'56 Chevy 4x4 ???

I went to look at a '56 Chevy 4 wheel drive truck Sunday. I expected it to be a hacked up piece of junk on an 80s 4x4 chassis, figuring if the body was good I'd find another chassis to put it on, but as far as I can tell it is all original. I really don't have any interest in 4 wheel drive and prefer 'em low, but it's in such great shape I'm having a hard time passing it up. It has one spot of rust in the driver rocker where there's some bondo, and the rest of the body and frame are completely rust free.

I guess what I'd like to know is would the 4x4 chassis have any value to sell or swap for a 2 wheel drive original, and would I be destroying a rare truck if the body and chassis were seperated. Would it be a beast to drive the way it sits if I kept it original? He is asking $3k and from talking to him I feel I can get it for $2k. I've been looking for awhile, and around here it's hard to find these trucks, in 2wd, for less than $5k in any condition. This one has near perfect sheetmetal, V8, stick, and powersteering. Thanks guys for any advice. Jay

 

power steering isn't original for a 56 truck...probably it has later axles under the original frame? 56 would be a NAPCO conversion, some guys go nuts over that stuff. Did you happen to notice if it has the orignal round pumpkin differentials in it?

 

If it's a NAPCO truck, don't mess with it. It's worth a bundle. If you can get it for 2k and it's in nice shape, either it's not a NAPCO truck, or the guy just knows nothing about it. If you want to build a hot rod, buy that truck and flip it for a 2 wheeler.

Another thing is you may have a lot of fun with a 4x4 pickup. Especially if it's a NAPCO. It's kinda the ultimate shop / farm truck. I know that's why I enjoy driving around in my Willys pickup. It's so rare to see a 4x4 truck of that vintage, it's really different.

Just my 2 cents...

 

The guy knows nothing about it. He has money. Saw something he liked and bought on the spot. He's had it sitting in his warehouse for six years and never even started it. Now his wife wants it gone.
From what I remember the pumpkins do like like the one is this pic
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/Fry/vintage%204wd/pg1.jpg

The power steering is odd looking. Definitely not off a late model truck. I might go look at it again this weekend. His buddy is telling him he'd be lucky to get $1000 for an old truck like that, so he asked me to do a little research and let him know what I think a fair price would be. But, his wife listed it without telling him while he was out of town on business, and he's a decent enough guy that he said until the ad runs it's course he'll let it gor for a fair offer, but won't be listing it again. So, I don't want to low ball him too much.

 

THe original truck power steering back then used a linkage system, the control valve was in the drag link, then two hoses from there to the pump (which is mounted on the rear of the generator on some models), and two got to the ram which connects to the tie rod and actually does the steering

Look for NAPCO to be cast into the front axle housing. And instruction tags on the dashboard.

 

Yep, It's that exact setup. Thanks.

 

Sounds like a neat truck! not many people want them, but those that do seem to pay

 

I think there is a Yahoo group devoted to NAPCO trucks. There are people that want those things. Buy it and become one of them, or as someone else suggested flip it to finance the one you really want.

 

those trucks look bad ass slamed but do looked good in 4X4 also.napco are a rare breed.

 

Should be worth double the money if it cleans up nice, maybe more, really nice done ones in Hemmings start out about $10K. Napcos are beasts, I drove an original '55 a little bit. Nothing like a 4-wheel power slide going up hill in the mud. Hard to find a nice original that's not hacked up or modified over the years. My buddy wants $2000 for one that's a rotty non-runner but has a complete original Napco setup under it, if that gives any idea.

 

NAPCO Owners Group

 

do a search here or utube for something like "napco pikes peak" and you'll want that truck!

 

If you don't want it, somebody in the snow belt does. That's a desireable truck round these parts, way more desireable than a regular old 2wd.

4x4 guys are every bit as fanatical as hot rod guys. What you're asking in that world would be akin to coming on the HAMB and saying you found a 60s deuce drag car and wanna make it a street rod.

 

Sounds like that truck would be a minimum of 5 or 6 grand if it is a good runner. Probably a lot higher with the V-8 and power steering.

Chassis and running gear some were between 1000 to 2000.

If that is a stock power-steering pump I've seen them go for 4k alone before everything feel to shit...

I like low, but these trucks are kind of addicting in their own way and they get a hell of allot of attention for an old truck. I have two and they make a pretty good drivers with the V-8. No loss in turning radius over 2 wheel drive, and about 17mph freeway if I stay around 65 ...

Hell of a score .....

http://napcopowrpak.groupee.net/eve?a=cfrm

 

I'll go ahead and give $1500

 

I Know it isn't a chevy but I recently built a ford f-1 into a stock looking 4x4 and it gets way more attention than my nicer 2wd f-1.


For that price I would buy it right away....epececially if it is an original conversion.

 

I assume you're talking just about the running gear?