Went to a car show today. I took my 56 Ford Fairlane. A fellow who obviously was an expert on 56 Fords proceeded to tell me that the 56 could be bought with a 312 that was not special order and that the 312's in 56 had a flat top radiator. I thought the 292 was the standard engine in the Fairlanes and the 312 had to be ordered and I have owned four 56 Fords and none had a flat top radiator? What say the forum? Thanks G.S.

56 VIC  Gene Stoehr Sr.

The 312 was optional in late '56.  The flat top radiator he referred to may be the rad you find in a Mercury, it is thicker with a flatter top than the Ford rad.  It can be swapped into the Ford and may have been available as a cooling option, but all of the factory 312 equipped '56s I've seen use the round type '56 Ford rad.

Larry D

Winnipeg, MB Canada Eh!


'57 Fairlane 500 Club Victoria

'58 Custom 300 Tudor

'56 Crown Victoria

'61 Starliner Z Code

'51 Ford Victoria

I HAVE HAD 2 56 SUNLINERS WITH FLAT TOP RADIATORS, AND I THINK ALL THE AIR COND. CARS HAD THE FLAT TANKS.

  JUST A MIDNIGHT CRUISE DOWN THUNDER ROAD!!! TOM DRUMMOND MIDWEST DIRECTOR 57 FORD INTERNATIONAL

The 312 was available as an option in March 56.Prior to that date it was only available in the T-Bird.The 292 was the Thonderbird V-8 and the 312 was designated Thunderbird "Special" V-8.A little trivia.