engine help for 55 chevy p/u

**LyinLow** · 07-10-2009, 01:32 PM

hello,
just came across a 55 Chevy p/u. and was wondering what type of engine I should install. the truck is going to be a total restore and I wanted it for speed but can for daily driving. any help is welcome.

**kirk** · 07-10-2009, 03:56 PM

Just a 350 small block would be a good engine, easy to get one and put in too.
If it were me though, I'd build a 301 for it. Far from being the fastest thing around, but you don't ever see them, and it's a cool old school engine.
It kinda depend on what direction the whole truck is going in though. For example, is it gonna look like a bone stock, nicely restored 55? Or a hot rod truck? Lowered weekend cruiser? To me, what kind of engine goes in it kinda depends on how the truck is built. JMO though

**GreaseDog** · 07-10-2009, 11:29 PM

350 and doll it up to look like a stock 55 small block. should look right at home in there. either that or a 292 inline 6

**boostin20** · 07-12-2009, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by GreaseDog

350 and doll it up to look like a stock 55 small block. should look right at home in there. either that or a 292 inline 6

I agree. Or you could go the other direction and get this- LS2 swap

**modular93fox** · 07-12-2009, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by LyinLow

hello,
just came across a 55 Chevy p/u. and was wondering what type of engine I should install. the truck is going to be a total restore and I wanted it for speed but can for daily driving. any help is welcome.

what an awesome open ended question, to narrow down the answers you might get, how much money do you want to spend?

**GreaseDog** · 07-12-2009, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by boostin20

I agree. Or you could go the other direction and get this- LS2 swap

since he said restore, and not resto-mod, the LS2 wouldnt be a good fit.

**chevy79** · 07-12-2009, 11:31 PM

Here is a pic of my 55'. Was stock with a in line 6, converted with a V-8 350. Truck was light as hell so a stock small block should work fine. With Posi 3.73 I could burn about 50' ft from a dead stop with a T-10 4 spd.

This was 4 sale 12 years after I sold it for half the money the new seller was asking, and they did nothing to improve it. Was 5k for it.

With a v8 in there the fan is going to be a ways back, unless it was a v8 truck to begin with. The fan shroud from a v8 truck was set back vs the straight 6 truck. Another point was the motor mounts, back in 55' they wern't that strong at all. Tore up a couple with stock 79' 350 power.
I think a BBC is over kill, unless you do a lot of werk to everything.

This was it in its hay day...

**Blue Bowtie** · 07-12-2009, 11:44 PM

Everybody keeps saying 350, but any SB would be fine really, from a 283 to a 327. When we were building my 51, it was built on the basis of being a reliable DD, so we put a 305 in it. Actually, we really put it in because it was freshly rebuilt motor sitting in the shop. Also, they aren't powerhouses, but they are great reliable motors.

**GreaseDog** · 07-13-2009, 12:28 AM

very true, any Gen I small block would work, though 350s are easier to find, easier and cheaper to find parts for, and their 4" bore gives them a flow advantage over a smaller bore that shrouds the valves, hurting performance. this will be better when you decide you want more power down the road. smaller V8 does not mean more fuel economy.