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| | | Forums66 Topics128,186 Posts1,057,309 Members48,468 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
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For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 2 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 2 | I have recently aquired a 1957? fire truck, the bed has been recently removed so now it is just a big cab and chassis. this is a stock V8 truck and I am not sure what power plant it is (small block chevy but what size?) I also don't have any idea what the shift pattern is for the 4x4 transfer case and trans. Any help with this would be appreciated. This truck does run and I drove it part of the way home (I was pushed the rest). It has accured to me that the gas gauge is not reading correctly. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,619 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,619 | Mark Welcome to the Stovebolt Page. You will be getting a lot of help here as soon the people start getting off work and set down to read after dinner.
2-Ton 1967 GMC 9500 Fire Ladder Truck"The Flag Pole"In the Stovebolt Gallery1946 2-Ton grain truck 1946 3/4-ton pickup, 1953 1-ton pickup 1957 1-ton flatbed dually, 1954 Pontiac Straight Eight Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most! | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,881 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,881 | If indeed the chassis is a 57, there were only two V-8's available then, a 265 cubic inch, and a 283. Assuming it's got the original engine still in place, look for a machined pad just ahead of the passenger's side cylinder head and copy the letters at the end of the stamped number. Someone here should be able to decipher the engine size and application from that suffix. There are several online lists of engine ID codes.
Welcome to the nuthouse! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 | yes Mark, welcome to the garage ... a GMC wouldn't originally have been a SBC, but a Pontiac - 316, 336, or 347 I believe in the 55-59 years
Bill | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,881 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,881 | OOPS! I missed that! It would be a Pontiac engine in a V-8 GMC! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,236 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,236 | Welcome Mark! Check out my 57 Chevy Fire Engine and my 56 Chevy NAPCO 4x4 on my web page. Mike B  | | | | | Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,897 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,897 | Not sure if a 2 ton is big enough, but gmc also offered the oldsmobile engines in the larger trucks. 371 Olds perhaps?
Are you sure the engine is a SBC? Does the engine have small hoses coming out of the water pump and going to the heads? If so you likely still have the reversed cooled Pontiac engine. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 195 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 195 | Sounds very interesting! Pictures are always appreciated!
Red meat is not bad for you.........Fuzzy green meat is bad for you!
"What happens in the garage stays in the garage!"
1958 Chevy Spartan 100 firetruck in the Gallery
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,963 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,963 | A GMC up to a 500 series would be a Pontiac engine. 550 and 600 had the 371 Olds from 57 to 59. 55,56 550 and 600 had the 324 Olds. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 36 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 36 | yea but after all these years...its probly a sbc. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 2 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 2 | crenwelge, My truck is a 370 and I believe you are right it should be a Pontiac engine. I thought the 1/2 & 3/4 ton trucks were 348's and I did not know about the larger 370. By the way I also own a 56 gmc 100 4x4, I have had this truck for about 30 years and started restoring it about three years ago. It is not stock and I think it is really a money sponge and not a truck. However, I still love it. | | |
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