Jim,
Do you have an open drive-shaft (late 1955 Z-series and 1955st Chevrolet) or an enclosed driveshaft (1954 Chevrolet and early GMC Z-series).
What is your strange ID number?
(ID code/serial-number that is on the certificate of ownership)?
Post that code here and we can help you speculate on its meaning?
Here is excellent information from Rob English:
http://www.oldgmctrucks.com/page0009.htmlhttp://www.oldgmctrucks.com/page0010.html