Would anyone know if power steering was an option on 1956 Fords? I ask because my 4 door wagon seems to have been somewhat optioned when new. When I purchased it( about 6 yrs ago) it had the western motif upholstery,( not sure what it was called) factory or dealer installed turn signals and backup lights, a true P code 312, all options I believe, and power steering. Currently unable to check parts numbers to match with later ford systems due to surgery, but have not seen any signs of "hackery" to install, and other than a slow leaking pump, it drove well. It may well have been adapted from a later model, as someone had swapped manifold/carb, and a few other things. Would date of manufacture in 1956 make a difference in availability?
Everything you listed was available from Ford. Power steering had been around for a few years by the time your '56 was built. You can decode the numbers on the data plate to see exactly what it came with new. My car has the branding iron seats like your car has. The code comes up tan vinyl. Be sure to let us know what you come up with.
The ID plate will give you engine, paint, interior, ***embly plant, and order of ***embly and that’s about it. Fairlane’s included some niceties as like a clock and windshield washer. Auto trans, overdrive, radios (as there were 2) deluxe heater, backup lights, outside mirror, air conditioning, electric windows, electric seats, we’re all options with some installed by the dealer at the buyers request. Ford had no “ matching” numbers at that time for engines or transmissions. Customlines and Mainlines had less and a less expensive heater if you wanted it. Optional rear gears for all models were special orders and could be done at the dealers.
I decoded the vin plate (I hired an inspection service to go to the vehicle(It was out of state) and they sent a picture of the VIN plate, before purchasing, to be sure it was not stolen, etc. From that I knew it was a P code 312, 1956, made in Long Beach CA, Country Sedan, the consective unit #, and production Number. Body #79D, color Golden Glow/Colonial White, Trim code BA. Manufacture Date of July 9. The last for digits are 1229, which I believe indicates 1229th auto scheduled for ***embly on this date, I believe, but not positive. There is no other Data Plate. For any options, I believe I would need a "build sheet" but dont think those were available at that time on the car permanently. My best guess is that sheet was either given to the owner at sales, or perhaps included with owners manual,etc. My best guess. I realize some manufacturers made power steering before 1956, but unsure when it was available on the Ford line, either as an option or standard equipment. Appreciate the response, and if anything is incorrect in the above, please correct me. Is your Trim Code BA (Branding Iron upholstery?)
It did come with auto trans (unless someone installed later, but unlikely, radio(which one?) and heater /air flow system ( deluxe?) I no longer have the trans,gave it to a fellow y blocker, but still have radio, heater system. Installed aftermarket A/C first thing, as I intended to drive a year before diss***embly. Another story there. The rear had a tag, 46/13, which indicates 3:54 and is raised numberng with a 44-1, Dana 44. So power steering wan't an option at that build date?
Power steering was an option on all models from at least 1953, it was considered expensive at that time. We had a 1957 country sedan wagon when I was a kid that was ordered with a 312 auto but nothing else, no radio, no power steering or power brakes. My uncle ordered it to tow his large boat and haul his large family but was too cheap to buy those "expensive options". My dad bought the car from him in 1959 and we used it to tow a travel trailer all over the west for several years. I got the car handed down to me while I was in high school, it must have had a low rear gear ratio as it could smoke the right rear tire pretty easy. Probably ordered the ratio for towing but I never looked to see what it actually was.
I thought it might be as you say, an expensive option for most on that year, so not so popular for most buyers. I'm surprised to learn that it was available as early as 1953 from Ford, couldn't find that info anywhere. Earliest I've ever found was parts/systems from 1957 year. Whoever ordered this vehicle had to well off for the time as it had almost all the options we've mentioned, except A/C,power windows/seats. Built/bought/and lived in San Diego until 2012, I have the California liscense plate, so surprised again he hadn't ordered the A/C too. It wasn't a total rust bucket, so probably had a decent garage to live in and was heavily undercoated which helped. Anxious to check some parts #, but until then I'll consider it as an option he purchased. Thanks to you and all that responded.
There is a previous post on this group from June 11 ***led 53 Ford Customline and he is asking about the power steering with some pretty good pictures of it. That is a factory power steering setup on a 53, I think you will find it looks much like the unit on a 56. That same setup was used at least through 64 on full sized fords and well into the 70's on mid sized Mavericks and Granadas. Couldn't have been too bad or they would have dropped it before 25 years!
Thanks for sending info on that 53 posting, missed it, not at my best then. Glad to hear this system has been relatively unchanged for that time period. Hopefully will just need a pump rebuild, aand steering box rebuild (just because) and it should be good to go, but nice to know parts are available if it needs more. Will be doing a disc brake/front rebuild, but have no desire for a rack and pinion setup, stock system will suit my needs. Glad I went with the y block and dont need to mess with a Borgensen Box, or Electric system. Next up is trying to adapt rear discs to my stock wagon Dana 44, as I dont need a 9" swap. Probably will have to prototype that if possible, if not I will switch to a 9 inch. Neccessity is the mother/?// of invention, right? Again, thanks, I love this group!
Power steering was common in 55-56 on Fairlanes, both our new ones had it and bought local in So Cal. Dad added a power brake ***ist on the 55. it was a Bendix mounted on the inner fender panel..Very common. beachcruzer: you need to look at the entire # for the sequence with took into account the entire ford run for 1956 where ever it was ***embled. Mine was also ***embled in Long Beach with the last 4 digit about a 1000 higher than yours and not the same model. There were over 750,000 56 Ford cars; with the 2 digits add to the front with would be interesting to compare numbers at other plants due to the one letter added to the Vin for the ***embly plant and was a March car.
Most of the people I have talked to with a 55/56 are not impressed with the rack and pinion kits out there mainly because it seems to increase the turning circle greatly from stock. I do know a couple people with the borgensen box that like it but it seems like you must modify the top of the frame to get it to line up correctly with the steering column. Also the stock shifter can be a problem with the cut down steering column. My biggest complaint with the stock setup on my 55 is the number of turns it takes with the gear ratio of the steering box. It requires way too much movement of the steering wheel even with everything in good shape otherwise. As usual, everything is a compromise! As far as rear disc brakes for a Dana 44 Jeep was still using the Dana 44 in the Wrangler through the late 2015 year at least, Grand Cherokee used an aluminum center Dana 44 starting in the mid 1990's (1996 I think) and they could all be had with disc brakes. The bolt circle of the wheel mounting is 4.5 inches, same as the stock Ford. Many other manufactures also used the Dana 44 but I don't know if the axle flanges are the same where the caliper bracket bolts on. Might be something to look into if you are a junkyard hunter! Mark
Ive got a 1956 Customline with power steering. As near as I can tell it was added later from what appears to be a granada conversion. Theres 1 photo copied article about this conversion I found here that looks identical to the installation I have on my 56. The Key is on the P***enger side wheel well theres a 1 inch wide 1/2 tall hole cut in the frame to access the nut to attached the steering ram bracket to the frame. That should tell you if it was added on.
This is an area that I've come up with conflicting info. The serial# is P6LX-168123, which means it was the 168123 consecutive unit # in production of all Ford cars of that year, correct? The lower set of digits/numbers are: 79D ME BA 9 G 1229 79D(denotes body style) color-ME (golden glow yellow/ Colonial white) Trim BA(red and white, but upholstery was the Branding Iron optional western motif which I couldnt find a code for, so unsure of that. The 9 is for 9th day of the month, G for July. Then 1229 which I've found conflicting info on. Some sources indicate the first number (1) stands for the dealer, which ws decoded as Buffalo, and 229 stands for 229th auto scheduled for ***embly on this day. Dealer seems unlikely as it was built in San Diego and spent its life until 2012 in that area. So that would make it the1229th auto scheduled for ***embly that day. Perhaps the trim was scheduled to be standard Red /White ,then changed to Branding Iron option by dealer after? Or incorrect coding dechiper? That and the 1229 issue are the two areas of conflicting research. Can you help with those items? I really dont want to put our members through any trouble or time to do my research, I can do and have done my research, but these questions stand unresolved at this time. And its a moot point as this is a restomod and all will change, but I would like to do***ent its history. Of all the "sources" this groups info takes precedent, so do appreciate any help.
Those are the issues that made my decision to stay with stock system, plus I have a working system for no cash outlay. The Jeeps would be the first line that I would start modfying with, but hadn't looked at what years, bolt circle, so your info is a good lead. Was a junkyard "junkie"way back since the early 60's, but now in Galveston, 50 miles to Houston, another 50 miles deeper into Houston before there are any real junkyards, and with the Houston rapidly (if not already) becoming the murder capital, I have no desire to spend a day or a minute there. Not a political forum, so I'll leave it at that.
After replacing the seals in my control valve 8 years ago with what are called “quad” seals; I’ve been very very happy with the stock power ***ist steering. 1 haven’t had a leak in those 8 years. There is a zerk fitting on the ball and I grease it every other time I lube. One pump.
I got them from a guy in central California. The movable spool in the valve has 2 different diameter shafts the seals go on. Mine were the same. I called him and he said that was away to repair old a bad spool. He sent me another small one. I had a manual and laid out the valve and took it apart by following the instructions You also take it off the car with instructions where you need to count the threads. No big deal I worked slow. As a side note the tall guy Ed China on that show-in England installed these in aThunderbird on the car without removing the control valve.
Definitely sounds do-able, and I certainly do work slow enough. Thanks, hoping I won't need a total rebuild as previous owner claims system was gone through/rebuilt. Since it was operating correctly and no leaks in that area, just MAYBE it was done, and correctly. Time will tell.
My 57 Cou7ntry Sedan came with PS from the factory, but they added A/C later or at the dealer as the car was in Vegas. As for the radio, there are two different models a basic AM and the Town and Country That could FM. The way to tell the difference is there are ****ons on the top of the radio one has a T and the other has a C. You can get a modern version that does all the AM/FM/satellite/USB from the vendors-BUT it is very spendy.
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