The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1957 napco

A guy came by the shop and was admiring my Panel truck and the work I was doing.... In our conversation , he tells me he's got a 1957 napco truck , and he's willing to let it go cheap....
Of coarse I was interested... like real cheap w free delivery.
I have not seen the truck yet, but he described it as having similar problems as my panel. the lowers were rough and the floor is toast. But the glass was there.
I have not had any experience with Task force trucks or napco.
couple of questions...
1 how to identify true napco?
2 What are the hard to find/expensive parts for TF trucks and or napcos?
3 apx worth of finished truck. kept original as possible?

Thank you .

any NAPCO parts are hard to find and expensive, the rest of the TF trucks have more parts available than previous series, but nothing is "inexpensive" and there are really no panel-specific parts reproduced .... finished worth is what someone will pay for it, resurrecting a rusty old truck will never result in a profit .... ID info best found at the NAPCO site

Bill

Thanks Red58 .
My panel is a 1949 1 ton, so I am well aware of the lack of panel parts out there. there are 3 parts I know are all most impossible to find for my truck....
1 deluxe trim.
2 running boards
3 rear fenders
Do TF/napco half tons have any issues like this?
I know how expensive buying parts can be , I am more worried about running into issues like this.

I have a 1957 Task Force truck I converted to a NAPCO. You can find the parts, but sometimes you really have to "dig" for them. What I did was buy two sets of complete NAPCO running gear. Then you also have to be very careful, because the 1957 NAPCO is not exactly the same as a 1958, for example. Some parts you may just need to get re-built. As an example. depending on what part of 1957, the front brake assemblies may be 1954 Studebaker brakes. The shoes are impossible to find, the adjusters you can buy from the Studebaker sites,and the drums are also impossible to find.. But you can get around it by rebuilding the shoes and slightly modifying stock drums. However, many parts can be bought new, but may be designated as for another truck, e.g., the transfer case re-build kit I bought was for a Ford, but was the same as the Spicer 23. With all that, for me, the are the "coolest of the cool." I would go for it.
don

Don covered the NAPCO part, which is common to any model truck and entirely separate from panel-specific problems ... the TF panels don't really have any 'impossible' bits, most of the panel specific parts are not reproduced, but they can be obtained used .... problem pieces are the back doors and their hinges and latches, gas tanks and senders, and load-body patch panels, which can all be worked out

Bill

Well after a couple of tries the owner has yet to respond to me. Ill try him one more time today. I hope I get this truck.

Just so there is no confusion, I am talking about a 57TF napco pickup.

The owner contacted me. Hope to have pics of the truck here in a couple days. From what I can tell the major issues besides the usual lower rust, the rear end needs replacing or rebuilding. From what I understand the rears of Napco's where untouched. Is this correct?

I got pics this morning right after my last post...
Napco pic 1
Napco 2
Kinda impressed with the condition of the truck. For the price I expected way worse. In the email I was informed there is no rear end or transfer case or transmission.
I think these are bed parts? Step side I believe.
inside cab , pile of parts
What is on the back of this truck?
bed gone but might be in the truck.

"way worse"? I'm not sure it could be much worse
you need to consider where you're going to find the other half of a 57 truck ....
with no drive line it's not a NAPCO, it's a parts truck that might have a NAPCO front axle, although because that wasn't cannibalized with the rest it's likely no good ....
what's inside the truck doesn't belong to a 57, looks like part of an older front fender ....
it's already had so many parts scavenged, for what's left 'real cheap' would be free, even the fogged glass isn't worth paying for

Bill

I agree there's not much there, but the front end not being scavenged could be for a variety of reasons, not just because it's no good. If the front axle is true NAPCO you've got a start, but it will be a long uphill battle finding all the other correct NAPCO stuff...

Thanks guys , I just got off the phone with the guy. He said he is willing to give me a complete bed w/o rot but with a lot of dents. for a lil more money. And he'll throw in a rear end from a 3/4 ton 60-62 chevy truck for free.
The 235 is seized.
I got a feeling its not an original napco.
If this is true , then I dont care what transfer case I put in.
Thinking small block chevy and auto trans. Or if I dont use my SM420 in my panel truck, use it in this truck.
I have a newer EFI w computer 350 w 700r4 and new style transfer case , sitting around the shop collecting dust.
I really need some tips on figuring out if this is a napco or not.This will determine which way I will invest in this truck.

what the truck originally was is irrelevant now - really, the only thing that makes it a NAPCO is the NAPCO driveline, if it's not there it's just another 57 basket case, if you could come up with all the NAPCO driveline pieces you can turn any truck into a "NAPCO" .... and a 60's rear isn't a direct swap into a 57

Bill

Just so we all know we are talking scrap prices.
I guess I can be happy with just a plain old 57 2wd hotrod. I am sure someone needs a Napco front axle. In the mean while I can see what I can drum up for Napco parts. I have a friend locally , he actually donated a transfer case to my panel truck. He has a TF Napco in awesome condition but not quite finished. He said no way when asked about selling the truck. But he might have Napco parts. He and I are kinda like rivals in the trails and mud pits and "whos truck is badder" thing. But we take care of each other . I might have to cruise out to see him.