just picked up this 56 with 62k original miles. this is the most basic, no option car I've ever seen, and I kind of like that about it. no radio, no cigar lighter, on/off only dome light, no armrests on the doors, ect. it has had the starter and transmission out for at least 20 years. I put the starter in, put an electric pump ahead of the fuel pump, put new plug wires, points, starter solenoid, and one battery cable in it, and it fired right off. (after oiling the cylinders and making sure I could rotate it through two full firing cycles by hand of course) the interior in this is great, considering how long it sat. ZERO evidence that mice ever got in it, the carpet looks like new. unfortunately it does have some rust, and it'll need floors someday as well, but its going to make a great little cruiser until that day comes. I still need to put the transmission back in, the original is toast, you can hear misaligned gears spinning the input shaft, however it did come with a 3sp od unit that feels fine, and goes into all the gears. it did not, unfortunately come with a govener, or solenoid, although I've got a line on another used transmission that seems to include both. that being said. if anyone has tips on these transmissions and clutch set ups I'm all ears.
the only things that don't work are the dash lights, one low beam headlight, and the front park lights go off when the headlights come on. the fuel pump came to life, and the generator works. the master cylinder even pumps fluid (although a line is blown.) I think that I did okay for $600 delivered.
The park lights are supposed to go off when the headlights come on, they don't stay on like they do on newer cars. If you want your park lights on when the headlights are on, all you have to do is move the parking lights wire on the headlight switch to the same terminal as the wire that goes to the dimmer switch. If I had a plain Jane '56 Mainline, I would not be able to resist the urge to paint and letter it as a '50s NASCAR racer with my name as the driver and advertizement for Drake Motor Co., our local Ford dealer 1928-56. My '38 Ford pickup that I sold back in January was lettered as a shop truck for Drake. The old 223 six is hard to kill. I worked in a body shop when I was in high school and often drove a '56 Ranch Wago that we more or less used as a shop truck. It had the same engine as your car with 3 on the tree, and it could (and did) lay rubber. What's the third character of the serial number on your '56 which indicates assembly plant? My father worked at the Atlanta plant from 1952-82. He was leading seams in the body shop in '56
looks like a K, so that's Kansas city, right? I'm in Nebraska, and I'm pretty sure it was sold new here so that'd make sense.
Fordo’s aren’t bad, but they’re heavy and finding a rebuilder can be difficult. The 3 sp od, especially with the 6 would be the cool set up. Clutch linkage and pedal might be a problem. Someone, maybe hotrodprimer, did a cable set up on a Ford, might run a search. The 3sp o/d units type came with either a 4:11 or (wagon) 4:27 rear end. You’ll need to address that, or at least a 3.7? rear end. The Fordo’s were 3.3? or so. Mac at http://www.vanpeltsales.com/VPPSweb/VPPS-homepg.htm has more knowledge and parts than anyone else I know for the 3 speed o/d. Here’s a link to the BW manual for the o/d. Ignore the Willy’s source. They were pretty much all the same. http://www.oldwillysforum.com/forum/TechData/BWOverdriveManual.pdf Cool car. I like the “racer” idea. Or a shine tank in the back.
Looks like a great car especially for what you had to give for it! I’ll be following along as you get it going.
Yours is a pretty typically optioned Mainline. It's got two of four external trim options; the brightwork around the front and rear windows and the quarterpanel trim. Plus the heater. My '56 Mainline Ranch wagon only has a few more; windshield washer, OD trans, front armrests, and somewhat rare on these, backup lights. The 223 six with a OD makes a great cruiser, and will give really excellent fuel economy if it's in decent tune. I never got less than 20 MPG with mine, mid-high 20s on the freeway.
The overdrive transmission would be the same length as the stock straight 3 speed sideloader transmission made by Ford. They are the same from 1952-54, so any of those are bolt-ins. The 1955-56 overdrive was the same as far as fit goes, but they were entirely made by Borg Warner and identified as the T-86 transmission with a toploader cover. No change to the driveshaft either. You’ll need the various controls for an overdrive. The solenoid and governor would be attached to the transmission. The overdrive relay goes on the firewall in the engine compartment. The kick down switch goes under the gas pedal. A dedicated wire harness for these things ties it all together. Although the 12 volt solenoids are out of stock at the moment, all the rest is available. That includes the lockout cable and chrome handle. If you have the correct overdrive
Color me jealous, lucky dog! Amazing the shape of the interior. I would have a look at the guts of that original 3sp , pretty simple units and can be disassembled with hand tools, might be something simple to repair and get you moving, the o/d is a good upgrade but parts a little hard to find and also you would want a better gear set for the rear to take advantage of it.
Its not the cheapest since it has the deluxe fresh air heater and there is a cheaper heater,that heater was around 70 dollars in 55.
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