The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 55 Napco AD 5700 coe

Just trying to find out a little more info on my coe before I begin the restoration
. I can't seem to find to many Napco coe's out there. Thanks for any input

welcome to the site! Stop by the welcome forum and tell us a bit about you and your truck! Any big-bolt specific questions are best asked here, but some of the more generic questions (drivetrain, electrical, etc) that are not big-bolt specific might get more views and answers in their specific forum. There is a swap meet section specifically for buying and selling parts, I am not sure if you need 5 posts before you can see that section or not, but that doesn't take long at all!

Your truck sounds like a cool rig! Would love to see some pics of it when you have time!

Yeah, that sounds like a super cool truck. See if you can get some photos up. Looking forward to checking it out.

I'm not quite sure how I'm supposed to post photos yet. I think I have to join a photo site and then post links to that site. I'll have to work on that.

I think NAPCO's are mostly the same, especially running gear, whether COE or conventional.

Ed

5700Napco, read the Stovebolt Image Posting Policy in the left margin of this page. You can post directly to the forum using the right procedure.

Indeed -- we've tried to keep it simple. But, you do need 5 posts before you can do it (keeps the spammers out).

Looking forward to seeing that truck.

John

Yes, please post more

I want to see this beast

If this picture loads, this is it in its current condition. Original paint. What's left of it anyways.

I don't think it loaded
Try again : )

Napco, you now have your probationary 5 posts. Your photos should load if you have done it properly.

I think it may work this time!

Nice! Body looks to be in good condition. Do you know any history on this truck?

I've had the coe for about 20 years sitting in storage out of site out of mind. I got it from a guy in Coalinga, Ca, who said it had some kind of dairy tank on it. I got it without a bed, just cab and chassis. There is a metal tag on the body from Lambert Los Angeles. I think Lambert might be the Napco upfitter. That's about all the history I know.

Nice looking truck.

About as rare as they get

I'll look up NAPCO installers in the 1954 Chevrolet Truck Silver Book (for non-GM options).

That is awesome

If you can, please take some pictures of the front suspension. I'm curious to see that axle bolted up to the springs

Nice truck. Do you have the grille, for it ?

NAPCO (Northwestern Auto Parts Company)
Check out "1940s" & "1950".

Prior to 1955 NAPCO Power-Pak conversions were done on 3/4 and one ton GMC and Chevrolet chassis.
"The entire differential of the front wheel assembly is the same as the original factory equipped Chevrolet truck rear axle drive."
Supposedly the installation was relatively simple and any dealer with a service center could install this package.
In the 1954 Silver Book, I do not see a specific mention of installing this package on a truck larger than a 1-ton. The front differential had to match the original rear differential?

I do not have a 1955 1st Series Silver Book.

The American-Coleman Co. also provided 4-wheel drive conversions in 1954. These were available for 3/4 to through 2-ton models (with single rear axles). An American-Coleman Co. 4-wheel drive COE conversion is shown in the 1953 Silver Book.

American Coleman also shows a 6x6 conversion in the 1955 Task Force Trucks Silver Book.

Does not look like Coleman front axle, though.

Ed

Ed,

Was a photo of the front axle posted?

A local stovebolter has a 2 ton NAPCO he refit under a 51 or 52 Chevy conventional truck.
The running gear came originally in a now mostly junk 1954 Chevy conventional 2 ton.
He also has all the literature and instructions for instillation, said it was only a few holes to drill for transfer case mounting and he was able to install the whole thing himself.

Thanks, Grigg

I believe Lambert Co. was pretty much The Go-To upfitter for NAPCO conversions of all sizes in SoCal.

I haven't looked in quite some time, but PeeWee's " Napco Owners Group" website had quite a bit of info if it still exists...Josh's "NapcoPowrPak" had lots of real hands on NAPCO technical info but it is long gone...

Nice truck, Have Fun!

photo of the front axle

here is a shot of the other side.

Spanky, yes I do have the grille for it in good shape in the garage. Thanks for the input guys.

Your front axle looks very much like the Corporate GM axle found under WW2 era G506/G508 trucks and Korean G749 trucks. I believe Eaton had some business connection with GM. Do you know the gear ratio? I will be very interested to see the internals of your axle when you start the restoration process.

Here is a representative sample from a G508 (AKA CCKW):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/152819067905?vectorid=229466&item=152819067905&rmvSB=true

Should be a brass tag on the axle if/showing it as a NAPCO.

There is a brass Napco tag on it says model 5703. 6.17 gear ratio.

Thanks for the link Paul WNC, that axle does look the same. I wonder if Napco bought military surplus and put labels on them?

That's interesting, the Korean era G749 2 1/2 ton GMC used the same axle ratio. If nothing else, it may provide you with another avenue for parts.

My understanding was that for the 1.5 ton and up, napco used surplus military axles or designed their axles pretty much exactly the same, similar to what they did with the front axles for the light duty trucks which were a redesigned h033 housing for the 1/2 tons and h052/072 for the 3/4 and 1 tons.
Awesome truck
I'm sooooooooooooo jealous