I have a '56 Crown Vic and the frame was butchered and needs all front suspension replaced also. It also had some terrible welding done to it......I also have a '56 2 dr. sedan with an excellent frame that has been gone through and has had all suspension parts replaced. Are these frames interchangeable? I was looking on the web for a body to frame bushing kit and found a couple on ebay. The seller says that his kit (B5A-5001 -- "55 56 1955 1956 FORD 2 & 4 DOOR SEDAN BODY MOUNT KIT") will not fit a Crown Vic??? If so, does this mean that I can't use the sedan frame under my Crown vic? The Crown vic has power steering (leaking terribly) and the sedan does not have PS. . I was thinking of doing away with the PS and go to manual steering on my Vic when using the sedan frame. Here's a picture of the sedan frame I wanted to use. How about some recommendations on finding a body mount kit that will work for me. Thanks, Joe.
If you get a factory shop manual for the '56 Ford (you really should have one for a frame up restore), that info will be in it. They have a section on frames with drawings of the frames, for all models, mounting points and dimensions as well as differences for them. I only have ones for the 52-53 & the 54 supplement. The next one I have is for the '60 so, I can't help but, maybe someone has the '56 manual that could help you.
Frames are the same. Although there are some additional brackets. I have a 55 Victoria and the body to frame kits for a standard Fairlane are short like 10 bushings/bolts. I would set the frames side by side and transfer the brackets from your old frame to the one you are going to use. Anyway that's my opinion. Dave
I can’t imagine the basic frame being different but the mounts probably are. If your going to change the frames. You’ve take the coupe body off so you know what’s needed. Place the 2 frames side by side and move body mounts as needed. As said above. Good luck..
Victoria's and Convertibles definitely have an extra support on each side where there is no B pillar. Not sure if the Crown has that extra support or not.
Thanks for all the input, good info, and Okie, the Crown vic frame is almost identical to the yellow sedan frame pictured above. No X member.
Here are a couple of manuals, if your interested: https://www.ebay.com/itm/174048866007?hash=item28861eeed7:g:nXcAAOSwPa9dkj7I https://www.ebay.com/itm/4023188642...W9SVAZhMOwFoGgNB0%3D|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2334524
That brings up a question that I've had, for a long time. Is the "Crown" area, across the side window, a door post or, is it just ginger bread?
I have that manual but the frame section only mentions that the Victoria and Crown vic have some extra body mounting brackets and capping strips are welded to the bottom of the members.
Well, don't know about ginger bread, but I've always thought that this car was basically a 2 door post, except that the B pillar was slant forward!
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