. :metal:

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I like this truck too. Welders build some pretty cool beds for their trucks.

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Well - that's different!

All it needs is a hippie paint job :lol:

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this beautiful beast just showed up on CL.
I LIKE IT! (wife is getting worried...)
prob gonna go check it out this weekend.
been about 35 yrs since it was insured, plates are from early to mid '80's. body is surprisingly decent looking under all the foliage..

Attachment 2070574Attachment 2070575Attachment 2070576Attachment 2070577Attachment 2070578

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That is pretty cool. :metal:

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You better go look at it, sweet !

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Lucky kids got to ride in that to school. I love that thing!

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Stamper Logging ??? :lol:

Sometimes you have a great notion to buy something like that ;)

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Bringing it to the top with this sweet 58. From the comments it seems to be a bit contentious as to the origin of the truck. But it is a beautiful truck nonetheless. Plus I have a soft spot for Pontiac powered GMC's.


https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1958-gmc-napco-100/

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Ohh my, I think I’m in love. That’s a beauty right there!

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Here is the Stamper Chevy
https://bangshift.com/wp-content/upl...eat-Notion.jpg
Complete with hubcaps

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A beautiful bump to the top. Not my truck, but I do lust for it!

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...apco-suburban/

This 1959 Chevrolet Apache 3100 Carryall Suburban was purchased by the seller in 1989 and subsequently underwent a 13-year refurbishment ending in 2016. Work included a repaint in green and ivory, refinishing the frame in POR15, replacing the engine and wiring harness, and refreshing the suspension. The truck is powered by a 283ci V8 paired with a four-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case. Equipment includes a NAPCO 4×4 conversion, 17″ wheels with 10-ply tires, Warn locking front hubs, power-assisted drum brakes, and a cabin heater. This suburban is offered with refurbishment documentation, shop manuals, and a clean Illinois title.

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Nice looking rig, I wish it was mine!

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Back to the top with 59? Not mine.

https://barnfinds.com/classifieds/1959-gmc-3500-4x4/

Seller’s Description: Bought off the second owner in Michigan, all but the bed metal is not done, but other than that fully restored. This truck was a real work truck rated ton and half and has the original Napco 4×4 with Spicer Pto, Muncie 4 speed. I tried to keep it all original, but did put power brakes on and speakers for a sound system. this is a real head turner and drives like a tank. I have the original picture of if also and original hub caps. The 270 motor was over hauled. Its a bad ass truck

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Cool truck I wish I could buy. 1 1/2t? Uh, no it is not. Why exaggerate... or show you don't know what you're talking about? That truck only needs an honest description.

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Napco it's not just for 1/2 tons! Not my truck. The neighbors wouldn't allow it.

https://salem.craigslist.org/hvo/d/s...432324188.html

Selling for my uncle. RARE Chevy 50 with NAPCO 4x4 transmission and 2-ton dump bed. In-line 6. Brake lines were replaced about 10 years ago. Runs great. Dump works. Odometer hasn't worked in 20+ years. Gas tank leaks.

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Where's Bruce (Sakohntr)? This beast is in his neck of the woods.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/3581...4414046451025/

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That thing could be some fun!!!

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I want one!! That thing is awesome!
I haven’t seen the OG Ground Hawgs in a good while. Miss the days when they were a dime a dozen. The newer interco’s that are based on the ole Hawgs are cool but nothing beats the real thing. The sound they made going to down the road was something magic.

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I loved the old Ground Hawgs as well, in 1980 I had a 75 Jeep CJ-5 that I flipped the axles on and ran 15x38.5 Hawgs with the center cleats cut out. I miss the howl those things made running down the road.

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One of my Uncles had the baddest truck around when I was a kid. It was a beat to death 71 K20 on I believe 39" Ground Hawgs. It had a pretty healthy 396 with a 4 speed. You could hear the tire noise from miles away I swear. I remember several times his old freightliner wouldn't start and he would use Max to drag it away from hog chutes or out of snow drifts. They called the truck Max. Him and my other uncle used to take me out wheeling in that thing and it was a blast. It had a mid 60s Ford big truck hood scoop on it and the truck was hugger orange. I asked my cousin where it ever went and it seems no one knows.

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Heck yea! This was my old man’s 71 K10 in the early 90’s. 38” Hawgs and all, same thing could hear the tires for miles. I miss it a lot. And the shake the old bias plies would get for a few miles when they sat for bit.
I don’t know if I’ve got any head on shots of it showing off the bad ass Flirtin With Disaster bug shield he had on it. Molly hatchet always reminds me of that truck haha.

That truck did pretty good in the mud, and went thru 3+ feet of snow after atleast 2 different blizzards.

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I had 37/14.50 Armstrongs (Tru Grip RV?) on this '71 K/20. No-Spin and Tru-Trac. It did pretty good. Here's a morning after shot, circa 1982
Attachment 2181775

Has this truck been shown here?

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A guy I know up in Washington just bought the ultimate Napco rig in my opinion.

This unit is powered by a 478CI Toroflow high out put diesel and has a 6 speed Allison trans. It has a divorded t case and was originally orange. Howe painted the truck yellow and this truck was built to fight fires along the California beaches. It was ordered new by the Aptos Fire District. They ordered 2 of these trucks. This was truck# 3520. They don't know where 3521 is right now.

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That's the first I've seen of that beauty! I wonder if it was meant to have duals on the back? It looks awful narrow without them.
That's a Beast of a truck Ryan, looks to be in very good condition

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I think that truck is a creation. A big pickup conversion on a cab & chassis. I don't think you could get a pickup on a medium duty. I think that is definitely a dual wheel rear, all there was for cab & chassis.

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I saw one of these 48-53 GM trucks that was 4x4 and it was a dually as well. I believe the red truck is too it just doesn't have the outside duals. They obviously didn't make any 4x4 trucks then so anything 4x4 was odd. If I remember correctly Marmon Herrington did the truck I saw. It was cool and still was all original. It was at a historical society show. I'll have to dig up the pics.

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The red truck doesn't appear to be a Napco- large 5 lug bolt pattern that resembles Dodge Power Wagon axles. Napco front axles used the same bolt pattern as the factory GM axle.

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I follow him on Instagram and saw that thing on there the other day. Very cool find, he's got some nice other rigs too.

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I was thinking it's a medium duty NAPCO cab & chassis that someone put a pickup bed on. It's heavier than an 8-lug 1t and that could be the 5 & 10 lug that the larger trucks run

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I happened to come across a full detail of the red 52 Chevy while looking for the black Chevy 1 ton. I still haven't found it even tho I've seen it on the net many times.
This red Chevy has an interesting history and a bunch of.pics from when it was first found all the way through it's restoration. Here's a link to it.

https://classiccars.com/listings/vie...-arizona-86404

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That's really interesting. I wonder if it is one-off or if the power company had others built. I wonder if they built it.

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Napco axles will have a diff cover- this looks more and more like an International front axle from a M-3-4 1.5 ton (or similar) truck. Like the description in the link says it was made up of post war surplus parts and the smooth axle housing is a match to the International front axles used in the 40's.
http://classiccardb.com/chevrolet/26...-project-.html

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I made my comment before all this other info was given. I could certainly see it was not an 8-lug Napco and I thought the truck looked like it had the bigger sheet metal up front. I've owned a Napco, even rebuilt the front axle, so I know what the Napco axles look like.

This picture has been on the internet as long as I have. I've always wondered what it's story is. Appears to be a similar conversion
Attachment 2182918

I see the bigger ones with the wide 6-lug pattern and 10-lug. I've seen medium duty Fords Napcos with the wide 5. I guess it depends on what rating rear they have

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I certainly didn't mean to step on anyone's toes and don't know what trucks you've previously owned-so my apologies. I see a lot of converted trucks get posted online and the term Napco gets used almost generically for any 40's or 50's truck that was converted to four wheel drive. The more I dig into my own Napco (even rebuilding the front axle as we speak) and learn about these early upfits it gets a little old seeing everything tagged as a Napco. I was only confirming what axle was used in the red truck out of my own curiosity than anything as I, and possibly others looking to learn, have not seen it before.
Anyway back to the topic at hand...

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Great looking 59 GMC on Bring A Trailer. Not mine.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...150-napco-4x4/

This 1959 GMC 150 pickup is finished in tan and white over a matching interior and powered by a 270ci inline-six paired with a four-speed manual transmission and a NAPCO dual-range transfer case. Equipment includes a power take-off unit, white 16″ steel wheels, 4.56:1 gearing, quad headlights, and a vintage-style stereo. A refurbishment completed under prior ownership included repainting the body, rebuilding the driveline, and installing power brakes. The selling dealer acquired the truck in October 2021 and subsequently installed the wood bed floor. This GMC pickup is offered with NAPCO manuals, refurbishment records, and a clean Pennsylvania title.

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Saw this old Ford M/H pop up on F.B. Marketplace. Pretty cool old beast!
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...4767032940943/

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1955 Suburban conversion. Every time I see one of these I kick myself for not buying the one I could have back in 88. Oh there were good reasons not to at the time. Obviously this bring a trailer auction isn't mine.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...rolet-3100-20/


This 1955 Chevrolet 3100 Suburban is equipped with the NAPCO 4×4 Powr-Pak conversion kit and is said to have remained in the current owner’s family since 2002. The truck is finished in brown with cream accents over black vinyl and powered by a 235ci inline-six mated with a four-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case. Equipment includes 16″ steel wheels, a winch, a tubular front bumper, dual side mirrors, a split tailgate, and an aftermarket cassette stereo. The truck was recently inherited by the current owner after an extended period of disuse, and service in preparation for the sale reportedly included flushing the fuel system, cleaning the fuel tank and carburetor, servicing the brakes, and replacing the battery, fuel lines, starter, and valve cover gasket. This Suburban is now offered at no reserve by the seller on behalf of the owner with a duplicate California title.

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Dang that thing is seriously cool! I wish I had the cash and room for another one.