thanks mucho

256 cid was in Mercury line up and was called "V-161" Advertised hp was 161 at 4400 rpm and torque was 238 pounds-feet at 2200 to 2800 rpm. Compression ratio was 7.5:1. That is what my "55 years of Mercury"-book tells me.

And yes, my "Standard catalog of Ford 1903-1990" says this for the 1954 year. Law enforcement V-8: 256 cid, 160 hp at 4400 rpm, 7.5:1 compression and one Holley four barrel. Serial number code "P".

So, it was

 Seppo from Järvenpää, Finland
www.hollowheads.net (just click the hole in the head to proceed)

http://flickr.com/photos/8717820@N04/2726856160/

http://flickr.com/photos/marje/2726031319/in/photostream/

welll... then I found this..

http://www.thehotrodcompany.com/shopnow/show_dept.asp?dept_id=22

 Seppo from Järvenpää, Finland
www.hollowheads.net (just click the hole in the head to proceed)

found a copy of said catolog on ebay

just what I needed

giddy up