1956 Ford Car Shop Manual
Tuneup & Oil Change Specs
Pages 353-367
Ford Division Ford Motor Company produced Sep 1955

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
Distributor (full vacuum) #B5A-12127 6CYL, Holley Model 1272, (std & auto trans)
         Repair Kit #A7A-12000-B incld Contact Breaker, Rotor #12200-A, Condenser #12300-A
         Contact Breaker Gap .024-.026"     Dwell Angle 35-38°
         Cap #7HA-12106     Vacuum Control #7RA-12370-B
Ignition Timing 4° BTDC (Conv Dr & OD), 6° BTDC (Fordonatic Dr), max 8° BTDC
         w/ vac hose to distributor disconnected     Advance counter-clockwise
Idle Speed 475-500 rpm (Conv Dr & OD), 450-475 rpm (Fordomatic Dr, 425-450 rpm in "DR")
Engine Oil Capacity 4 qt (I-6) + 1 qt (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
Engine Oil Drain Plug & Gasket #8A-6730-A
Oil Filter Element & Gasket #B2A-6731-20, "can type"
Crankcase Screen & Gaskets Kit #6631-K
         Screen #B2TZ-6A631-B     Gaskets #B4A-6870-A & #6872
Oil Filler Breather Cap #B2A-6766-A, wash in solvent, oil element w/ light eng oil
Air Cleaner Oil Capacity 1 pint US
         Oil Viscosity Grade 30W above +32°F, 10W below +32°F
Fordomatic Dr Fluid Capacity 9.25 qt (I-6), Type A, modern replacement Dextron® III
Coolant Capacity 14.5 qt (rad) + 1 qt (heater) = 15.5 qt US, all except
         Courier (Sedan Delivery) 15 qt (rad) + 1 qt (heater) = 16 qt US,
         Rad Cap #8100, 13 psi     System Pressurized 6-1/4 lb to 7-3/4 lb
Carburetor (1-bbl) Holley Model 1904
         Float Level 13/64"
         Fuel Level 11/16" from outside top surface of main body to fuel level measured through Economiser opening at 4-1/2 lb fuel pressure
         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 (auto trans) clearance .045-.064"
Fuel Pump #4208-9350     Fuel & Vacuum Pump #4708-9350     Filter & Gasket #8A-9365
Valve Lash intake .015," exh .019," (hot)
Comp Press 150 psi, sea level @ cranking speed
Lube Chassis, Owner's Manual (here)
Maintenance Guide, Owner's Manual (here)

V-8 Tuneup & Oil Change

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
Distributor (full vacuum) #B5A-12127 (specify year & engine)
         Repair Kit #12000-AK incld Contact Breaker, Rotor #12200-A, Condenser #12300-A
         Contact Breaker Gap .024-.025"    Dwell Angle 26-28.5°     Cap #FAB-12106-A
         Vacuum Control (2V carb) #FAB-12370-A, (4V carb) #12370-B (double type)
Ignition Timing 3° BTDC (Conv Dr & OD), 6° BTDC (Fordomatic Dr), max 10° BTDC
         w/ vac hose to distributor disconnected    Advance clockwise
Idle Speed 475-500 rpm (Conv Dr & OD), 450-475 rpm (Fordomatic Dr, 425-450 rpm in "DR")
Engine Oil Capacity 5 qt + 1 qt (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)
Engine Oil Drain Plug & Gasket #8A-6730-A
Oil Filter Element & Gasket #B2A-6731-20, "can type"
Crankcase Screen & Gaskets Kit #6631-K
         Screen #B2TZ-6A631-B     Gaskets #B4A-6870-A & #6872
Oil Filler Breather Cap #B5A-6766-C, wash in solvent, oil element w/ light eng oil
Air Cleaner Oil Capacity 1 pint US
         Oil Viscosity Grade 30W above +32°F, 10W below +32°F
Fordomatic Dr Fluid Capacity 9.75 qt US (V-8 all), except 10.25 qt US (Interceptor Y-8), Type A, modern Dextron® III
Coolant Capacity 19 qt (rad) + 1 qt (heater) = 20 qt US, all except
         (Police) Interceptor Y-8 312-cid  19.5 qt (rad) + 1 qt (heater) = 20.5 qt US
         Rad Cap 13 psi, #8100     System Pressurized 6-1/4 lb to 7-3/4 lb
Carburetor (2-bbl) (272-cid)
         Holley Model 2110-EEC #R-1156A (std trans)     Model 2110-EEC #R-1159A (auto trans)
         Fuel Level 11/16" from upper surface of main body at 4-1/2 lb fuel pressure
         Float Level 1-15/32" closed adjacent to seam on float
Carburetor (4-bbl) (292-cid) #B6A-9510-B
         Holley Model 4000 #R-1162A (std trans)     Model 4000 #R1161A (auto trans)
         Fuel Level 1/2" from upper surface of main body at 4-1/2 lb fuel pressure
         Float Level 1/4" below top surface of float bowl
Fuel Pump #6523-9350     Fuel & Vacuum Pump #4206-9350
         Filter & Gasket #8A-9365     Mounting Gasket #9417
         Capacity 1 pint or over in 45 sec, pressure 4-5 lb    
         Vacuum Test 10" hg min @ 120 rpm, 12" hg max @ 1800 rpm
Valve Lash intake .018, exh .018, (hot)
Compression Pressure, sea level @ cranking speed
         •  Ford V-8 272-cid  160 psi (std)  165 psi (auto)
         •  Thunderbird V-8 292-cid  155 psi (std)  160 psi (auto)
         •  Thunderbird Special V-8 312-cid  160 psi (Overdrive, Thunderbird only)  165 psi (auto)
         •  Special Police Y-8 292-cid  155 psi (std)  160 psi (auto)
         •  (Police) Interceptor Y-8 312-cid  155 psi (std)  160 psi (auto)
Lube Chassis, Owner's Manual (here)
Maintenance Guide, Owner's Manua (here))

Service Parts, All

Battery 55-amp-hr #B6A-10655-29N-SP
Spark Plugs #12405, Champion #870, Autolite #2954, 18 mm, (no gasket)
         Gap .032-.036"    Tq 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
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 -1°F, 80W below -10°F
Rear Axle Fluid #M-4642, add Multipurpose-Type Gear Lubricant 80W
Gas Cap (Sedan) #AB-9030-C, (Wagons & Courier) #9030-CR
Fuel Tank Capacity 17 gal US (Cars), 19 gal US (Wagons & Courier)
Brake Pedal Free Travel 1/4" to 7/16"

Wheel Alignment, All

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")