New to this year truck . . .1957

[mcmlxix]

I am helping my neighbor get a 1957 Chevy 3600 running an driveable before he sells it... I has a manual tranny and a striaght 6... Have a few questions ...

1. How do I identify what motor is in there? It has a GMC valve cover and there is another motor in the back (looks rebuilt) What block castings and where do I look?

2. This is an 8 lug truck and has a stright front axle. Do all 57s have this or is this just because its a 3600 (1 ton?)

3. I measure about 124" from front hub to back hub? It this a SWB, LWB or Cab/Chassis. (it has a work/tool bed with lots of doors)

4. ....edit... Lets say its running, has NO RUST but has a few dented fenders?


And because everyone loves pictures

[dwcsr]

Start here and find out what you have
http://www.americanclassic.com/paint_test.asp
put in the VIN# and it will tell you the general specifications of the truck.

www.stovebolt.com will also help you figure out what engine you may have.

[Apache]

Good site posted by dwcsr. All 57's had the straight axle up front, only difference in that is that the 1/2 ton's had 6 lugs instead of 8.

[Jebb1978]

Man I love that truck! Nothing more to add as far as info that is a very good link.

[qksilver]

sweet truck..........

[72addict]

That truck would sell better if you sold me the spotlights off of it first. You wouldn't want to drag down the value would you? LOL

[72addict]

Stamped numbers on motor block are passenger side front of motor near oil pan. Should be a 270 ci. Thus it will have a "270" in the number.

[72addict]

That is if a GMC motor is in truck

[Norselander]

Originally Posted by mcmlxix

2. This is an 8 lug truck and has a stright front axle. Do all 57s have this or is this just because its a 3600 (1 ton?)

It's a 3/4 ton...

Originally Posted by mcmlxix

3. I measure about 124" from front hub to back hub? It this a SWB, LWB or Cab/Chassis. (it has a work/tool bed with lots of doors)

With the exception of -perhaps- a coachworkes vehicle to which GM sold a truck or chassis, 3600/36Apaches series trucks ('55-'59) had the same wheelbase -- approximately 124". The long bed halves used the same frame but, as mentioned above, wore six lug hubs. One tons had a wheelbase closer to 135". But to answer your question, most folks refer to the 3/4 tons as a LWB truck.

Slick vintage box. This truck may have been sold with a bed -or- in a chassis/cab configuration. I would guess the latter if it was originally owned by a utility company.