gearhead - I'm currently driving a 58 PU that has a 283 with the front mounts. The frame is as factory and does NOT have provision for the side mount motor. The block is end-of-the-run 283 from 66 or 67, and in order to use it in this truck I had to DRILL and TAP the bosses in front of the fuel pump.
Blocks from [including] 57 had the side mount provision which were used in MOST cars from 58 up but not in trucks until after 59. In my pile of 283's I have some from early 60's that still have the little mount bracket bolted to the front of the block, so the front mounts were used on something at least until 62.
The front mount holes on later small blocks were only drilled/tapped where accy mount points were needed [drivers side]. Why remove the bosses from the castings?
Eric - I'd bet yer truck got that modification back when the majority of small block stuff available at the wreckers was 283 only.
Bill
