NAPCO Thread

[special-K]

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

[special-K]

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.

[HO455]

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.

[BLAZERMAN]

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

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by BLAZERMAN

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

That thing could be some fun!!!

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by BLAZERMAN

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

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.

[BLAZERMAN]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

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.

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.

[special-K]

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


Has this truck been shown here?

[Dieselwrencher]

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.

[BLAZERMAN]

Originally Posted by special-K

Has this truck been shown here?

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.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

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.

That's a Beast of a truck Ryan, looks to be in very good condition

[MJN]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

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.

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.

[HO455]

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.

[Louisvillekytruck]

Originally Posted by HO455

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.

Cool truck

[MJN]

Originally Posted by special-K

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?

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.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by MJN

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.

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

[BLAZERMAN]

Originally Posted by special-K

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

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

[MJN]

Originally Posted by special-K

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

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

[special-K]

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.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by special-K

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.

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.

[special-K]

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.

[special-K]

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


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

[MJN]

Originally Posted by special-K

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 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...

[HO455]

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.

[BLAZERMAN]

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

[57taskforce]

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