This project all started when I was 14 years old and saw a picture of a KW pickup that was built by volunteers at KW to give to a retiring executive. I knew I would build one someday. When I was 33 years old in 1995, and after seeing more of these trucks at truck shows and in magazines, I decided to start one of my own. First I found an 87 CHEVY 3/4 TON pickup, 2 WHEEL DRIVE, 6.2 DIESEL 4 SPD. and stripped and sold the body down to the frame. Next I saw a 1983 KW cab and hood for sale at BISON TRUCKS in BUFFALO NY, which is a 6 hr. drive for me. Now I had all the major Components to build a KW pickup. Three years went by and I was about 80% complete as a pickup{SEE PIC} when I saw a 1983 KW sleeper for sale in Penn. This got me wondering how it would look as a tractor. So I bought the sleeper and set about stretching the frame and rigging a tag axle. (Roadhorses have to be tandem, right?) Six years later in April 2001 I was done and started driving it. I went to two shows last year and drew quite a bit of attention. I talked to quite a few guys who are doing projects like mine. Can't wait to see them, the more the merrier!

FACTS:

1 Cab is unaltered.
2 Hood is shortened one foot. Fenders were narrowed, and moved up and back on hood and rear of fenders overlap the cab.
3 Grille is reconfigured and rechromed.
4 Front bumper was custom made at a local machine shop.
5 Battery boxes were made by myself with aluminum on a metal brake.
6 33 gallon tanks were made by a metal shop in PA.
7 Frame cover is aluminum and made by myself.
8 Sleeper was reupholstered by myself and cab with the help from a local shop.
9 Rear fenders are steel and made by a shop out west.
10 The front and rear drive axle is on CHEVY springs and the rear axle is unpowered and on air bags with a suspension I built myself.
11. CHEVY 6.2 diesel (rebuilt) 4 SPD. CHEVY trans with a 2 spd gear venders aux. with overdrive. 3.73 gears in rear.


TRAILER:

Was a tandem trailer with a ball hitch on it when I got it. Axles were on outside of bed about 1/2 way back. Axles were cut off and narrowed to be remounted on a new frame I constructed at rear of bed. Next the bed was extended over the front tongue and I built the goose neck last winter in my garage.

This truck 15 mpg and is a joy to drive. I have been around trucks all my life and driven just about everything there is. Now I don't drive anymore and this satisfies the itch for me. This truck could not have been done without the help of a lot of people: my brother, Walt helped with the hood.( auto body expert), Tim White rebuilt the engine for me. Brian Joyce of Buffalo KW, these guys are the greatest. The guys at Walsh equip. (Hughe, Tim, Jim.) in Massena, NY. Corky's collision in Massena did the paint. Great job guys. My name is Dan Van Winkle of Massena, NY. (On the Canadian border, the real upstate NY.) If your around, look me up or give me a call I will help anybody with their project.
-Dan Van Winkle-