1956 Ford Car Shop Manual
Tuneup & Oil Change
Pages 353-367
© Ford Division Ford Motor Company  September, 1955

1956 Ford I-6 Tuneup & Oil Change

Elec System 12-volt     Negative Ground     Cyl Front to Rear 1-2-3-4-5-6     Firing Order 1-5-3-6-2-4
Holley/Ford Load O Matic Distributor #B5A-12127-6CYL, full vacuum, How It Works
         Repair Kit #A7A-12000-B incld Contact Breaker, Rotor #12200-A, & Condenser #12300-A
         Cap #7HA-12106     Contact Breaker Gap 0.024-0.026"     Dwell Angle 35-38°
         Vacuum Control #7RA-12370-B
Ignition Timing 4° BTDC (Conv Dr & OD), 6° BTDC (Fordomatic Dr), max 8° BTDC
         w/ vacuum port on carb plugged     Advance counter-clockwise
Idle Speed 475-500 rpm (Conv Dr & OD), 450-475 rpm (Fordomatic Dr, 425-450 rpm in "DR")
Eng Oil Capacity 4 qt US (I-6) + 1 qt US (filter) = 5 qt US   (1 qt US = 0.95 liter)
         Oil Viscosity Grade 20W above +30°F, 10W from +32°F to -10°F, 5w below -10°F
         Oil Press 45-50 psi, hot @ 2000 rpm
Oil Drain Plug & Gasket #8A-6730-A
Oil Filter Element & Gasket #B2A-6731-20, "can type"
Oil Filler Breather Cap #B2A-6766-A, wash in solvent, oil element w/ light eng oil
Crankcase Screen & Gasket Kit #6631-K
         Screen #B2TZ-6A631-B     Gaskets #B4A-6870-A & #6872
Air Cleaner Oil Capacity 1 pint US
         Oil Viscosity Grade 30W above +32°F, 10W below +32°F
Coolant Capacity 14.5 qt US (rad) + 1 qt US (heater) = 15.5 qt US, all except
         Courier (Sedan Delivery) 15 gal US (rad) + 1 gal US = 16 gal US
Rad Cap #8100, 13 psi     System Pressurized 6-1/4 to 7-3/4 lb
Carb Holley 1904 (1-bbl) #1904-F  R-800-A (Conv Dr & OD), R-826-A (Fordomatic Dr), manual choke
         Fuel Level 11/16" below Power Valve mounting surface +/-1/32"
         Float Setting (dry) .306" from roof of float chamber to lowest point of float (carb inverted)
         Accelerator Pump Adjustment pump link in throttle lever hole nearest to throttle shaft, pump link in other hole (richer) for extreme cold weather
Dash Pot Adjustment clearance 0.045-0.064" (Fordomatic Dr)
Fuel Pump #4208-9350     Fuel & Vacuum Pump #4708-9350     Filter & Gasket #8A-9365
Valve Lash 0.015" (intake), 0.019" (exh), (hot)
Comp Press 150 psi, sea level @ cranking speed
Fordomatic Dr Fluid Capacity 9.25 qt US (I-6), Type A, modern replacement Dextron® III
Lube Chassis, Owner's Manual (here)
Maintenance Guide, Owner's Manual (here)

Elec System 12-volt     Negative Ground
Cyl Front to Rear, right 1-2-3-4, left 5-6-7-8     Firing Order 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2
Holley/Ford Load-O-Matic Distributor #B5A-12127, full vacuum, (specify year & eng), How It Works
         Repair Kit #12000-AK incld Contact Breaker, Rotor #12200-A, Condenser #12300-A
         Cap #FAB-12106-A     Contact Breaker Gap 0.014-0.016"    Dwell Angle 26-28.5°
         Vacuum Control (2-bbl) #FAB-12370-A, (4-bbl) #12370-B (double type)
Ignition Timing 3° BTDC (Conv Dr & OD), 6° BTDC (Fordomatic Dr), max 10° BTDC
         w/ vacuum port on carb plugged    Advance clockwise
Idle Speed 475-500 rpm (Conv Dr & OD), 450-475 rpm (Fordomatic Dr, 425-450 rpm in "DR")
Eng Oil Capacity 5 qt US (V-8) + 1 qt US (filter) = 6 qt US  (1 qt US = 0.95 liter)
         Oil Viscosity Grade 20W above +30°F, 10W from +32°F to -10°F, 5W below -10°F
         Oil Press 45-50 psi @ 2000 rpm, (hot)
Oil Drain Plug & Gasket #8A-6730-A
Oil Filter Element & Gasket #B2A-6731-20, "can type"
Oil Filler Breather Cap #B5A-6766-C, wash in solvent, oil element w/ light eng oil
Crankcase Breather Screen & Gasket Kit #6631-K     Screen #B2TZ-6A631-B     Gaskets #B4A-6870-A & #6872
Air Cleaner Oil Capacity 1 pint US     Oil Viscosity Grade 30W above +32°F, 10W below +32°F
Coolant Capacity 19 qt US (rad) + 1 qt US (heater) = 20 qt US, V-8 all except
         (Police) Interceptor Y-8 312-cid  19.5 qt US (rad) + 1 qt US (heater) = 20.5 qt US
         Courier (Sedan Delivery) 20 qt US (rad) + 1 qt US (heater) = 21 qt US
Rad Cap #8100, 13 psi     System Pressurized 6-1/4 to 7-3/4 lb
Carburetor (V-8 272-cid)
         Holley 2110 (2-bbl) #2110-EEC  R-1156A (Conv Dr & OD), R-1159A (Fordomatic Dr)
         Fuel Level 11/16" below top surface of float bowl +/-1/32
         Float Setting (dry) 1.437-1.500" from Air Horn gasket surface to float bottom (Air Horn inverted)
Carburator (292- & 312-cid)
         Holley 4000 (4-bbl) #B6A-9510-B  R-1162A (Conv Dr & OD), R-1161A (Fordomatic Dr)
         Fuel Level 1/2" below top surface of float bowl +/-1/32"
         Float Setting (dry) 1/4" below top surface of float bowl
Dash Pot Adjustment clearance 0.045-0.064" (Fordomatic Dr)
Fuel Pump #6523-9350     Fuel & Vacuum Pump #4206-9350
         Mounting Gasket #9417    Filter & Gasket #8A-9365
         Capacity 1 pint US or over in 45 sec, pressure 4-5 lb    
         Vacuum Test 10" hg min @ 120 rpm, 12" hg max @ 1800 rpm
Valve Lash 0.019" (intake), 0.019" (exh), (hot)
Compression Pressure, sea level @ cranking speed
         •  Ford V-8 272-cid  - 160 psi (Conv Dr & OD)  - 165 psi (Fordomatic Dr)
         •  Thunderbird V-8 292-cid  - 155 psi (Conv Dr & OD)  - 160 psi (Fordomatic Dr)
         •  Thunderbird Special V-8 312-cid  - 160 psi (OD, Thunderbird only)  - 165 psi (Fordomatic Dr)
         •  Special Police Y-8 292-cid  - 155 psi (Conv Dr & OD)  - 160 psi (Fordomatic Dr)
         •  (Police) Interceptor Y-8 312-cid  - 155 psi (Conv Dr & OD)  - 160 psi (Fordomatic Dr)
Fordomatic Dr Fluid Capacity 9.75 qt US, V-8 all except
         (Police) Interceptor Y-8 312-cid  10.25 qt US
         Type A, modern Dextron® III
Lube Chassis, Owner's Manual (here)
Maintenance Guide, Owner's Manual (here))

Battery 55-amp-hr #B6A-10655-29N-SP
Spark Plugs #12405, Champion #870, Autolite #2954, 18 mm, (no gasket)
         Gap 0.032-0.036"    Torque 15-20 lb-ft
Generator 30-amp #B6A-10001-BK    Voltage Regulator 30-amp #B6A-10505-BF
Coil #B6A-12029-B    Resistor #B6A-12250-R
Starter #B7A-11002-12V    Drive #B4A-11350, Bendix #A-3257    Seal #B4A-6436-B
         Starter w/ Drive #B7A-11002-12B
         Solenoid #B6A-11450-C (brown body, "FoMoCo" script) & Screws (2) #APK-208
Crankcase Breather Screen & Gaskets Kit #6631-K incld
         Screen #B2TZ-6A631-B    Gaskets #B4A-6870-A & #6872
Brake Master Cylinder #B5A-2140    Heavy-Duty Brake Fluid #1A-19542A or B
         Filler Cap #B2A-2162    Gasket #8M-2167
Power Steering Oil Reservoir Filter Element #3538-K incld Gasket #3642
Thermostat 160°F (std) #8575-A, 180°F (high temp) #8575-B
Conv Dr & Overdrive Fluid add Multipurpose-Type Gear Lubricant, 90W above -10°F, 80W below -10°F
Rear Axle Fluid #M-4642, add Multipurpose-Type Gear Lubricant 80W
Gas Cap #AB-9030-C (car), #9030-CR (stn wagon & Courier)
Clutch Pedal Free Travel 1-1/8" to 1-3/8"
Brake Pedal Free Travel 1/4" to 7/16"
Fuel Tank Capacity 17 gal US (car), 19 gal US (stn wagon & Courier)

Caster +1° (1/2° to 1-1/2°)      Camber +3/4° (1/4° to 1-1/4°)      Toe-in 3/32" (1/16" to 1/8")