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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 26 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 26 | Hi, I just bought a 55 Cameo pickup and will be restoring it for my wife. It currently has a 350/auto in it, but the guy I bought it from said the motor and transmission in the bed of the truck are original to the truck. How can I verify if it's the original running gear.
Last edited by Stevea; 12/10/2007 5:06 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 120 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 120 | Welcome: Two ways, wait for one of the more experienced guys to respond or try the search feature in the upper left hand side of this page. How to "ID an engine" or look at the sites' millions of pages and follow the links to other sites' pages with pictures and lists of block numbers and such. Stick around for a minute and the guys here at Stovebolt will get you headed in the right direction. Again, Welcome to the great source of info. for your new purchase. Have fun! | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,383 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,383 | Tip one, you'll probably get this from one of the moderators. They prefer you not post pics directly in the forum. Linking is prefered. There are those here who insist on doing it but the folks who provide the 'bolt free of charge ask that it not be done. Welcome to the 'bolt and there will be a lot of folks that will be able to help you.
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| | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | welcome to the garage Steve, and good luck with the project!
if the truck originally had that V8 in it, the vin number will start with a V, otherwise it had a 235 inline 6 .... in 55 the V8 would have been a 265, and a quick ID for that is no oil filter, otherwise as tango said, get the block casting numbers, and also see if there's a number stamped on a 'ledge' pass side front at the bottom of the head, there's folks here who can decode those for you
Bill | | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,983 Master Gabster | | Master Gabster Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,983 | A dumb question I'm sure, but, what was or is a Cameo pickup? 
~Jim
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,867 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,867 | I thought Cameos had the fiberglass bedsides? | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 507 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 507 | You will need the casting #'s from the block and head to verify if they are orig to the truck. These are the raised letters and numbers cast into the block not the serial # from the engine.
Welcome to the bolt. Cameo's are a great find, tho harder to find parts for. Best of luck and we need pictures.
"If it ain't Steel it ain't Real" "Earth the insane aslyum for the rest of the Universe" 41 1/2-ton, a work in progress 68 Shortbed stepside 327/325hp/700R4
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 443 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 443 | A dumb question I'm sure, but, what was or is a Cameo pickup? A picture for you HERE
1957 Chevrolet 1/2-ton Stepside LB in the Gallery My Photobucket shots The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." - John Stuart Mill (1806 - 1873) | | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,983 Master Gabster | | Master Gabster Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,983 | I figured it to be a 55-59 from what has been written here but never heard it called that.
~Jim
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | '55-'58 actually, although GMC did offer a simlar truck up to '59. The best way to describe it is that it was the Nomad of the truck line. Limited production (aorund 5000 in '55, progressivly less each year after), they were mainly loaded trucks, usually with most, if not all of the factory accessories, big window cab and chrome trim was std on them. As far as the body, it's the bed that's different. The sides are fiberglass, however, those sides are mounted to essentially the same box as a std truck. The tailgat is different, having provisions for latches, retactor cables, and a fiberglass cover. There is also an enclosed spare tire carrier under the bed, and it uses a different bumper (with an opening center section to access the spare) than a std truck.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,983 Master Gabster | | Master Gabster Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,983 | Thanks LONGBOX55, you never get too old to learn.
~Jim
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 26 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 26 | | | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall | | Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 | as 41chevy said get the CASTING numbers on the engine and I will add that you can then go to mortec.com and find what engine you have.....and as has been said plenty of guys here can do the same for you.
Welcome to the bolt. There is no disappointments here.
I sure wish I had a Cameo....well, I really do but its a model of a 1955 model, still in the box, sitting right on top of my computer desk..I"m looking at it. Man, I love it!! | | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 26 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 26 | I sure wish I had a Cameo....well, I really do but its a model of a 1955 model, still in the box, sitting right on top of my computer desk..I"m looking at it. Man, I love it!! They just have a great look to them I agree, and so does my wife. I was very happy to find this pickup. She wants it to be like a new car when I'm done. I also got a model with the truck, so now I have two of them:) | | | | | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 234 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 234 | I prefer a fleetside.   (See signature line.) Seriously, one of the biggest disappointments I ever had at a car show was somebody who had seriously modified a 58 Cameo. They're almost as rare as hen's teeth, and he cut it up  and turned it into a "hot rod" truck. This abomination (IMO) was actually a featured vehicle with a spot inside one of the buildings at the fair grounds where the show was being held. I can't imagine why anybody woud modify a rare and beautiful body like a 58 Cameo. Normally I say, "it's your car, do what you want with it", but this was hard to stomach.
58 Fleetside, 235, "The Old Buckin' Bronco"
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 26 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 26 | I prefer a fleetside. (See signature line.) Seriously, one of the biggest disappointments I ever had at a car show was somebody who had seriously modified a 58 Cameo. They're almost as rare as hen's teeth, and he cut it up and turned it into a "hot rod" truck. This abomination (IMO) was actually a featured vehicle with a spot inside one of the buildings at the fair grounds where the show was being held. I can't imagine why anybody would modify a rare and beautiful body like a 58 Cameo. Normally I say, "it's your car, do what you want with it", but this was hard to stomach. Sure make me feel bad:) You know I won't mess with the body, but I do want it to ride well for her. I know if I don't make it into a very easy to drive truck she won't drive it and enjoy it. I know what your saying, but I would rather it be driven than just sit there and look original. I currently have a 67 Camaro SS vert that is all original with the vin on the motor and a 65 Mustang Fastback K code hipo car that is also all original with the vin on the motor and I wouldn't change either of them one bit. But this truck does not have the original running gear, so I don't feel to bad in making it something she will like to drive. If she will drive it other people will also get to enjoy seeing it and learn to love the older trucks. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,983 Master Gabster | | Master Gabster Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,983 | Stevea
I agree with you, fix it where your honey will enjoy driving it. Consider yourself lucky to have a wife that would enjoy that. I couldn't get my wife to drive anything older than last year's Christmas tree.
~Jim
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats | | Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 | Welcome aboard - nice looking find.
The problems we face today can not be addressed at the same level of intelligence we were at when we created them - Albert Einstein Or with the same level of $ - Me
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 75 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 75 | LONGBOX, Weren't the trucks actually called "Cameo Carrier?" And the GMC was a Suburban. While Chevy sold "Suburban" utilities, GMC sold "Suburban" pickups. Confusing? | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | yes the Chevy was the cameo carrier, but the GMC version was the 'town and country pickup'Bill | | |
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