Some NAPCO conversion info

[1969k10stepside]

Found this site about NAPCO and decided to share in case someone was interested.
Here is some info from the site:
NAPCO stands for the "Northwestern Auto Parts Company" of Minneapolis, MN., though their production facility was actually located in Plymouth, MN.

The date that NAPCO started to produce 4x4 conversion units is a little foggy. I have heard stories of GM trucks being converted as early as late 1949, but the earliest documentable truck that I have ever heard of is a 1951 Chevy 3/4 ton owned by Butch Gehrig of Odell, OR. Until October 28th of 1954, when Chevrolet introduced the '55 1st Series, all the conversions were done on 3/4 ton and larger trucks. The '54 and earlier Advance Design 1/2 ton models were not suitable for a NAPCO conversion due to the enclosed drive shaft design. GMC and Chevrolet conversions were by far the most popular, though conversions were available for Ford, Studebaker and other manufacturers.

Apparently NAPCO reached an agreement with both GMC and Chevrolet to supply them with the Powr-Pak conversion kits, and GMC began to produce 4x4 trucks on the factory assembly line (using NAPCO components) starting in 1956, with Chevrolet following suite in 1957. By the end of 1957 both GMC and Chevrolet trucks could be ordered from the factory with the NAPCO Powr-Pak conversion. The two offered identical systems other than the availability of a V-8 and an automatic transmission on the GMC trucks. The Chevy could only be ordered with the 235ci six cylinder and a four speed manual (although there was nothing stopping an owner from ordering whatever he or she wanted in a 2 wheel drive truck and then having a NAPCO Powr-Pak "upfitted" by the dealer)

The first "all GM" factory 4x4's were introduced in 1960 when both Chevy and GMC went to a totally new chassis. NAPCO and its Powr-Pak conversion were left out of the equation due to the introduction of GM's completely redesigned truck line featuring independent front suspension on the two wheel drive trucks and a 4-wheel drive specific chassis on the 4-wheel drive trucks. This was the beginning of the end for the 4x4 conversion element of NAPCO. Though they did produce conversion kits for a few more years, their main business shifted to the heavier trucks, 1-1/2 ton and larger. A few later model specially built custom vehicles featuring the NAPCO components are still out there, such as Mr. Packy Pickrell's 1970 Chevy 1 ton NAPCO.

Here is a link to the site
http://www.napco4x4.org/history.htm