Need help with Identification!

[Bigben89]

Hello all,
Had quite the adventure yesterday. Got to check out a honey hole that had over 80 trucks sitting in it. I originally went up to look at a 1966 LCF GMC 3500 but it was mis-identified and was not a LCF. Needless to say very cool stuff up there. 1939 dodge, 1948 Diamond T. 100% complete and original with 20 in wheels. (very cool, very rare) tons of other fords that were all rare themselves. Trucks like a 1959 F-250, custom cab, 4wd with 292.

Anyway, since they didn't have the truck I wanted I did some exploring and came across what I was told was a 1953 3100 Chevy 5 window 4wd. Well anything 4wd of that era I automatically assumed had to be a NAPCO kit and I was correct there. Non factory add on of course. Checked out the VIN and it read 2-1-GR-F 6797. Using a de-coder and reading it as explained in the decoder I came up with Janesville, WI, 1949, 3600 series, Jun production. At the surface everything is labeled 3100 with badging etc. Was also told it was an original truck with nothing swapped out.

What is everyone's thoughts? What do I have? How special is it?

[Henry50]

Definitely a a 49 3600 not a 3100. Engine has been changed to a later 50's 235.

[mongocanfly]

Gm didn't offer napco from the factory until 56 so at least that's been swapped out..
Hope you bought it though..that's a neat old truck

[Bigben89]

Ok then we all agree on the 49 as it sits. And I've looked at enough vehicles to know when someone has bought something and upgraded the drivability of it. I couldn't get into the cab so I'm assuming there may be an upgraded trans behind there as well. There was a updated guage package bolted to the dash.

On the NAPCO side as I stated before it is obviously a NAPCO kit and was added to the truck after purchase because factory wasn't offered until 56. Are those kits and spare parts easy to find?

What about that side box on the bed, is that a factory option or an add on?

Thanks for the info so far!!

[mr48chev]

Either shipped to Napco to be converted or as suggested above the kit was installed after it was purchased. In those days you bought the truck and bought the kit and then usually the dealer installed the kit.

Very cool truck even with a few things that aren't quite right. I wouldn't put much credence in the badging as a hood could have been changed before a repaint at one time. Truck is a long bed 3/4 ton that is right for the vin.

[Bigben89]

Yea I knew it probably wasn't what it was advertised as since most things on the list I looked at weren't. One of the reasons I went up there was to help out and ID VIN's on the internationals she had since that is my specialty. I grabbed this one just cause of the 4x4. For a five window I think it was fair at $2000 which is what I paid. I just gambled on the NAPCO since I figured there might be some additional value there. Finally, I could tell with the swaps and added equipment that it was a daily fairly recently so it was probably it good enough condition to get her going relatively cheap. It will go behind the 49' KB on the list and should start into her hopefully this fall after hunting season. Thanks for the help.

[Daze57]

can ya get more picts of the C O E in the backround?

[mongocanfly]

Napco + coe= hmmm..

[Russell Ashley]

I'm thinking that box on the side of the Napco truck is a cut down gas tank. Definitely would have been fun to visit that yard.

[Bigben89]

Russell,
Good spot! I think you are correct. I'm finishing up an international before I can jump into this project.

[Bigben89]

Redneck Nudies attached. Let me know if anyone has questions. They are for sale BTW.

[Bigben89]

And the three COEs

[Bigben89]

The Blue one is 100% there except for the rust through on the rear of the cab at the seam. The other two are 100% except for the one with the smashed fender

[mongocanfly]

those coe's are sweet..every time I see one I start wanting one for another project..again..like I need something else to do..any advertised prices on any of those ?

[Bigben89]

Ranging between $5 and $9K. I'm not huge into the COEs so I don't know what kind of market there is. Don't get me wrong I know what they are and if I had the money to buy one I would but too far down on the list. Someone from California or out of state will pay that no problem.

[mongocanfly]

There's a descent demand for the coe's..especially ones low on rust..and they're harder to find in the south..that's a little out of my playing around money range..I'm sinking a ton in my current build..but its hard to pass on a good deal when you find one

[mongocanfly]

What are the other two big trucks in your pics..dodge and IH?

[1project2many]

The one with the tires in the bed is the '48 Diamond T. They had a very distinctive grille, lower window height, and more angle in the glass than most trucks of the time. You can just make out the Diamond emblem above the grille.



The other looks like the '39 Dodge. The lines in the fenders are a giveaway for Dodge trucks.

[joedoh]

that thing on the side looks like a live well for fish.