The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1957 Chevy 6400

I have a 1957 Chevy 6400 flatbed that I need body parts for. Specifically front fenders, grille, and bumpers. Since I believe these parts are unique to this year and model of truck, I am having trouble finding them. Any tips on what junkyard might have these parts?

Check with MikeB, of this site. He's the man to talk to, when it comes to, Chevy Task Force ('55-'59)Trucks, Check out his site, http://www.chevytrucks.org/mikesgarage/

Hey Chevy,
I have a '56 4100. I found that '57 parts will work, you realize the hood is different, '57 has ribs, 55 and 56 do not. My truck, somewhat smaller than yours uses pick up doors and hood, fenters, bumper, grille unique. The only thing different when I put '57 fenders on my '56 were the bolt holes for the grille center section were slightly different. I just redrilled the holes to line up. If you got matching year parts, should be a piece of cake. Enjoy your truck!
P.S. The best thing I did to my truck was repowered it with a 350 and installed radial tires, made a huge difference!

Hey Chevy6400,

You are correct, some of the 1957 Series 4000/6000 parts are unique to just that year. All wheelbase of Series 4000 & 6000 models were lengthened by 2-1/2 inches, to provide for the use of larger tires without causing interference between the wheel and the toe board on extreme turns. For 1957 the front axle is moved forward on the springs, shortening the front overhang. In doing this the front fender wheel openings were increased from about 39" to 41-1/2" (measured across the bottom). Other than that the fenders look just like the 55/56 Series 4000/6000.

As Calvin mentioned the Hood is '57 only, while the Inner Fenders, Cab and Doors are the same as the pickup's (55-57). The Series 4000/6000 Core Support, Grille bar and Upper/Lower Grille panel are the same (55-57).

NOS fenders are still around...I just saw a pair at the ATHS show in Auburn, ID. They went for about $400 for the pair. I sold my last one at Hershey last Fall. Keep watching eBay and your local swap meets.

Mike B

Chevy6400
I also have a fleet of 4000 and 6000 series trucks. They are all 55 and 56 trucks but I come across trucks frequently. I know where a 57 is without doors I'm going to stop and ask about when I'm up that way. Also will be tearing down a 55 6500 soon. May have something you need.

tri5

I have a rusted out '56 1/2 ton cab spare from my '56 project and it's right hand drive. My question is will the dash from the RHD 1/2 ton be the same size as the dash from a 2 ton 56-59 so I can use it in a RHD conversion of a larger truck from the USA. They didn't make RHD larger trucks in Australia/New Zealand so a conversion is my only possibility.

And is the dash in the Big GMCs from 56-59 the same as the Chev?

Albatross,

The cabs are for the most part all the same. If you find a good 55-59 Chevy or GMC cab you could swap the dashs to convert your truck project to RHD.

Mike B

Thanks for that, we've had a few problems over the past 6 months with the regs trying to work out what's ok for LHD and what isn't and in the end we've decided to only attempt a conversion where we've got RHD parts to pull it off which is only up to the late 50's as GM in the UK supplied trucks in the 60's down here and the supply of US sourced big bolts dried up. Was there much in the way of bigger Chevys at the ATHS show?

Hey Albatross,

There were a few 50's vintage Chevys in Auburn. I don't think the number come anywhere near the number of "B" Model Macks...lol! I also don't think there were any Chevy TF LCF's.

There was a beautiful black 1957 GMC 650 Tandem with a Holmes 850 wrecker body. That one got my best of show vote!

Mike

Mike, I see a few of the early 60's big bolts with the 366. Did that come from the 348 or somewhere else? I'm finding some really nice early '60's big bolts hiding out there so we're getting warm :-)

Albatross,
I have a 348 out of an early 60's school bus. I was told at the wrecking yard they have seen a 1965 bus with a 409. My sources tell me the truck heads are different than passenger cars on the 'W' engine. Any one know about the bottom end? Forged cranks on trucks?

Talking about parts interchangeability..

I have a 1955 2nd series pickup and am converting to 4x4. I was thinking of putting 6000 series fenders on the truck to allow for bigger tires.

1st question
Are they interchangeable, allowing me to use the original grill/hood?

2nd Question
Where do I find 6000 series fenders?

Welcome to the Bolt!


Yes, they will bolt to your cab.

Yes, your existing hood will work.

No, your existing 3000 grille will not work without modifications/body work...with enough time and money and anything is possible.

FYI, your core support and inner fenders will work as they are the same on all series trucks...


Post a ad in the Swap Meet section under Parts Wanted, swap meets and junk yards, they have never been reproduced.

NOTE, 1955.2 & 1956 4000/6000 front fenders are the same. 1957 4000/6000 fenders are different, they have a larger wheel opening due to the front axle being moved forward 2.5". Not sure if this matters to you...

Mike B

Very cool, thanks for the info. The grill won't fit? boy it seems to have the same proportions. pity they didn't match the same measurements. So I presume that I will need a grill that goes along with it.
I will see what I can find in the swap meet.

The 348/409 "porcupine" are a block all by themselves. The 366/427 tall deck blocks are truck engines, not the same block as the 427 automobile engine.