Will all the stock power steering parts from a 1956 Fairlane with 312 c.i. Y-block bolt to a 1957 Ranch Wagon with stock 292 c.i. Y-block? I'm pretty sure the underhood parts--pump/reservoir/bracket--will work, but I'm not sure about everything under the car--center link, ram, etc. Any help will be appreciated! Ron

Under car components are different.I have seen this question asked before and that was the answer as I recall.55-56 will interchange with some slight differences but not 56-57.

  

With my playing with power steering pumps and brackets between the two years ( I have one of each) is that if you have an opportunity to purchase the '57 setup for your '56 I would say to go for it. I ended up with a pump and bracket set up for the '56 (I was told it was from a '55 and should fit) and everything bolted on OK but the crank and pump pulley didn't line up. I made a couple of wood spacers that gave me the spacing I wanted and I had my machinist friend make spacers from aluminum based on my prototypes (he got quite a laugh out of my wood Ford parts). Anyway everything has been working fine.The rams are also different based on year. They will work on different years. Hose end sizes vary from year to year so be sure to know what you have before ordering parts. Concours Parts has a pretty good description of year differences for the rams in their catalog.

Jeff Petersen

From what I recall they list an early or late style ram for 57 T Bird.

If you were putting the '56 Fairlane parts under a '57 Bird you would have no problems, however the under car parts are different under a Fairlane (Or any full sized '57) mostly because the Full sized is just that and the Bird is narrower like the '54 to '56 Ford Car. The control valve and ram are the same as an Early '57 and will work on an early '57 with all the rest of the early '57 components. The frame mounts for the idler arm must also be '57 early or late. I think that you could sell or trade that '56 stuff to a thunderbird guy and have enough to buy new stuff, as the '54 to '56 powersteering is tough to find and Bird guys are always looking for it. Good Luck Bird Havens '54 to '56 Ford & Mercury catalog gives nice break downs and also shows what fits Ford & Mercury and what will also fit Thunderbird '55 to '57. catalog # Y-21.

312T85Bird

What?