if its' a stock '55 V8, then it's a 265 and not a 283.
Get me the casting #'s and I'll tell you what it is.
I'm dropping a 283 in my 88 long bed and thought that my Chevy II oil pan would make room for the center link but NO..
A friend said to notch the back of the pan instead of the front.
I just didn't feel like cutting a 150.00 oil pan. BUT I might have to.
If you have the stock distributor (points) get a pertronix set up and run an external coil. The small head will give you more clearance.

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