The fender emblem looks like one from a '57 model, are you sure its a '55? Back in 1957 my dad had several '57 Chev. tandem dumps with a 'dead axle' tag. They were 6000 series and were too light for what he had them doing, hauling 16 ton payloads of stone. He put together (not a factory job) an extra axle with hydraulic brakes and a reyco type spring suspension. The trucks had manual steering, 283 V8 and 5 spd Spicers, and a 15,000 rear. I can't imagine driving one of them today. Dad said they held up quite well considering the load. The main problem was the occasional broken wheel. The wheels were 6 lug stud piloted buds and 8.25 X 20 bias ply tires. The trucks had 12 foot Daybrook dump beds with extra high sides and short wheelbase. Most of the weight was carried on the tandem. The front axle had extra springs to hold the weight but the axles were the original 4500 lb. type. I'll try to find a few old pictures of these trucks to post.
JAMES
