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Hi all, been a member for a while with my '55 second series 1/2 ton, but today I brought home my first Big Bolt.
It's either a '55, '56 or '57 (with earlier grille).
Because it's a Canadian truck, VIN decoders are useless, as are series designations.
It has a 14,000 lb. GVW, 153" wheelbase with duals and a single speed rear diff.
It has 10 bolt, 3 piece, 20" wheels (fortunately not Widow Makers) utilizing 5 bolts on the front with worn out tires that still hold air.
As it is a Canadian truck, the fender emblems say 1500, and the VIN tag says it's a Model 1543. The tag also says the engine serial is T118187.
It had a rotted out grain box on it that I removed before I towed it home. It has a PTO twin cylinder "Jones" hoist that is obviously newer.
I bought it primarily for the engine and transmission to put in my other '55. It only has 90,000 miles on it and the last license plate is 1971, so it was just used on the farm after that.

Engine is a pre-'58 V-8, either a 265 or 283 2 barrel.
It has front motor mounts and staggered valve covers but it also has a canister oil filter on the block, but I thought 265s didn't have them. It also has a remote, non GM "oil cleaner" (that's what it says on top), mounted to the driver's inner fender, that is still hooked up.
When I looked at the truck a month ago I pulled a valve cover to get the casting numbers and it was super clean inside, no sludge whatsoever. I have since lost the paper that I wrote the head casting number and the block number from the machined pad in front or the passenger head. I looked them up online at the time but as they were Canadian numbers for the block, they didn't come up.
The heads however, said "Made In Canada" and the number came up for a '57 283. The head casting number was followed by "HC". High compression?
There was no way to see the block casting number on the driver's side looking down above the oil filter, it was just too tight, tucked under the firewall. I'm going to find out what it is tomorrow in the light, using mirrors or whatever. If I have to, I'll cut a hole under the dash to read it.

Like |I said, I bought it for the period correct V-8 and Muncie SM420 with PTO, but once I removed the grain box, it was like a whole different truck. It's pretty cool. Maybe I'll put the 235 out of my other truck in it and make a Rat Rod car hauler out of it.
The 235 has an Offy intake with dual Holley-Weber 2 barrels on it, Corvette Blue Flame Six cam, Fenton cast iron headers and HEI distributor.

The VIN is: 51543629722.
Does anyone know what this truck actually is?

Hy dwightlightning, I happen to be a pretty good Canadian serial number decoder, if you'll post the serial number I'll do my best. You are correct about the 265s and their oil filter, Canadian trucks seemed to have been equipped with 283s quicker than their American cousins.

Sounds like you have a 1957 1-1/2 ton.

The US model would be a 4400, (1-1/2 ton with a 154" wheelbase).

The 283 engine came out in 1957, so unless the engine has been swapped out it would not be a 55 or 56 model.

The 1955 265 is the ONLY SBC engine to use a remote oil filter (optional)...ALL V8's from 1956 on have had the filter cast on the block.

Mike B

Thanks for the quick replies guys.
3B the VIN is 51543629722.
Mike, the engine really confuses me. The truck is 100% original farm truck, but I bought it as a '56. I know GM had a lot of problems with the 265 when it came out and had to do a lot of warranty replacements. I don't know if this engine is a 265 replacement or a 283 that was put in later. I'm actually hoping it's a 283 so I can put in a Duntov solid cam when I swap it into my '55 half ton. I have a set of '57 Corvette fuelie heads I'd like to put on it along with a vintage MOON intake with 4 WEBER side drafts, a MOON timing cover and MOON staggered valve covers.
If it actually a 265 it will have the cam and distributor oiling problems that are a hassle. I will find out tomorrow for sure what the block casting number says.
This truck is 100% original. It still has the long, stalk mounted rear view mirrors and the signals on the front fenders.
It even has a gun rack that will hold 3 of your favorite rifles!

Any pictures ? When you say "'55, '56, or '57, with earlier grille", you have me curious. 2nd series 55, '56, & '57 model Medium Duty trucks all had the same grille unless they were a "Fleet" model, with the expanded metal type grille.

Dwight,

Not knowing Canadian law, could a 1957 model year truck made in very late 1956 be titled a 56?

Look at the pictures of my trucks in "Mike's Garage" below my signature. Does your grille look like the ones on the 57 blue and 56 brown trucks?

Mike B

Sorry, I had brain freeze when I typed that. For some reason I was thinking of my '55, '56 or '57 half ton that I got from Barrett Jackson that they sold with a phony VIN. It is possible that it is a '57 with an earlier grille.

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Archive/Event/Item/1955-CHEVROLET-3100-PICKUP-116374

If you run that VIN, it comes back as a '63 1-ton.
Barrett Jackson says "Buyer Beware".
Truck has no numbers on the frame so I don't know what it is exactly.

Of course, the 55-57 Big Bolts all have the same grille. I've read however that the '57 have larger front wheel openings?

Hy dwightlightning, your serial number is that of a 1955 Canadian Chevrolet 1500 series (1 1/2 ton), 11,000 lbs. GVW, and a 154" wheelbase, it left the factory with a 265 V8 and was a chassis with cab, hope that helps.

Thanks a million 3B!!!
That really helps.
The VIN tag on the door post is original for sure, proper rivets etc.
The GM GVW tag below it also appears original, but it states a GVW of 14,000 lbs. I wonder why the discrepancy?
To further muddy the issue, the Canadian DOT stencils on the outside of the doors says:

GVW 16,000 lbs
TARE 7,350 lbs
NET 8,650 lbs

The rear has 10 leaf springs and then another 5 above them that only come into play when the main ones are maxed. Then the other 5 rest against those u-shaped perches on the side of the frame.
The actual capacity is moot, because it is very unlikely that I'll ever carry that much weight.

Thanks again for the info.
Do you find it on a website or do you have an inside connection?

Also, the engine is obviously not the original '55 265 because it has a block mounted canister oil filter.
It could be a GM warranty, later 265, or an owner installed 283. I hope it's a 283.
I'll find out later today when I get the block casting number.

Hy dwightlightning, actually I have a lot of parts books and maintenance manuals, and my brain is covered with fly paper and sticky notes with facts about the 55B through 59 Canadian Chev and GMC trucks. Your truck may have been equipped with an R.P.O. (regular production option) with a larger set of springs and larger wheels and tires to increase the GVW. 16,000 lbs. is the base GVW for the next larger truck series the 16 series, and someone may have inadvertently installed the wrong GVW plate on the truck, I hope your not going to scrap that truck!

Okay, I got my numbers today, but unless 3B can pull another rabbit out of his hat, I still don't know if it is a 265 or a 283.

Block Casting # is 3731548
This means it is a one year only block, 1957, no side mounts, 265 or 283. It was used in a lot of '57 vehicles, including the 283/283 HP, dual 4 barrel Corvette.

Block ID Stamping # (on the machined pad in front of the passenger head) is 9V69488.
This number doesn't follow GM USA protocol. The only digit that correlates to anything is the "V", which might mean Flint Assembly.

The head casting numbers are 3731556HC Made in Canada. These are a Canada only spec head, used only on '57 283 trucks. The HC may mean High Compression.

So, unless 3B can decode the block stamping number, I wont know if it's a 265 or a 283 until I pull the heads and measure the bore.

3B, I'm not going to scrap this truck, it has a lot of potential. It is even nicer now that I vacuumed up 20 lbs of mice poop and all the former seat stuffing that they had used to make nests out of. The void between the double panels around the rear window and the roof were absolutely stuffed.
Thank God I live in "Rat Free Alberta".

it's a 283 [Taskmaster, Trademaster, or Super Taskmaster], the 265 wasn't used in any series '57 CDN trucks according to the '57 Canadian Owners Manual I have .... I doubt GM had totally different casting numbers USA vs CDN regardless which plant cast the parts .... in David Vizards small block book heads 3731556 are listed as '57 truck, block casting 3731548 as 57 truck - heads and block 1 year only

Bill

Thanks for your input Bill, I'm leaning towards 283 as well, but this isn't the factory engine, the truck is a '55 that came with a 265.
The heads are definitely '57 283, but there is no way to tell if they are original to the block.
Block and head casting numbers are definitely the same from Canadian or US plants, it's the stamping numbers that are unique to Canadian builds.

there's no 'leaning' needed, the castings numbers say it's a '57 283, the fact that a 60 year old truck obviously had an engine transplant is not at all unusual, particularly when the truck has that many miles on it .... also note that the engine number on the tag doesn't match the one on the engine .... when the engine was changed the original 265 external oil filter was left on, no mystery, and it would be a much better engine for a car hauler than a souped up 235

Bill

Bill,
8 out of 10 casting number decoders say that block # 3731548 is a '57, 265 OR 283, and was used in cars and trucks.
I bought David Vizard's book in 1975, a lot more info has come out since.

That small block might be better for the car hauler, but it will be awesome in my half ton with my '57 Corvette power pack heads, Duntov 097 solid cam, 1969 MOON Equipment cross ram intake with four WEBER DCOE sidedraft carbs, 1965 MOON 2 piece timing cover and 1957 MOON staggered valve covers.
It has a Muncie SM465 transmission with an Advance Adapters auxiliary transmission with 27% overdrive and a 12 Bolt Posi with 4.11s.

Don't know if this helps or not, but my parts book only has two different casting numbers for the 265 engine...3703524 (55) and 3720991 (56 & 57).

The 3731548 casting number in my 1959 Parts Book is listed as "57-58 PASS., CORVETTE (F.I. /w H.L. Cam)". Cubic inches are not listed for this casting number, however this would not be a 265, they never Fuel Injected that engine.

Mike B

Thanks Mike, that is what the first 2 casting number sites told me as well, '57 Corvette up to 290 HP, and I was pumped.
However, several other sites list it as both 265 and 283, which may be true because when the 283 came out in '57 it was a bored 265. It wasn't until late '58 that GM cast a 283 specific block. That is why you can't punch a 265 or a '57 283 out to 301 cubes. It has to be a late '58 or newer 283 with side motor mounts to be able to take the 4 inch bore.

Each successive cubic inch change in the life of the SBC has always been based on improving what was previously done. I'm sure the 283 evolved from the 265 however they don't share the same casting numbers based on my Chevrolet Parts Books (not the internet).

As mentioned above the 265 only had two different casting numbers, 3703524 (55) and 3720991 (56 & 57).

The first 283 (a one year block with no side motor mount bosses) was casting number 3731548. The max HP in 1957 was 283, 1958 was the first 290 HP 283 offering by Chevrolet.

I believe there were at least three different 283 casting numbers in 1958, but that's another story for another day...

The 1957 block 3731548 was truly a one year block. As soon as the 1958 blocks came out they became the replacement engines for the 1957 cars and trucks and would be listed that way in future parts books.

Mike B

In my first post I remarked that a month ago when I first looked at this truck I pulled a valve cover to get the head casting numbers and it was super clean inside, no sludge whatsoever. I drained the oil today and changed the cartridge filter and the oil that came out was really clean too.
The Task Force hoarder that I bought this truck from (he had 15-20) told me it had sat in that spot for at least 8 years, so who knows when that oil was put in.
I cleaned up the aftermarket "oil cleaner" that appeared to have sat on the driver's side inner fender since 1955, and it turns out it is a "FRANTZ Oil Cleaner". This is one of those non full flow units that uses a roll of toilet paper inside to filter the oil. Judging from the cleanliness of the inside of the engine, it works.
They started selling these in the early '50s and still sell them today. The original owner likely installed it when the truck was new and had the '55 265 with no oil filter.
They work by constantly filtering a small amount of the oil, tapping into an appropriate fitting on the engine to steal some of the oil away. They do not plumb into the main engine oil system where all the oil has to circulate through it.
This one is fed it's oil from a tee fitting before the oil pressure gauge, then returns the filtered oil to the pan via a fitting that is brazed into the side of the oil pan above the oil level.
He must have been happy with it because he retrofitted it to the new engine to work in conjunction with the canister filter.

Before I bought the truck I wanted to be sure the engine wasn't seized so I had the seller pull it a little way with his Bobcat with the trans in high gear. I watched the fan and it spun smoothly and there was no initial jerk or anything to indicate stuck rings.
When I brought it home last Thursday I pulled all the plugs and sprayed a bunch of penetrating oil into the cylinders to loosen up any potential corrosion. After I changed the oil today I hooked up a fresh battery and did a compression test. All the cylinders were 145-150 which I thought was pretty good for a cold engine.
We'll see how she sounds tomorrow if I can get her fired up.