Feature Truck for Summer 2001:  1946 Kenworth

by Don Hays

The featured truck in this issue is a 1946 Kenworth conventional owned by Earl Blincoe of Stockton California. This fine specimen of a truck from the mid 1940's, is on permanent display in the museum's gallery.

Earl Blincoe and Nick Kosta found the truck at Winkler Transportation's yard in San Andreas, California in 1989. They were invited by Winkler to look for Peterbilt parts at Winkler's truck yard. They found several old trucks in the back lot to satisfy their parts needs. What really caught their eye, however, was a 1946 Kenworth, very similar to one that Blincoe started his trucking business with. The truck had been parked so long that a tree had grown up between the rear axle and the fuel tank. This find is typical of what happens when a truck fanatic goes looking for parts; they come home with more than they had planned on.

The ten-inch diameter tree was cut down and the truck hauled to Blincoe's shop in Stockton for further evaluation. Nick had two of his workers completely dismantle the KW and start the restoration process. The winter time project took five months to complete. The first time out for a public showing was to the Stockton Asparagus Festival in 1989, where it competed with all the classic cars. The Kenworth took home the trophy.

The engine is an H series Cummins 150 modified with a PT fuel pump, Spicer five speed main transmission, Brown-Lipe three speed auxiliary with a deep under, and a Timken U-200 differential. The only other nonstandard feature is a later model foot valve to improve the stopping ability.

The restoration of this 1946 Kenworth is excellent and would make a person think this truck had just rolled off the factory production line. The skunk mascot decal on the hood was used on all Blincoe's trucks from the late 1940s to the early 1950s. The brother of one of the truck drivers created the design.

Earl still has his original 1941 KW in his back yard. It had been converted to a cannery shuttle truck in years past. Nick Kosta said "It would take too much to bring it back to original condition." Nick also said, "According to Cummins, the 41 KW has the second oldest working Cummins engine." One of these days, when Nick has more free time, he may take a second look at restoring the old 41.

Earl Blincoe himself, like his 46 Kenworth, is a classic part of the trucking industry. He started hauling, sugar beet lime in 1935, using a 1934 Chevrolet. He later moved to Hayward CA where he drove for Frank Diamantine and Warren Transportation. At the beginning of WWI 1, Earl drove a dump truck during construction of the Oakland Army Base. After completion of the army base, Earl was hired to oversee maintenance at the Richmond, CA shipyard that ran a fleet of GM diesel buses. Next it was workina for Utah Construction as Forman of transportation on the Alcan Hichway project.

In late 1944 Earl returned to Stockton, CA and founded Blincoe Trucking Company, since renamed BJJ Co. He and his son Jim, currently run a fleet of 100 trucks specializing in bulk and liquid edible products. In addition to serving, on many boards and commissions, Earl is an active Past President of the Hays Antique Truck Museum.