The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1954 Chevy 2-Ton NAPCO

I finally join the ranks of the Big Bolt crew today! I found a new Napco yesterday at a farm about 2 miles from my house. I've seen it for a couple months, but it was too far away to tell anything other than it was a big AD truck. I figured since it was an AD, there was no chance of it being a Napco... but I was wrong! It is a 1954 Chevy 6400 2 ton and is the first big AD I've ever seen with the Napco upfit. It has plates on the cowl from the upfitter in Richmond, VA and the decals on the side are from the power company. It also has holes in the hood where the Napco badges were, but they are gone. Fixing this thing up is going to take a lot of time, but I'm looking forward to it. I don't know how to post pics here, so I'll probably e-mail them to John and Peggy.

Take care, George

Here are George's pictures!

Congratulations on your find. Can't wait to see it. What part of Virginia are you in.

I'm in the Shenandoah Valley south of Winchester. I see you are from Burlington; my oldest son has gone to basketball camp at High Point University for the past 2 summers and we go along and stay in downtown Burlington.

Take care, George

Hey Napco Man. Do you have a free photobucket account? You can get one, upload your pics to photobucket, then just copy and past the link to your message. It's so easy even I can do it.

Hi George!
That sounds like a fun and unusual truck, can't wait to see it, or just some pictures.
Welcome to the Big Bolts (you were welcome before too)

Grigg

Yeah George, I live in town so i'm not hard to find. Next time you're in Burlington let me know, & I can show you a COE, or two, or three.

I just edited George's post above so you guys can see his pictures -- what a COOL truck! It will be cool to see a BigBolt take a Hershey First Place in a couple of years!

Cool find, George! Yeah, and welcome to the Brotherhood of BigBolts!

Semper Bolti Maximus!
John

Spanky -- The pressure is on you now -- Your mission is to find a NAPCO AD COE ...

As long as we're talking 4WD -- who did the 4WD kits for the WWII military trucks and the Art Decos -- were those factory, NAPCO or what?


John

napco man. not trying to tell how to bring it back but i have always thought it would be neat when you have dual wheels to go the single tire and wheel that they are putting on semi rigs. BTW i have relatives in Harrisonburg VA. beautiful area. i hope to take a trip in my 54 out that way to see my cousin. ron

Sweet truck! That thing would be plowing snow if it were mine. I love the big 4X4's.

Get signed up over at www.napco4x4.org and be sure to show them your pictures. It's a nice group of guys over there. PeeWee will treat you right,
Scott

Thanks for the welcome and the comments guys.

-Grigg, I know you live close to me, but I wish you lived closer! I would love to pick your brain on fixing-up this old rig... a Detroit might be a good start!

-John, Napco started 4x4 conversions for WWII and shifted focus to the civilian market after the war. Other 4x4's were converted by Marmon Harrington and Coleman.

-Ron, When we "go to town" we go to Harrisonburg. It's only about 25 minutes away and is the closest place to go for Walmart and other big stores. If you are ever in the area, you are welcome at the Napco Rescue Ranch.

-Scott, I've been a member of both Napco groups for several years now and have gained all my knowledge of the vehicles through them. They are pro's.

Thanks, George

George,
Would like to check out your new truck.
And if there's anything to pick at you're welcome to it, you know I like to talk about Detroits.
I can probably come for a visit half a day this week as I'm off work till next Tuesday, I'll give you a call.

Grigg

Now that I have seen the pics, that truck is a beast. Thanks for posting. I didn't even realize you could get those big trucks in a 4X4 version.

Hey George,
Good deal on the Napco site. They even asked me to come over with my Marmon-Harrington Ford big truck (which I'm plowing with).

What plans do you have for it?
Scott

The WW II trucks were "fitted" at the factory. TIMKEN was the supplier for GMC, When TIMKEN could not keep up with production, GMC used a "corporate axle" also refered to as as a BANJO axle. TIMKEN's were a "split" axle. The TIMKEN axle was a better axle in the sense that it had finer tolerances.
All Chevy trucks along with DUKW used the BANJO axle.
GMC CCKW and DUKW used a CLARK 5 speed tranny and CHEVY used a coporate 4 speed tranny. GMC's with the TIMKEN axles also used a TIMKEN transfer case. You cannot use a BANJO trasfer with a TiMKEN axle as the rotation of the driveshafts coming out of the transfer case is differant

TIMKEN also was the WW II axle supplier to Diamond T, Ward LaFrance, Corbit, Kenworth, Federal. MAck made ther own in house.

Scott,

I'm not sure what to do on this truck yet, but I know I won't be doing another nut/bolt restoration like my '55 Napco Suburban! That was a one time deal that is still hard to justify. Too much time and money... then you're afraid to drive it. I think I'll probably get the body rust-free/painted and use it as a driver and for local parades. I would like to take it to the Winchester truck show someday.

Take care, George

I love that truck!

what a cool beast! something along those lines with a plow would have been nice this last week.

We've had a couple warm days in the Valley, so I've been tinkering with the new truck. Had a good visit by Grigg yesterday- we got to talk trucks and walk a junkyard.

Today I took the utility bed off the truck. A little WD-40, a torch and my skidsteer did the trick nicely. There were only six bolts holding the bed on, so I took those out, then took my skidsteer and flipped the bed off the opposite side of the truck... pretty tricky when you have 3 dogs that follow you around everywhere! I'm lucky I didn't smash a dog or two. Then my buddy showed up in his rollback and hauled the bed off for scrap.

The weather turns cold again tomorrow so I don't know what I'll get done... I'm already looking forward to Spring!

Take care, George

George, I'm a little late to the party, but congrats on the new truck. Sounds like you are already having fun with it, nothing like a new project. Thats a very cool looking truck.
Man, I wish Grigg and I lived a little closer togther, I could sure use his expertise with my projects.
Speaking of junkyards, I talked to John the other day and it sounds like he is working with you on a date for a tour.
Don't forget to take lots of pics of the new Napco.
Billy

Billy,

Good to hear from you. I hope everything is good to go with you and the family... and that sweet truck!

It's nice to be close enough to Grigg to pick his brain and I'm glad he got the chance to visit yesterday. We did an advance reconnaissance of the junkyard and he said it was worthy of you all coming down for a tour. John hasn't called me yet on the tour, but I think he is planning on Jan/Feb. If you come along on the tour, you won't need to see pictures- you'll get to see the heap in person... I hope you've got a strong stomach!

Take care, George

George,

Count me in for a Junk Yard Tour...maybe I can hitch a ride with John ...sounds like fun!

Mike B

George,
Count me in for the tour. 1 request, please do make it the weekend of Jan 17/18 or the following weekend either, as I will be tied up working the "BIG" event in D.C.

John Gott

sounds like a O.D.S.S. winter "event' is in the making.

Any COE's, or Vintage Holmes Wreckers, in this Junkyard, you speak of.

I've walked this junkyard a hundred times and I see something new every time. There are some wrecker beds, but I've never checked them out closely. I don't recall any COE trucks, but that doesn't mean they're not there.

George

Very Cool ! Love the BIG 54's...Good luck with it.

Next time you notice the Wreckers, look to see if any of them are Holmes "Chariot Style" units, with the fenders to the outside of the service body. Thanks

John G (et al) -- George will tell us the exact weekend, but it will be in February to get us out of inaugural season and tree transplanting time (which we're doing tomorrow and next weekend for those who might want to come learn how ... )

Plan to arrive at George's Friday afternoon/evening, bunk out (typical Camp Stovebolt event ...) and tour all day Saturday.

Mike B -- Love to have you along!

More details as they become available.

R/S
John

Okay, we have a date for the "Stovebolt Winter Classic"

Primary date is 7 Feb, alternate is 21 Feb.

Arrive late afternoon/early evening at George's (aprox 1 hr south of Winchester, VA), Winter version of Camp Stovebolt (Bunkhouse style), the to the junkyard all day Saturday.

If you want in on the trip, pm me for further details if you're not already on the existing pm chain.

Regards,
John