I found out about this truck from a young fellow that works at a Hazardous landfill in Idaho that I deliver to. (I drive tractor trailer) The fellow pulled in one day with a beautiful 58 Transtar. I told him if he ever finds another one like that I would give him a finders fee. He said how many do you want? That evening he met me at the truck stop, and took me to see the trucks, which I bought right away. There were 4 left, and I got the best one out of the bunch, along with the Packard chassis for $2400. two weeks later I called him and the other 2 were sold. and regret not buying all of them.
The trucks were owned by Golden & Nephi Gregg of Oregon Frozen Foods (now known as Ore-Ida). I got the trucks from the son of one of their workers. It was still titled as Oregon Frozen Foods.
He said the engines were replaced because the 259 did not have enough horsepower to pull the large 4 wheeled wagons that were used to go to local farmers, and bring back their potatoes to the factory. With the smaller farmers the 1/2 ton pickups were used, and they just filled the bed with potatoes. He thinks that DeWald Motor Co. in Nampa Idaho is the one that installed the Packards. When I got my 2 pickups, one was complete, and running, but the rods were knocking (overdrive was not working, and they overrevved it). The other one was rolled, and only the chassis left with the Packard engine, trans ,and rearend. He said they used it for a parts vehicle. The complete clutch assembly, water pump, fuel pump, and engine pulleys were missing. Jack Vines sold me the clutch setup.
The wagons were fitted with electric brakes, and the truck had a strange square brake pedal pad with wires running along the brake pedal rod that controlled the brakes. The seller told me that his father said the brakes failed , and the trailer pushed the truck sideways, and rolled it. The frame is twisted badly, so I am going to put the Packard into the complete truck. I am also going to put power steering, power brakes, and air conditioning in it. First I am boring the 352 to 374 cu. in. and having Schneider cams regrind the cam for towing, plus give it more engine vacuum for the power brakes.
Barry
The trucks were owned by Golden & Nephi Gregg of Oregon Frozen Foods (now known as Ore-Ida). I got the trucks from the son of one of their workers. It was still titled as Oregon Frozen Foods.
He said the engines were replaced because the 259 did not have enough horsepower to pull the large 4 wheeled wagons that were used to go to local farmers, and bring back their potatoes to the factory. With the smaller farmers the 1/2 ton pickups were used, and they just filled the bed with potatoes. He thinks that DeWald Motor Co. in Nampa Idaho is the one that installed the Packards. When I got my 2 pickups, one was complete, and running, but the rods were knocking (overdrive was not working, and they overrevved it). The other one was rolled, and only the chassis left with the Packard engine, trans ,and rearend. He said they used it for a parts vehicle. The complete clutch assembly, water pump, fuel pump, and engine pulleys were missing. Jack Vines sold me the clutch setup.
The wagons were fitted with electric brakes, and the truck had a strange square brake pedal pad with wires running along the brake pedal rod that controlled the brakes. The seller told me that his father said the brakes failed , and the trailer pushed the truck sideways, and rolled it. The frame is twisted badly, so I am going to put the Packard into the complete truck. I am also going to put power steering, power brakes, and air conditioning in it. First I am boring the 352 to 374 cu. in. and having Schneider cams regrind the cam for towing, plus give it more engine vacuum for the power brakes.
Barry
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