The Ford Barn

Rich Largent · 01-04-2013, 02:51 PM

Continuing my search for an original 56 Fairlane Victoria. Found one recently listed to have the Thunderbird 312 in it. Would like to know if anyone can tell me if in 1956 you could get a car so equipped. My research seems to indicate they were only available in the Crown Victorias.

Huff · 01-04-2013, 03:55 PM

I had a new 56 Ford victoria hardtop with a 312 it was end of the year car.

CarlG · 01-04-2013, 04:15 PM

My dad bought new a 56 Fairlane Fordor with a 312 in it. If I recall correctly it said "Thunderbird" on the valve covers.

34pickup · 01-04-2013, 05:20 PM

First year of availability in the Ford. I had a 56 with a 292 in it. It also said Thunderbird on the valve cover so you can't go by that exclusively.

Retro Jim · 01-04-2013, 05:52 PM

Anything was possible back then when you could order a car just how you wanted it . The 312 did come out later in 1956 for the 1957 year but you could get the 312 if you wanted it .
The only way to find out if you have a true 312 is by the crank used or by the stroke . Everything else was the same along with the bore .

Jim

Y-Blockhead · 01-04-2013, 06:48 PM

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Very hard to tell externally. The crank flange is marked with a "dot" but is extremely difficult to see with the engine in the car. Not all 312's had the "dot".

Only way to truly know is internally as already mentioned. 312's had a different bore and stroke, main caps (marked ECZ), rear main seal retainer and seal etc. Some others...

Check here; How to ID a 312

Rich Largent · 01-04-2013, 07:34 PM

Thanks everyone. I too remember when you could order a car the way you wanted it.

Rich

streetdreams · 01-04-2013, 08:24 PM

Crank flange should have a crescent and a flat area with a large dot, or multiple small dots. Mummert has a good description on his site.

Paul H · 01-04-2013, 10:34 PM

312s were not an option in full size 56 Fords until late March of 56.They were standard in all 56 Mercurys and optional in 56 T-Birds.Any full size car(Fairlanes) built prior to March would have come a 292 or a 6-cylinder.Customlines and Mainlines would have come with 6-cylinder,272,292( or a 312 after March).All 56 292s had the Thunderbird decal on the valve covers.A 312 had a Thunderbird Special decal.

parklane · 01-04-2013, 10:41 PM

If the car has the original engine (fat chance of that!!) the vin# for the 292 is M and the 312 is P

01-04-2013, 02:51 PM	#1
Rich Largent Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Cape Fear area, North Carolina Posts: 53	312 in Fairlane Victoria Continuing my search for an original 56 Fairlane Victoria. Found one recently listed to have the Thunderbird 312 in it. Would like to know if anyone can tell me if in 1956 you could get a car so equipped. My research seems to indicate they were only available in the Crown Victorias.

01-04-2013, 03:55 PM	#2
Huff Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Palmyra Pa. Posts: 195	Re: 312 in Fairlane Victoria I had a new 56 Ford victoria hardtop with a 312 it was end of the year car.

01-04-2013, 04:15 PM	#3
CarlG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 9,115	Re: 312 in Fairlane Victoria My dad bought new a 56 Fairlane Fordor with a 312 in it. If I recall correctly it said "Thunderbird" on the valve covers.

01-04-2013, 05:20 PM	#4
34pickup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Huntsville Al Posts: 1,526	Re: 312 in Fairlane Victoria First year of availability in the Ford. I had a 56 with a 292 in it. It also said Thunderbird on the valve cover so you can't go by that exclusively. __________________ Matt 24:36-41

01-04-2013, 05:52 PM	#5
Retro Jim Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Abbottstown , Pa. Posts: 194	Re: 312 in Fairlane Victoria Anything was possible back then when you could order a car just how you wanted it . The 312 did come out later in 1956 for the 1957 year but you could get the 312 if you wanted it . The only way to find out if you have a true 312 is by the crank used or by the stroke . Everything else was the same along with the bore . Jim

01-04-2013, 06:48 PM	#6
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,848	Re: 312 in Fairlane Victoria Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Very hard to tell externally. The crank flange is marked with a "dot" but is extremely difficult to see with the engine in the car. Not all 312's had the "dot". Only way to truly know is internally as already mentioned. 312's had a different bore and stroke, main caps (marked ECZ), rear main seal retainer and seal etc. Some others... Check here; How to ID a 312

01-04-2013, 07:34 PM	#7
Rich Largent Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Cape Fear area, North Carolina Posts: 53	Re: 312 in Fairlane Victoria Thanks everyone. I too remember when you could order a car the way you wanted it. Rich

01-04-2013, 08:24 PM	#8
streetdreams Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Howell, Michigan, USA, The Peoples Slightly Overspent Demodependancy of Michigan Posts: 638	Re: 312 in Fairlane Victoria Crank flange should have a crescent and a flat area with a large dot, or multiple small dots. Mummert has a good description on his site.

01-04-2013, 10:34 PM	#9
Paul H Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Boonville MO Posts: 104	Re: 312 in Fairlane Victoria 312s were not an option in full size 56 Fords until late March of 56.They were standard in all 56 Mercurys and optional in 56 T-Birds.Any full size car(Fairlanes) built prior to March would have come a 292 or a 6-cylinder.Customlines and Mainlines would have come with 6-cylinder,272,292( or a 312 after March).All 56 292s had the Thunderbird decal on the valve covers.A 312 had a Thunderbird Special decal. __________________ Paul H.

01-04-2013, 10:41 PM	#10
parklane Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: St.Thomas, ON Canada Posts: 598	Re: 312 in Fairlane Victoria If the car has the original engine (fat chance of that!!) the vin# for the 292 is M and the 312 is P __________________ If brains were wire, some couldn't short circuit a firefly