What can you tell me about NAPCO trucks?

I had a guy contact me today about helping him update his '56 chevy NAPCO 4x4. He wants disc brakes and updated steering. Does anyone know anything about these trucks? Did they use the same steering boxes as 2 wd trucks? What was the bolt pattern of the lugs (I think they're 8 lugs, right)? Any help would be appreciated. I told him I'd do some research and get back to him.

 

is it a half ton or 3/4 ton? 1/2 was 6 lug, 3/4 was 8 lug. Standard Chevy bolt pattern was used on the NAPCOs

I guess he doesn't want a NAPCO truck any more, he wants a late model....too bad....they are neat old conversions. Might be able to get some $$$ for the complete set of NAPCO parts. Should be able to put a "modern" 70s vintage front end under there pretty easy, and swap in a similar power steering box, etc. And might as well go with that modern 208 transfer case (or a strong 205) while he's at it.

 

These are my favorite vintage 4x4's.
If I recall correctly the NAPCO transfer cases are reversed as compared to the 203, 205, 231 and so on. Which means a standard four wheel drive front end won't work. The ring and pinion would spin in reverse if he is in forward.
They are very stout axles. I would ditch the discs but add power steering or hydraulic ***ist. This shoud be a relatively simple upgrade.

Hope this helps!

******Knuckles

 

I have owned two NAPCO Chevy trucks in my time. One was a 58 shortbed and the other a 58 suburban.

Chevy offered this as an aftermarket 4wd conversion and it was done at the dealership level until the last year or two they offered it, at which point they did ***emble them on the factory line for a very short time. The units were made by National Auto Parts Company (I think I have this right).


Tell your client to leave it alone. The value of his truck is in the fact that it is a NAPCO, the minute he attempts an "upgrade" it is no longer really an official NAPCO conversion. Just My .02.

If you need more info about NAPCO trucks, there is an old guy out here in CA named Bud Bixler that is the NAPCO guru. I will get you his number if you PM me. I ***ume he is still with us....

John

 

what he saidx2. my cousin has a '57

 

I went the other direction with my NAPCO equipped 55 pickup. My dad didn't want me taking a nice pickup out into the woods so he had a camaro clip installed instead. To this day I do not regret his decision.

Dave

 

If he wants to convert it, I'd say go for it. 4x4 trucks are hideous in my opinion. All the tri-five chevy trucks look great slammed, or with a low stance.

 

Hey Wayfarer, I just found a 57 FORD Napco 1/2 ton pickup here in Spokane, I thought the Napcos were strickly GM...

 

The web sight is www.napco4x4.org

 

Napco was the 4wd company, they supplied the parts for the conversions to GM, studebaker, ford

 

NAPCO pickups are bad-***!

 

That's an incredible story,read the whole thing. Having worked in the truck parts industry,i've handled many ****er parts. Nice to know the history behind the name,of such a successful corporation. Thank You.

 

This pic was on here a while ago.I'm told it belongs to a HAMBer, Jesse James,from West Coast Choppers.

 

How can you not like these pickups? Either the Ford's or the GMC/ Chevys look good up high, wouldn't you agree? They do look *****en' when they're slammed as well. check it:

 

I guess it's just personal tastes and where ya live. I live in a place that has a lot of 4X4 trucks and lifted trucks, so I pretty much hate them and think they look stupid. But I imagine if I lived elsewhere and didn't see one every time I turned a corner I'd prolly dislike them less.

 

That's like telling someone with a 50's era Duece roadster straight out of the barn to take it Boyd.

 

The first conversions for Ford were Coleman. I had a later Napco Ford and it was a horrible thing, bump steer was so bad that it would rip the steering wheel from your hands and it broke wheel studs at an alarming rate for some reason.
I say do what you want to it and make it drivable.

 

I really don't think it's quite the same as that...

 

Here's my cuz' 57. I think he painted it dark blue now. Its bad ***. He lives in NM where it snows, and he takes it to go hunting and fishing etc. If you wanted to put a different front clip, I would just find another non-napco truck. They are pretty rare from what I understand, kind of a shame to cut one up.

 

Not quite. The first conversions, not authorized, were by Jesse Livingood done to Model Ts. The second, and Ford authorized, were by Marmon-Herrington, starting in 1935. Any car or commercial vehicle (1/2 ton) up to the 1.5 ton trucks were converted. This changed in 1949 when the new Fords came out with independent front suspension. There are a few woody Ford 4wd out there in addition to a very few Ford roadsters and convertibles. Some Fords were converted by Coleman, but this was postwar, as far as I know.

One model of transfer case used was the ****er 23, which was a twin to the Model 24 used in all 4wd Ford pickups 1959 to 1966, then only in the 3/4 tons up to 1973. The only difference between the two was the 23 dumped its front output on the opposite side as the 24.

I would second leaving the Napco drivetrain untouched. Put in some 70s axles if the desire is there to upgrade.

 

Right you are, I was thinking post war I guess and forgot about Marmon-Herrington. They were still converting the 2-3 ton trucks into the 70s, kind of lost track of them after that. I had worked on several of those and at least one Pathfinder with a Dana 70 front end.

BTW, I love that green Jimmy, where did you ever find those 19.5s? I have only ever seen maybe 3 sets of those.

 

I love the Napco's, if he wants to modernize it I'd get another truck and put it on a newer 4x4 frame, the Napco is worth a bunch as it sits, and the drums are pretty decent as well..

 

Good info to know about early conversions, thanks. The Green GMC's not mine (wish it were), it was from Napco4x4.org. I agree, I've never really seen many of those 19.5'ers on these trucks, but they look great and I definitely want to find a set for myself.

 

I bought a 1967 F250 Ford 4wd a few years ago; it came with four mounted Firestone 19.5 wheels and two for spares. They were an option on Fords from 1956-1966. Dodges, and apparently Chevies, had these as options as well, most likely in the same time period. I listed them for sale on some pickup sites for $200. Many people just wanted one or two, I wanted to let the whole set go. Finally, some fellow from the Twin Cities area called; I offered all six for $150, since I knew shipping would be a killer. He was happy to have them, since he had a 1964 Ford F250 4wd, and a 1965 Mercury M250 4wd. One of his pickups had the 19.5s, and he had been looking for a set for the other. I had almost given up hope of being rid of them!

 

This is a Napco truck, how much is it worth? How can you not love this truck?

 

Hi I have some Marmon Herrington and Napco trucks all 1/2 ton. Here are a few pictures of some of them. Also if anyone know of some M H 1/2 ton trucks I'm look for some more. Thanks Terry Gunter

 

What he said.

 

Just one more saying don't do it. 2WD tri-five trucks are plentiful. Napco conversions are most definitely NOT. Sell the 4WD truck to a restorer and use the cash to fund the project.

 

Dave, your truck is pretty sweet. I do like 'em sitting in the weeds, but an all stock NAPCO gets my blood pumping too. I told ya I would take all that NAPCO stuff of your hands!

In 1958 my grandpa ordered a GMC 3/4 ton NAPCO, picked it up as it rolled off the factory line and drove it home. He ordered it without a bed. He still drives it during the winter months in Montana since it his is only 4wd vehicle. Less than 80K miles on it. I've been collecting parts to restore it...someday.

Chad

 

I agree with the posters that recommend converting a 2wd to a 4x4 using the later components rather than fooling with the original Napco.
I converted my big block powered 55 Cameo to a 4x4 setup using a TH400 powering a 203 transfer case with a part time conversion, and front and rear axles from a 76 Blazer. I was able to install everything without making any changes to the 55. I am now converting back to the original 2wd running gear, and it will be just a matter of bolting all the original components ( which I had saved) back into place. Don't worry about a 203 transfer case being able to stand up to the task. I haven't been able to break mine in 18 years.
Bob