Time to look at the 1955 chevy truck, small v8. Some here know I have been helping my uncle clean up the yard, downsize and save a bunch of old iron from the s****yard. This is the proverbial, "corvette motor" That we all have heard before. Talking with my uncle long distance on the phone, he told me several times about buying the truck and it has a corvette motor in it. And she runs HAWT! he says, can hear the cam in it. Now I am back in town and we talk over coffee, I get the long version of the story. A man walks into a chevy dealer, orders a motor to be built for his corvette. The dealer builds the motor and the man never comes back to pick it up. In walks the farmer and needs a small bock for his truck, buys the built motor. So I am at least curious, is there any truth to the bones of the story? Looks just like any other 283/327 stock valve covers, 2 barrel carb, ramhorn exhaust. Would pulling one valve cover for head casting number, and the cast number on the drivers side rear of the block be enough? Will have to use a mirror and hope can see the number on the block. Not going to be easy with the motor installed. I wonder if I pulled the floor panel off around the transmission if could see the casting number. Or would I need other numbers also?
The numbers stamped on the top front of the block, just in front of the p*** side head, will tell part of the story. The cast numbers on the back might tell you more. Most of these stories are entertaining, but they are "alternative facts". The stamped numbers are the real facts.
If the engine was built from the supply in the parts dept., there may not be any number stamped on the boss, in front of the p***enger head.
I am with you on that, these farm trucks run the exhaust out the front fenders so the dont catch the field on fire. This truck has 2" exhaust going from the manifold to the fenders, maybe 20" long on each side with no mufflers, sure it does sound hot. The cam story probably means the carb needs rebuilt. While trying to decide which one of 3 trucks to keep, would be nice to know more about the motor. I will look closer at the front p***enger head. I saw a stamp there, was a rectangle with a pyramid point on top, but did not see any numbers there.
Might be a "CE" engine if dealer ***embled new. http://www.mortec.com/locatpg2.htm There is another type of stamping found on some blocks. This is the "CE" code. You might see something like this "CE123456" on the front pad of the block deck on the p***enger side. The "CE" which alternatively has been known to stand for "Chevrolet Engine" or "Crate Engine" was used on blocks that were warranty replacement motors. The "CE" prefix was also used on "over the counter" blocks and engines. If a customer had problems with his original motor, while it was under warranty, it was replaced with an engine that was stamped "CE" with a number of numeral digits following it which serialized that particular engine. Likewise if a purchaser bought a new motor from the Chevrolet Parts counter, the front pad on the pasenger side of the block may have been stamped with a "CE" code.
DDDenny, thanks for the explanation. this motor could have that number also, will look for it. I saw while searching the interwebz for number locations, the ce number, but was no explanation or why I would want it.
probably the original engine. Look to see if it has the casting for a oil filter. If it don't have any filter its a 55 -265 engine. The story if true? its likely the truck would have been a few years old before the farmer needed a new engine. If it has provisions for engine mounts on the sides of the block its a 58 or newer mill of at least 283 cu in.
On the drivers door, is a tag listing horse power of different engine options, listed the 235 and 265, I ***ume the truck did come with a 265. This motor is installed using the front mounts, I noticed that today while looking at it. I did not look to see if it had a oil filter or option for side mounts. Very good info, will have some things to search for tomorrow morning.
Also if there is not a casting for a oil filter, would mean it is a 265 and most likely prove the farmer was full of "alternative facts" I will first check for the oil filter, no oil filter, move along nothing to see here. If there is a oil filter, then going to start by removing the access panel in the floor. Probably have a good chance to see the numbers from there. And I only saw a little surface rust on the drivers side floor, panel should come off easily. Also there is another 283/powerglide in the engine room. I can look at this one and get all the locations down, before trying to get them out of the truck. Believe this came out of a early impala, not sure which year. Little more coffee and breakfast and will head out.
The stamped number on the front of the block will have a lot of useful info, it's easier to get to than the back of the block....
Once you familiarize yourself with the casting number location, if there is room, run a small wire brush over the area and use a can of WD 40 with a spray tube, then wipe it with a rag. You should be able to reach in with a cel/camera for a shot (if you have one).
On a side note I once bought a 56 gmc with a dead small block. To get it running, i installed the 'corvette 327' i had bought in high school, which was really a 283 2bbl from a 64 chevelle. A year later i was cleaning the yard, and ran the code on the old block. It was a 245 horse dual quad vette motor. Rebuilder shops dont care about the suffix code
Ah the age old "it's a vette motor". They're all basically the same block. If you're interested in it for value the only things that would be worth anything is if it has power pack heads. Double hump casting on the front on each head. Intake if it was 4bbl maybe. If it's a dealer build or a crate motor it was never in a corvette so not technically a vette motor. But could have built to corvette spec. With a 2bbl. Have my doubts. Small block stuff just doesn't have much value unless you find the guy with the car that the motor matches. However. Check the head castings and block. See what u have. 283 meh 327 with power pack. Score, kinda. I love a 327 for some reason. Still not a lot of value there though. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Ok cant post pics from out here, but the Engine number off the front p***enger side pad is F120IDB The casting number on the head is, 3785896 Does these numbers even sound remotely close to a 283 engine? Or do I need to go back out and take a closer look? The head casting numbers the the 5 kinda look like a 6 and and 8 looks like ... but think they are right.
Information I have says the DB suffix makes it a block from a 195 horse 283. I just looked further and yes, it was used for a 230 horse engine in the'58-'61 era, and the 195 horse DB would have come from '63-'67.
Awesome sqirrel. Not sure about the heads, I think they may be 194's with what I could find. So the old beast has a little power anyways. Will start it after the weather warms up, is no coolant in it now and has been drainED. Had to sweep the snow off the hood to get it opened. Was surprised the battery still had a charge and turned over. Been sitting about 7 months without running. Curious how it sounds with the straight pipes running out the fenders
Did you ever hear a person boast about their strong running Bel Air small block? Or how about the dude boasting about his *****in' small block you saw him and his pals ripped from a Chevelle station wagon he claims is a 11.5 to 1 'Vette. As soon as the Corvette valve covers land on it..... it's past dull prior history is erased. Ya need to check the casting and pad numbers. Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I went the other direction, and swapped a truck engine into my Vette!!! Just my effort to help restore balance in the world. But seriously, I'd like to see the exhaust you're talking about on these field trucks. I had a 58, 3/4 ton, long box once that was an X-NAVY truck, it was even painted gray. Somewhere along the life of the truck a 55, 4 barrel, 265 was installed. It ran good but had a bad "rear main seal leak" that turned out to be a ****ed rear cam plug. The mufflers were rotted out on it, so I took a pair of "header mufflers" I had, and installed them "backwards", so the reducer cones were like little megaphones. Course the baffles were backwards too, and it was a little loud. Post some pics if you're able. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
I just took a couple quick pics today, kinda shows the exhaust sticking out, cant quite put my finger on it, but almost like horns or maybe tusk on some wild animal A bad pic of the motor, it is dirty, needs cleaned up and wiring organized, a lot of tlc is needed to make it a driver. Regardless if the 283 came with a 4 barrel stock, the farmer would have put the 2 barrel on it for his air cleaner he built. The thing is huge, has 2x2 angle iron welded to the frame to hold it up. But dirt in the fields is also a concern. And for fun, throw in a 47 ford, at least that farmer put a muffler on. Sad because the flatheads sure sound nice without mufflers.
Ok I looked at your pictures. It has the pyramid on the heads. Power Pack and they do not have 194 intakes. The exhaust manifold appears to be a 55 265 item. Not a Rams Horn. The rams horns came out in 57. The intake is newer than 55 because the temp sender location is at the front. the 55 intakes had the temp sender location at the rear of the manifold. I can see the large rib on the front of the block below the oil fill tube. that indicates a 265 or a 283. my gut feeling is its a 195 hp 283. with 1955 exhaust manifolds. are the bolts that hold the valve covers straight across from each other or are they offset. The late 59 and newer valve cover did not have the staggered bolt pattern. the little tabs on the valve cover are to hold a wire. That indicates the engine came out of something that had a electric sending unit. The 55,s had a burbon tube mechanical temp guage. That long capillary tube indicates your temp guage is not a original 55 item.
You are correct, the heat gauge is a aftermarket mechanical. The sender is in the front. The valve cover bolts are straight across. I am satisfied knowing something about it, if this truck does end up being sold. Can offer some educated info on it being a 283. And uncle is pretty happy, He said "well, it's not the best one out there, but it is not the worst either". I think he said he paid $200 for the truck. And now, he will stop calling it a corvette motor!
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