A bumper question for 56's

Ford56

Ford56

Senior Member
I am in the process of buying a 56 Victoria. My 56 Club Sedan was crushed in the recent hurricane Florence. So, the one I'm buying has the exhaust coming out under the bumper, which is the way my Club Sedan was set up, even thought the bumpers had the openings for the through the bumpers slot openings. So, my question is, did the original Victoria have the bumpers with the openings in them for the exhaust, or, was that an option, and the exhaust could also be set up for under the bumper? :o
 
It's my understanding that the exhaust came out through the bumpers for all 56 Fairlanes. That is the case with my 56 Fairlane Victoria. I've heard stories that back in the day things would get a little "fumy" for passengers in the rear seat and that many owners modified the exhaust to extend out under the bumper. It can be converted back of course, but you will need the interfacing hardware that goes between the tailpipe and the bumper.
 
I don't know if Fairlanes were available with the 6 cyl., 0r 272 2 barrel engines. Those are single exhaust engines (especially the 6 cyl.). If all Fairlanes had the 292 or 312 4 barrel engines, then I assume all Fairlanes came with the exhaust outlets through the bumper.


Sal
 
My understanding is the same as what Sal said above. It wouldn't make sense for single exhaust cars to come with bumpers with dual cutouts.
I think I may have seen different bumpers listed in the Ford parts catalog for 6 cylinder & 272's. and the 292's & 312's. I'll have to check again.
 
375661

Duel Exhausts exiting the rear bumper on a 292 V8 powered 1956 Ford Fairlane Sunliner. Cars with the Mileage Maker Six may have had the regular standard rear bumper like all of the Customline and Mainline Series had.
 
The Fairlanes had the exhaust through the bumper, the lesser equipped did not. It was common practice in the 60s to swap a 55 rear bumper on a 56 Fairlane to eliminate the hole in the original bumper because by that time they mostly were all rotted out . I know thats what I did.
 
34pickup said:
The Fairlanes had the exhaust through the bumper, the lesser equipped did not. It was common practice in the 60s to swap a 55 rear bumper on a 56 Fairlane to eliminate the hole in the original bumper because by that time they mostly were all rotted out . I know thats what I did.
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Thx. I thought all Fairlanes did have the slots in the rear bumper, but I wanted to check here to be sure. Also, using a 55 rear bumper could make sense too. I just need to check w/the current owner to determine what was done w/the one I'm buying.
 
34pickup said:
...by that time they mostly were all rotted out . I know thats what I did.
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Leaded gasoline.


EDIT -


375662


There were separate rear bumpers listed for the 55 (B5A 17906-A) and 56 (B6A 17906-A) (w/o exhaust openings).

I have looked through several photos and cannot see a difference in appearance.

Anybody know for certain?
 
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It still doesn't make sense to me that a Fairlane with a 272 2 barrel engine and single exhaust would have the dual outlet bumper. The chart says Fairlane 8 cyl's had the dual outlet bumper, so just confusing to me, unless dual exh. was standard on Fairlanes with a 272 also.


Sal
 
"There were separate rear bumpers listed for the 55 (B5A 17906-A) and 56 (B6A 17906-A) (w/o exhaust openings).

I have looked through several photos and cannot see a difference in appearance.

Anybody know for certain? "






I guess it's possible they just scrolled the part number to a '56 part number with no change to the bumper. That wouldn't be normal engineering practice though.


Sal
 
scicala said:
It still doesn't make sense to me that a Fairlane with a 272 2 barrel engine and single exhaust would have the dual outlet bumper. The chart says Fairlane 8 cyl's had the dual outlet bumper, so just confusing to me, unless dual exh. was standard on Fairlanes with a 272 also.

Sal
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I think only the high trim FAIRLANE with the 292 (later 312) got the bumper and it would have been an option or within a package option.
 
KULTULZ said:
I think only the high trim FAIRLANE with the 292 (later 312) got the bumper and it would have been an option or within a package option.
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I agree. With what I've seen, only the high trim, V-8's, got the dual exhaust thru the bumper treatment. It is the only sensible explanation.
 
Not to hijack this post, but can you imagine in 1956 the uncertainty on the assembly line trying to figure out what part goes on what car, especially if they sent a mix of models/options down the line?

I just confirmed the correct exhaust manifolds on my '56 Tbird and was surprised at the number of different p/n's for the same basic engine.
 
Daddio said:
Not to hijack this post, but can you imagine in 1956 the uncertainty on the assembly line trying to figure out what part goes on what car, especially if they sent a mix of models/options down the line?

I just confirmed the correct exhaust manifolds on my '56 Tbird and was surprised at the number of different p/n's for the same basic engine.
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Actually it was not all that confusing. There was a build sheet that followed the car and a buck tag mounted that gave most assembly codes.

Where it really hit the fan was at WIXOM ASSEMBLY with the 58 LINC, BIRD and EDSEL. The EDSEL was also assembled in both FORD and MERC plant lines so that was where they lost most quality control.
 
The 55 272 dual exhaust would also fit the 56, and they all came out under the bumper. As an aside, I have always thought that the 272 was available in the 56 Custom. I had one with a 6 cyl but also had one with a 272. Though I guess someone could have swapped it out.
 
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