The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk am i buying an actual 55 Cameo?

Hi! How are you? Just joined the forum and am very excited. I have an opportunity to buy a 1955 Cameo that is all in pieces. It has no frame (former owner butchered it after trying to install a Mustang II front clip and c-notching). Truck comes with virtually rust free 55 cab; front end; spare fenders; entire box; fibreglass rear 1/4's for both sides; brand new glass for all windows; various boxes of chrome; tailgate; fibreglass tailgate cover; pistons from ? engine; cylinder head from ? engine; all chrome strips; 2 x chrome bumperettes for rear bumper that will need to be rechromed etc. There is also a donor 58 stepside that the owner was going to use the frame from for the 55 but my understanding is that this won't work without significant modifications.......please advise how easy or difficult this would be to modify or if it is easier to find a 55 frame? Does a 55 frame have to be from another Cameo or would one from a stepside also work? The owner advised she has all of the original paperwork for the 55 Cameo. Please help and any advice would be greatly appreciated. I believe I can purchase this truck for $2500 US.

If the paperwork matches ALL the numbers on the major pieces the $2500 might be a good price. What you can do with it depends on your skill level or how deep your pockets are. The “Experts” will be along shortly. Welcome to The Stovebolt madness. There is no cure.🛠

I've been involved in the construction of a couple of "fake" Cameos when my business partner in the body shop we co-owned installed the fiberglass fleetside panels onto a regular pickup bed. To the best of my knowledge, the frame is the same from 55-57 at least, regardless of whether it's a Cameo or not. However, it's been 40-something years since then and my memory could be a little faulty.
Jerry

Going by memory here: the 58 frame does need to be modified to take the front clip of a 55-57, but it isn't extensive. I believe it is something simple like cutting off 2" from the front and drilling a couple of holes is all. Yes, 55-57 frames are the same and the Cameo is not differentiated in the frame. I do not think the Cameo has unique serial number either. Note my 56 frame is serialized (right behind the steering box) and presumably so are the later model years. A knowledgeable person may observe that your frame # and the VIN on the A-pillar are not the same. I don't believe 55.2 frames were serialized, so you will need to decide what to do if this is your situation.

Are you importing this?

tomc is correct, the 58-9 frame rails are 2" longer than the 5-7 - like this, otherwise the same from 55.2 -59 - a Cameo is just a 3100 pickup with fiberglas pasted on .... and as said, the 58 frame will have a vin stamped near the steering box that won't match the 55 title .... where on the Island are you, I might be able to help some from the Comox Valley

Bill

If the parts you have listed are in serviceable condition, you can at least double your money and maybe triple it without a frame by parting it out.

I believe 1955.2 was the first time Chevrolet stamped the serial numbers on the frame. It was stamped twice, once on top of the frame above the front axle and a second time about 24" back under the cab.

Mike B

My 55.2 is serialized.

Thanks everyone for your help. Yes I will be importing this from US. I live in Port Alberni. I have a week to decide if I will buy the truck or not. The previous owner of the 55 Cameo tried to install a Mustang II front end on it as well as did some C-notching but I do not know enough about either of these processes.....i was advised by the owner of a shop where the frame was taken to be repaired that it was now useless due to the "butchering it had suffered. If I purchase the truck, I would want it anyway despite what the shop owner has said. There is a box of piston and a head as well as valve covers but no engine block. Would the engine likely have been the 265 or a 283? Would the
VIN # on the cab confirm this? If yes, what website can i go to to check the VIN #?. I am also considering buying a 1964 Rambler Country Squire Wagon and a 1967 Ford "panel station wagon with a 390 in it. Thanks again for all your help.

Flxible: I have to be in Nanaimo tomorrow (Monday 27Aug) for 2pm so could swing by your place after that to show you some of the pictures I took of the Cameo? What is your address or phone #? I am thinking I would be in Comox around 4:30pm. Thanks for offering to help.

Hi! Just found the VIN # on the cab of the 55 Cameo. It is VH255B029380. So looking at the info on this site, I think this means it is a half ton; 1955; built in Baltimore, Maryland and was truck number 380 off the assembly line. Can someone please advise if I am reading the VIN correctly. Thanks.

yes, 55.2 half-ton, built in Baltimore. The "V" means a V8 truck which is interesting!

http://www.chevytrucks.org/mikesgarage/1955-2nd.htm

the leading V indicates it was V8 equipped [265], and the serial numbers started with 001001, so it was the 28379th off the line, otherwise yes, 1955 1/2T from Baltimore
[check your PMs for contact]

Bill

Bill, he doesn’t have 5 posts so he is still moderated. He can’t get PM’s just yet.

he'll have 5 when he comes back and says 'got it'

Bill

Thanks for the info everyone. I am just curious how the truck could be the 28379 th off or the assembly line? Weren't there significantly less Cameo's produced in 1955 than that? (I thought there were less than 1500 produced). This truck does not have the engine or at least not the block....it does have a box of pistons/cylinder head/crank but I will check my photos to see if I managed to get casting numbers for them and post if found. Have a great day!

Borbas, you are now a full fledged card carrying member of The Stovebolt Page. All that we offer is now available to you, even Flxible’s Private Messages to you. Have fun.

Cameos are not numbered separate from other trucks on the line, and all models are mixed - see some pics here from 59, like this one showing a long fleetside, a big bolt, and a panel in a row, they likely have sequential numbers, and there were thousands of trucks produced at each plant, numbered by the plant, not corporate wide

Bill

Thank you......xcited to be part of such a great group!

Another question: how would I find out which one of the approx. 1478 Cameo's produced in 1955 would be mine? Thank you.

there was no specific record kept of Cameo production at various plants - and there was about 4,000 Chev Cameos sold in 55 [plus some GMC 'Suburban pickups'], see here for some details

Bill

The butchered frame would still have the serial number that was under the cab, so that would be a good thing to have...proves you have a complete truck and not just a pile of parts.

Mike B

Welcome to the Stovebolt.

John

Thanks again everyone for your help and info. If anyone has owned or currently owns a 55 Cameo, what are the critical pieces I must have with the truck to make it a 55 Cameo. I have been told already that the rear bumper chrome "bullets" are a must because to find them is next to impossible and when found, they will cost three arms and 4 legs (they are similar to the rear quarter "spears" on 58-59 GMC or Chevy fleetsides!). There are 2 engine blocks that come with the truck and the current owner is going to send me the casting numbers. One of the cylinder heads that is separate from these blocks looks like it came from a 307, 327 or 350. I am not really sure how to tell the difference. Have a great night!

If you're interested in having a period-correct engine in the truck, the only V8 that will pass muster is a 1955 265 engine. Here's the difference that will be noticeable to anyone familiar with vintage Chevy engines. 1955 was the ONLY year a Chevy V8 used a bypass-type oil filter which was mounted on a bracket at the front of the engine. The same filter was used on the stovebolt six engines, with a different mounting bracket. 56 and later engines used a full flow canister filter built into the block back in the driver's side bellhousing area. Those 55 265 blocks are as scarce as an honest car salesman or a professional football player who can read and write. The ones you do find will probably be bored out so thin you can read a newspaper through the cylinder walls, after several rebuilds.

Cylinder heads- - - -I've got a casting number list stashed away somewhere in a file that covers about 40 years worth of small block V8 heads, but the ones you'll probably need to look for will have 58 CC combustion chambers and a single diamond-shaped mark on the front of the head. They'll be called "power Pack" heads, and they came on 4-barrel equipped V8s. The valve cover attaching bolts on pre-1959 heads will have the holes on the spark plug (lower) side of the head spaced about an inch further apart than the ones up by the intake manifold. Pre-59 Power Pack heads are also very scarce items. 2-barrel 55 V8 heads have larger combustion chambers and a flat rectangle on the front of the head, not a diamond shape. Ditto on the valve cover bolt spacing for the 2-barrel heads.

Edit: My mistake- - - -the Power Pack heads didn't come out until 59, on the 4-barrel 283. There were some EXTREMELY scarce high compression heads for the Corvette 265 engines with one or two 4-barrels.

Most people ignore the period-correct engine and just drop in a "crate" 350- - - - -sort of like belly buttons- - - -everybody's got one!

Cylinder head casting numbers:
https://www.enginelabs.com/news/quick-ref-small-block-chevy-cylinder-head-casting-numbers/

55 265 V8 heads:
3836839
3703523
3713358

Jerry

Thanks Jerry! Will wait to see what info I get from owner. Have a great day!

HELP? Hi! Just got some more pics of truck pieces: it comes with 2 engines one of which has a tranny hooked up to it. Looks like there is also a front and rear end. On the engine that is currently hooked up to the tranny is the following casting #: 28GM 3970010 (this is stamped just ahead of where the tranny hooks up to the engine block). Any idea what V8 this is? I cannot see any engine casting #'s on the other engine....sorry.

More pics and info: the 2nd engine (no tranny hooked to it) has the intake manifold with casting # 10000516 (Firing order 1 8 4 _ 6 5 7 2). It also has a casting # 1000007082 located on the block just before it connects to the tranny). Any idea what V8 this might be? Thank you.

Odds are 3970010 block is a 350, but it also could be a 327 or 302 block. What are the numbers stamped on pad on the pass front side of the block where head the meets the block?

55 SHAKER: What are the numbers stamped on pad on the pass side of the block where the _________ meets the block? Thanks.

Sorry about that. Where the pass side head meets the front of the block.

on one of the blocks is 100000708? Can I send u some photos?

Borbas are you sure it's 100000708, and not 10000708?
This link http://www.jimsperformance.com/blocks.html shows a 10000708 as a 1980 301 Pontiac engine. Third row down. Yes you can send some photos. My e/mail is in my profile.

55 SHAKER: Hi! Thanks for the info confirming 301 Pontiac. However, how do we confirm the other engine as you stated it is "probably a 350?" Do I need to send you more info or ? Thanks again for all of your help.

Yes, we need more info...there is a flat machined surface just in front of the passenger side Head. There will be a code stamped into that pad...what's that code (numbers and letters)? You might have to wire brush/scrap the pad to see the numbers...

The date code is on the back of the block where the bell housing bolts up (behind the distributor and normally on the opposite side as the casting number), it's a 4 or 5 digit code.

Mike B

Borbas read my previous post, and also what MikeB just posted.

Hi guys! Sorry away for a bit and still trying to get more info from the owner. Also still trying to get VIN # for frame......once info obtained, I will be sure to post. Thanks for your patience.

A sure way to identify a 55 (only) block is that the road draft tube runs right down THROUGH the block while 56 and up road draft tubes are held down to a hole at the rear of the block with a long 1/4-20 bolt. If either block you have has an oil filter mount on the lower left corner it is NOT a 55 265. I think I have access to a 55 engine if the lady hasn't disposed of it yet; she's cleaning out all her deceased husbands toys. As others have said, ANY swb 55-57 frame is correct and 58,59 with a little tweaking. Here is a 57 we did with a generic frame that wins just about every show it's been entered in even though it gets a magnifying glass going over by so called "expert" judges. The last picture shows original frame that was torn, butchered, and rusty (just front part).

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/PpV58TJg/Cameo002.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/zy4MvMqx/Cameo001.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/06QQ5z2Y/Cameo006.jpg[/img]

Hi! Still waiting for owner's ex-husband to send me pics and info about frame......sorry. Will be going on the road from BC to Ontario starting Nov 1 and may be picking up a car from Texas to haul back to Ontario.