Welcome to the ‘bolt! Nice truck and a great start to your project as the body looks to be in great shape.
Kevin is right about the engine. If it’s a 235, it has been changed. Go the the Engine forum and post some pictures of the engine and the embossed numbers on the engine and head and the stamped numbers on the flat behind the distributor and we can tell you all about your engine. Here is a link on where these numbers are located.
[LINK]235’s prior to ‘55 are a bolt in swap and engines from ‘55 thru ‘62 require the water pump to be relocated to get it centered on the radiator. Pictures will tell the story.
Forrest green would have been the original color and ‘53 was the first year that GM installed side mounted spares on the 3100, so it is indeed rare.
