NAPCO Thread

[HO455]

Extra rare 1950 Napco with hubcaps! $15000. Not mine but man I wish it was.


https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/c...110141320.html

Vintage 1950 Chevy NAPCO rare barn find. $15,000
Two stick four-wheel-drive with PTO winch 9 foot stepside long box. Eight lug axles. Needs restoring, one of a kind. Engine upgrade in 1957 to pressurized 235 six cylinder, runs strong. Although they did use the long style water pump so radiator bracket repair is needed have all the parts
Serious inquiries only if you know NAPCO trucks you know this one’s very rare.
Typical floorboard rust. I have many parts that go along with it.
Everything says NAPCO and it’s pre-power pack edition so it’s extremely rare. Two stick Transfer case with the third for the winch. I’ve seen very few conversions with an aftermarket winch on a NAPCO truck of this of era. The winch was purchased in Seattle with a tag that says Seattle Washington. Pretty cool old Truck my interest is turning a different direction right now so it’s up for sale.
A similar restored truck just sold at Mecums auction for 56,000 without the PTO winch. So this truck has great potential.

[Yukon Jack]

Wicked truck Bad4wd! I'd welcome you to the board, but looks like you've been around for a number of years!

[special-K]

That`s a great looking project.I`m all jealous and stuff,now.

[Walts_restoration]

after reading this thread, i have confirmed we do have a napco.













It has a small block Chevy with a two barrel under the hood, incomplete, no trans, my dad picked it up from somebody who was restoring it back in the day i believe, ill ask him later. looks like a pretty solid truck, has some rust, but after watching that napco movie on youtube i wanna restore it to stock condition.

67-72s may be more popular, but nothing is sexier than a nicely done task force.

[justcuz]

All you need is an old sm-420 4 speed and you got it made for running gear.
They should be cheap and easy to find. In use in Chevy trucks from late 40's early 50's till 1967 I believe from 1/2 tons up to 2 1/2 (C60?)ton trucks.

[Walts_restoration]

Originally Posted by justcuz

All you need is an old sm-420 4 speed and you got it made for running gear.
They should be cheap and easy to find. In use in Chevy trucks from late 40's early 50's till 1967 I believe from 1/2 tons up to 2 1/2 (C60?)ton trucks.

is it the same trans as the 2wds used?

[justcuz]

Originally Posted by Walts_restoration

is it the same trans as the 2wds used?

Yes, because it has a divorced t-case a 2wd transmission can be used.

[abebummy26]

question what year is that?

[Walts_restoration]

my old man said its a 57, i forgot to look at the hood when i was taking pictures lol. its been here all my life... well it doesnt help we have over 150 cars haha, but im pretty sure its a 57.

[abebummy26]

uh if its a 57 it might not be a true napco it could be a factory 4x4

[special-K]

Originally Posted by abebummy26

uh if its a 57 it might not be a true napco it could be a factory 4x4

Not yet in`57.And,the first factory 4wds were Napcos.

[Walts_restoration]

trust me, shes a napco. Ive also got a a buddy of mine was converting to a napco-like truck, but he was going to use a late 70s drive train (bbc, th400 np205).

[too much stuff]

Probably my favorite napco. Belongs to board member sakohntr. I believe it had 28,XXX actual miles when he bought this. We left grand rapids MN in a cavalier, drove past golden colorado, gave the car away and jumped in this thing and drove it home. 292, 4 speed and 5:13 gears. I think we hit 55mph a couple times briefly. Bruce will add more i think after he sees this.

[special-K]

There she is,one of the most beautiful trucks on this website!

And what a cool adventure.Just do it!

[special-K]

You didn`t post this one:

[thirdstreettito]

Special-K, check out http://www.firenews.org/listing.html

Lots of hot trucks.

[special-K]

Thanks for the helpful link.I ended up there before somehow.

[justcuz]

I've seen several 3/4 ton Napco's in GM products and they all had transfer case output and front axle pumpkins were on the drivers side as opposed to the 1/2 tons that were all on the passenger side. Why do you suppose that is? It would seem easier to keep them all the same. I am gonna check the Napco site and see if they have an explination.

[justcuz]

Looked at Napco site, picture gallery has 3/4 and 1 tons with front drive on either side. What gives?

[Bad4wd]

1955, 1st series 3/4 ton and up and 2nd series gm trucks and earlier years should all be driver side. 1956 to "59 Napco trucks should all be pass. side. 1955 was the odd year because of the two differant trucks in the same year. The second series "55 1/2 ton went to a cv joint rear driveshaft instead of the old torque tube style, So you could easily put blocks in the back to raise the rear to match the frt. heght. I had a 2nd series "55 chevy 1/2 ton with a driv. side 8-lug, 3.90 gear and 2 lever rockwell transfer case. Napco also made a 1" thick spacer for the rear axle for the "55 1/2 ton to go from 6-lugs to 8 but really used only 6-lug nuts on a 8 bolt pattern but you would never know because of the hubcap. I think after "55, Napco had the time to develop a new 6-lug & 8-lug frt axles for the new trucks back then. I think this is right.......Dave.

[pulltilbroke]

Heres some pics I snapped of a Big Napco in central NE

[thirdstreettito]

Words cannot describe how much I love that truck.

[7T2]

From Goodguys Columbus:

[7T2]

more...

[tcb-1]

don't tell anyone I'm over here..... but I am a closet NAPCO fanatic! these rigs are just so cool and purpose built!

pulltilbroke,
is that wrecker in Eagle? love to see it in person when I'm through there heading to Ashland.