There is 1 big giveaway with the early chevy blocks, the 55 had no oil filter boss cast into the block. This was introduced in 56. The 283 was rolled out in 57.

The 2nd smaller giveaway is that all blocks from 55 to 57 had the front engine mounts only. In 58 Chevy changed the castings slightly so that the side engine mounts that we are familiar with were introduced into the design.

All 58 to 62 283's can be safely bored to 4.00 inches. I assume this is when they were relatively new. So here we are a half century on bear in mind all the corrosion and and other faults. But who knows you just might get lucky.