NAPCO Thread

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[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 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/

[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.

[57taskforce]

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

[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

[special-K]

I love that thing! There are some odd NAPCO conversions out there. The military and others had some mighty custom stuff, like cabovers, school busses, cabover school buses...

Last weekend at a big rig show & shine this guy had what started out as a, early-50s US Army Chevy NAPCO aluminum Stepvan. I took pictures but just got a new phone this week and managed to lose all my pictures.

This thing had a story. It ended up bought from the military and converted back to 2wd by Wonder Bread. Some other business bought it from them and painted it again. This guy got it and stripped all that paint down, plus the Army scuffed it with 80 grit so he had to work all that out to have the polished look it has now. He put it on an F350 4wd chassis, Accurides, coker bias-ply 6.50-16 M&S, hi-performance-built 6BT, with a 6spd out of a 2 1/2t IH. I really regret losing those pictures. That thing was neat. He still had the NAPCO Power-Pak emblems on it. Too bad it's no longer one, only in spirit now

[best view]

There’s a 69 longhorn napco legit on mecum in kc beginning of December

[HO455]

58 Suburban up for sale this week. Not mine.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...uburban-napco/

This 1958 Chevrolet Apache Suburban Carryall has been refinished in mint green and white over a black and gray vinyl interior and is powered by a 283ci V8 paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Refurbishment work was carried out circa 2000, and the truck was acquired by the seller on BaT in August 2021. Equipment includes a NAPCO 4×4 conversion, Warn locking front hubs, power steering, power brakes, Bilstein shocks, a cabin heater, and an Edelbrock intake manifold and carburetor. This Suburban is now offered with manufacturer’s literature and a clean California title in the seller’s name.

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by HO455

58 Suburban up for sale this week. Not mine.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...uburban-napco/

This 1958 Chevrolet Apache Suburban Carryall has been refinished in mint green and white over a black and gray vinyl interior and is powered by a 283ci V8 paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Refurbishment work was carried out circa 2000, and the truck was acquired by the seller on BaT in August 2021. Equipment includes a NAPCO 4×4 conversion, Warn locking front hubs, power steering, power brakes, Bilstein shocks, a cabin heater, and an Edelbrock intake manifold and carburetor. This Suburban is now offered with manufacturer’s literature and a clean California title in the seller’s name.

I like it!!

[special-K]

^^^ If I was rich I'd have the biggest collection of NAPCOs on the planet.

But, alas, I have no money for such things...boo hoo. but, today I hope to be looking at a '70 Longhorn NAPCO conversion former Navy order. How historic? Top dog 67-72 4wd collector in my book. Listing says bad rust in cab. I have a 69/70 1t cab, air/high hump/cab lights just waiting for a truck like this. I want it so bad I'm going to go look at it anyway.

I watched this truck sit parked at a house nearby since the '80s. Always meant to ask about it. Sat so long it turned green. But I always had plenty of K/20s without rust and from the road I thought this was a factory K/20. Lord knows why the Navy needed a pickup with extra 6' bad enough to build such an expensive (for gov't vehicle) and unique truck. Decommissioned in '80. This truck sold a couple/few years ago in Marketplace. Now that guy is selling, $3,900. My camera is on the blink (needs battery) and I don't use my phone for this forum. If anyone is interested let me know in PM and I can send pictures by phone

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...s&__tn__=!%3AD

[57taskforce]

Tim, My dad is here in NM visiting, we were looking at that navy truck On FB last weekend. Looks like it’s got some real potential. If you end up with it I can’t wait to see what you make of it.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

Tim, My dad is here in NM visiting, we were looking at that navy truck On FB last weekend. Looks like it’s got some real potential. If you end up with it I can’t wait to see what you make of it.

Man, I was all over that thing. First caller, called and called (IM). Had to apologize if I was being a nuisance. The guy was so slow to respond, over and over again. It was still in the Mt. Airy area. That guy frustrated me so much I gave up. I have known of that truck for almost 40 years and I really thought this was it. The guy sure didn't act like someone wanting to sell something. I told him I'm a buyer sight unseen, too. Never got past IMs with him. I hope whoever bought it does it proper, as in 100% original. That would have been my antique truck show piece

[KQQL IT]

54/5 rolling thru the Brooks Oregon truck show.

[HO455]

Super nice Napco in the 57 GMC flavor. Not mine.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...pick-up-truck/

This 1957 GMC 100 NAPCO is a 1/2-ton long-bed 4×4 pickup that was acquired by the seller in Florida 12 years ago and underwent a rebuild process that was completed in 2017. The body was repainted metallic blue, and the seller states the 347ci V8, four-speed manual transmission, and two-speed transfer case were also rebuilt at that time. Additional equipment includes body-color 15″ steel wheels, a wood-plank floor bed, LED headlights, a Holley four-barrel carburetor, a dual snorkel air cleaner, a Vintage Air climate control system, AutoMeter gauges, and a Retrosound* AM/FM radio. This GMC 100 is now offered with a clean Florida title in the seller’s name