56 Napco
 

I am going to look at a 56 Napco that is for sale. I have been researching these trucks for a while, however information for these trucks isn't as abundant as I thought.

It seems pretty easy to tell if its a napco, with the very rounded diff. and if it does in fact have "Napco" stamped on the housing. But since you couldn't order a chevy from the factory with a Napco conversion until 57 how can I tell if it was originally in fact a Napco?

Any one have any tips of what to look for? Was the only engine avalaible a inline 6? What other options were available? Did they offer a flat bed from the factory? A duelie? Any info like this would be a great help. ;)

from the research i have done 55 was the first year you could get a napco from chevy, i cant really help you out much but hope you get it they are neat trucks.

Thanks krazy, here is what I found from Napco4x4.org

Though the date of the first NAPCO 4x4 conversion is unknown, we do know that in July and August of 1954, NAPCO was very busy pushing its proven 4x4 conversion on truck upfitters and GMC dealers across the country. Upfitters were companies that installed upgrades and accessories like winches, auxiliary transmissions, tandem drive axles, dump bodies and hydrovac systems on stock factory trucks. The NAPCO slogan proudly stated: "Now you can have a standard Chevrolet four wheel drive pickup featuring the traction power of a tank, or, at the flip of a finger, a smoother riding, high speed, over the road truck. Aptly named the Mountain Goat, this full sized pickup will literally leap up mountains, as well as carry you through deep mud, sand, or snow."

Apparently NAPCO reached an agreement with both GMC and Chevrolet to supply them with the Powr-Pak conversion kits, and GMC began to produce 4x4 trucks on the factory assembly line (using NAPCO components) starting in 1956, with Chevrolet following suite in 1957. By the end of 1957 both GMC and Chevrolet trucks could be ordered from the factory with the NAPCO Powr-Pak conversion. The two offered identical systems other than the availability of a V-8 and an automatic transmission on the GMC trucks. The Chevy could only be ordered with the 235ci six cylinder and a four speed manual (although there was nothing stopping an owner from ordering whatever he or she wanted in a 2 wheel drive truck and then having a NAPCO Powr-Pak "upfitted" by the dealer).

Are there any special emblems or badges that a Napco truck would have? Does it say napco anywhere on the exterior or interior?

i have seen badges that say napco 4x4 on them but have never seen them on a vehicle and have seen 2 different styles so i really can not help you there.

Jeremy,
Check out: www.napco4x4.org this is the biggest users group for NAPCO trucks. The members are experts on the these trucks and very helpful. Website has great history and details on the old trucks.

yeah that is where I got all my information. Good site :D

Jeremy, is that the red 3800 NAPCO that resembles your avatar? Beautiful truck. Late '57s were the first line built Chevrolet/NAPCOs. Earlier Chevrolet trucks were typically kitted at the dealership.

Ya that is her, bought her a few days ago :)

Congratulations. That's a great looking truck.

I'd love to see more photos if you wouldn't mind sending them my way.

Congratulations on the find Jeremy!

Thanks for the compliments. I love the truck so far. Sure is hard to find parts and info on these trucks though. Not the same as 67-72 :)
Here is the only picture I have handy I will post some more in a couple days.

WICKED!!! love that truck man, it looks tough as hell just sittin still!!

Yes, that's the one alright. Nice ride!

Jeremy_5
The early Napcos were standard trucks that were sent out to be converted prior to 1957
The front axle should have a stamp on it saying NAPCO like this one
The first year for the in-house conversions was 1957.
The kits were designed to be installed with no modification other than some holes drilled in to the frame, this way you could put the vehicle back to its original state and then move the converion to your new truck.
The only way to tell a line built truck is the crossmember had rivits instead of bolts.
There should be a way to date the conversion with numbers off of the components.
I had a 1957 napco for a while during the late seventies.
Here is a pic I took of it around 1977