The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk OEM V8 Foot Stomp Starter

I was talking with a guy the other day about his parts trucks. He told me had a 1956 V8 truck that came from the factory with a 265 engine with power pack heads. He had just sold the engine and transmission. I asked if the plate that covers the hole where the foot stomp went still in the truck. He told me it had a foot stomp, so the plate wasn't there. I told him I'd wasn't aware of any V8 trucks having foot stomp starters. He assured me it came from the factory that way. Of course I was skeptical and asked if he was sure about that. He told me he was the 3rd owner and knew both previous owners. The original owner worked for GM and had ordered it that way. Is anyone aware of another factory V8 truck having a foot stomp or is this a one of a kind?

I wonder if that was a special order or an RPO?

I just went out and looked at my '56 265 and see that the draft tube would be in the way of linkage if a foot stomp was used.

I also looked through my Data Books and did not see an RPO for it...

I'm not saying it can't be done, I just don't think the factory ever did it...

Mike B

It seems to me it would be almost impossible. If I can get contact info on the original owner, I'll try to find out how he got the truck with a 265 and foot stomp starter.

I've seen a fake foot stomp pedal mounted to a heavy duty starter switch like the one used on some farm tractors. It just energizes the starter solenoid electrically but the pedal and rubber bellows from a stomper is adapted to the switch.

Jerry

Somebody else here just did that!

Either he's pulling your chain to see if you'll believe him, or he simply has no clue what he's talking about himself. No V8 trucks left the factory with a stomp starter. Same goes for inline 6 trucks with the Hydramatic and RHD export trucks. I would also call him on the truck having "Power Pak" heads.

I do know power pack heads were not in existence in 56, esp for a 265. I think they could have been added later. I'm not even sure I can even see the truck now, I've been calling him ever since to set up a day/time to come look at his parts, but he's not answering. He is advertising a '58 project for sale for $13k tho.

'56 Power pack heads, '56 V8 stomp starter, $13K for a '58 "project"?
RUN FORREST, RUN!

Actually, the 265 Corvette with the 2-4BBL option had a set of high compression heads available, but they didn't have the classic triangle-shaped casting mark associated with the later model powerpack head. I believe it was a single, narrow rectangle above the squared-off pad at both ends of the head. There was another head with two narrow rectangles which was also used on one of the high performance 265's. These heads were very low-production items, and other than for a numbers-matching restoration, there are much better performance choices available.
Jerry

I finally got him to call me tonight. I'm going to visit him and maybe get some parts.

I went to see the guy today and got some good parts and also saw the truck and motor. The truck was an original 6 cyl truck that the original owner put a 265 in. It did not have a V8 stomp starter setup. There was no linkage on the bellhousing. The engine did have power pack heads, but I couldn't tell what the casting or date code numbers were as the valve covers were still on it and it was wrapped in shrink wrap. It had a 4 bbl carb on it, so I guess it could be a power pack engine. The crossmember V8 brackets were added on using carriage bolts and not the factory rivets. After talking to him, it appears he was confused about what was original to the truck.

The 58 project truck is about 70% done and looked to be a Cameo. It has a cameo bed on it, but I didn't see the VIN to be able to determine it to be an original cameo. he told me the bed was reproduction, so I'm leaning to it NOT being a Cameo. It has a 350 engine, Camaro rearend, later model steering column, bucket syle seats

Allot can happen in the 60 year life of our trucks making it hard to know what's really original and what's not...

Mike B

V8 with Power Pak heads and 4bbl carb would have come out either a Passenger car or Corvette, they were never offered in a light Truck (4bbl carb was an option on heavy duty 2 ton and larger, though).
On the '58, unfortunately, they did not include anything in the serial numbers to differentiate the Cameo from any other truck. As you mention, reproduction beds are available, so it very well could be a conversion.