New Owner Question - Carburetor

S

show723

New member
Hello all, my father just purchased his dream car...1956 Ford Fairlane and he has had some issues with the Holley Carb. It's a 292 V8 with a 2 barrel. He spoke with some Ford mechanics and they thought that the 292 was a 4 barrel only so they were confused why his has a 2 barrel.

I've looked up the VIN and it does say 292 but nothing specifies whether it was originally a 2 or 4 barrel. The Carb is a Holley 4412-5.

We're getting parts for the carb that's on there now, but if it was originally a 4 barrel carb, then we wanted to purchase a Holley 4 barrel before putting more money into the 2 barrel.

So does anyone know if the 292 came with a 4 barrel ONLY or was it optional?

Thanks in advance!
 
I cant answer your question on the carb, but it does bring up another question. The distributor on a 56 will not work with any carb other than what it came with. If you change intake manifolds to get a newer type carb, (57 or newer), then a 57 or newer dizzy needs to go with it. Good luck!
 
What it left the factory with and what it has now can easily be 2 different animals.
Photos and any part or casting numbers you can find on the existing; carb, intake manif and distributor will be very helpful.

In '56 Holley made a 4000 series 4bbl 'teapot' carburetor and at least one version of a 2bbl carb.
They also made the newer more familiar looking carburetors (like you've got) starting in '57.

Is there a spacer / adapter to mount the carb to the intake?

Look on the top rear of the intake manifold for it's casting number. Here's a link / chart to look up which one you have...
http://www.y-block.info/casting/intake.html
.
 

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show723 said:
Hello all, my father just purchased his dream car...1956 Ford Fairlane and he has had some issues with the Holley Carb. It's a 292 V8 with a 2 barrel. He spoke with some Ford mechanics and they thought that the 292 was a 4 barrel only so they were confused why his has a 2 barrel.

I've looked up the VIN and it does say 292 but nothing specifies whether it was originally a 2 or 4 barrel. The Carb is a Holley 4412-5.

We're getting parts for the carb that's on there now, but if it was originally a 4 barrel carb, then we wanted to purchase a Holley 4 barrel before putting more money into the 2 barrel.

So does anyone know if the 292 came with a 4 barrel ONLY or was it optional?

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

I can't find any info on a 2-barrel 292 for '56, only 4-barrel. Also, I'm pretty sure the 4412 (2300 series) carb came out in '57, so your engine or intake may be later.
As stated above, if your distributor is a '54-'56 loadomatic, it will only advance properly with a loadomatic designed carb, which would be a 2100 series 2-barrel or a 4000 series 4-barrel.
A picture or two of your carb may be of help.
 
In 1956 The 292 and 312 came with 4 barrel Holley teapot carbs only. Same carb on both engines. The base V8 (272) came with a two barrel carb only. Last year of the 3 bolt Holley 94 type carb (actually a 2110).

Like a couple of other people have mentioned, if using the Holley 2 barrel you now have. You have to make sure the distributor has vacuum and centrifugal advance. If not, you need to change to a '57 thru '64 type distributor for the advance to work correctly.
If your Father's car has the original distributor, it should have dual diaphragms (will not work with the current carb on it).

Sal
 
Are you sure it's a 292 and not a 272. They did use the 272 engine in '56. It seems like most V8 engines in full size cars had the Holley 2110, 2bbl carb. That carb was a one-hit-wonder (only used in 1956) although many people can't tell them apart from the older Holley 2100 without close inspection. In '56 Fomoco offered a "Thunderbird Special V8" in full-size cars that had a 4 bbl Holly "teapot" carb and those engines had dual exhaust and dual-vacuum diaphragm distributor.
If it is a 2-bbl carb, there is only three mounting holes to bolt to the intake manifiold, The 4-bbl has four mounting holes.
 
QUOTE=dmsfrr;1582778]What it left the factory with and what it has now can easily be 2 different animals.
Photos and any part or casting numbers you can find on the existing; carb, intake manif and distributor will be very helpful.

In '56 Holley made a 4000 series 4bbl 'teapot' carburetor and at least one version of a 2bbl carb.
They also made the newer more familiar looking carburetors (like you've got) starting in '57.

Is there a spacer / adapter to mount the carb to the intake?

Look on the top rear of the intake manifold for it's casting number. Here's a link / chart to look up which one you have...
http://www.y-block.info/casting/intake.html
.
[/QUOTE]

The only thing I know as of right now is the # of the carb...4412-5. When I stop by my parents' place this weekend, I can find out. I can look at the IM for the casting number as well. Thank you!

V8 Bob said:
I can't find any info on a 2-barrel 292 for '56, only 4-barrel. Also, I'm pretty sure the 4412 (2300 series) carb came out in '57, so your engine or intake may be later.
As stated above, if your distributor is a '54-'56 loadomatic, it will only advance properly with a loadomatic designed carb, which would be a 2100 series 2-barrel or a 4000 series 4-barrel.
A picture or two of your carb may be of help.
Click to expand...

I will update you later with a picture! Carb #4412-5

dmsfrr said:
IF the carb and intake are original to the engine,
here's a link to an engine block casting number chart that can tell you what year the engine is.

http://ford-y-block.com/Block%20identification.htm
.
Click to expand...

Thank you!

40 Deluxe said:
If it is an original 2bbl., it will have just three bolts attaching it to the manifold.
Click to expand...

I'll check!

scicala said:
In 1956 The 292 and 312 came with 4 barrel Holley teapot carbs only. Same carb on both engines. The base V8 (272) came with a two barrel carb only. Last year of the 3 bolt Holley 94 type carb (actually a 2110).

Like a couple of other people have mentioned, if using the Holley 2 barrel you now have. You have to make sure the distributor has vacuum and centrifugal advance. If not, you need to change to a '57 thru '64 type distributor for the advance to work correctly.
If your Father's car has the original distributor, it should have dual diaphragms (will not work with the current carb on it).

Sal
Click to expand...

Great info, I'll double-check.

Daves55Sedan said:
Are you sure it's a 292 and not a 272. They did use the 272 engine in '56. It seems like most V8 engines in full size cars had the Holley 2110, 2bbl carb. That carb was a one-hit-wonder (only used in 1956) although many people can't tell them apart from the older Holley 2100 without close inspection. In '56 Fomoco offered a "Thunderbird Special V8" in full-size cars that had a 4 bbl Holly "teapot" carb and those engines had dual exhaust and dual-vacuum diaphragm distributor.
If it is a 2-bbl carb, there is only three mounting holes to bolt to the intake manifiold, The 4-bbl has four mounting holes.
Click to expand...

It's a Holley 4412-5.
 

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show723 said:
Images of the carb...

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1NfgguBLR4b4lISGMmRpBMfHmWFcneYTg

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1uaLWSy0nt418-p3MVhY81te1syA2mLql

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1R5Pk7zA1xxPIqniP8KUovPDncz6p1Cdu
Click to expand...

Looks like you and your Dad have a little work to do to get that car running right! A Holley 4412 is big for a 2 bbl. at 500 CFM, and so has large jets. It's common on circle track cars that are restricted to a 2 bbl. carb. It came with a manual choke that someone foolishly removed. Why pump gobs of raw gas into the engine on a cold day when you could pull the choke and fire right up?! I see the vacuum advance unit on the distributor is disconnected. Another no-no! Next question: What else is messed up? Check that the crankcase vent filter is not plugged. Pull the valve covers o see if the rocker arms are getting oil. Pull the fuel pump and reach in to check timing chain slop. Turn the engine backwards first to put any chain slack on the pump side. Is the heater riser intact and free? Valve lash set?
 
A 500 CFM Holley 2 barrel isn't really that big. Holley rates the CFM on two barrel carbs at wide open throttle at 3.0" of vacuum. On four barrel carbs they rate it at 2.0" of vacuum. That makes the two barrels look like they flow more air. A 500 CFM 2 barrel has the same size throttle bores and venturi as a 750 CFM four barrel.

Sal
 
Herman Munster said:
It looks like it still has the original 56 intake but with a two barrel adapter .....
Click to expand...
At first I thought it was a heat spacer, but looked closer at the photo and changed my mind. It does look like an adapter could be there too. :confused:
Knowing the casting number of the intake manifold will help.

.
 
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It appears to me like a '57 or later two barrel intake manifold with 1 or 2 fiber type spacers under the carb. Also no choke assembly. Best to buy a manual choke kit for the 2300 carb from Holley or EBAY. Or live with crappy running until the engine build up some heat.

Sal
 
Sal, it could be a 2bbl manifold. It doesn't have the the firing order casting on the front area of the manifold like the 56 4bbl manifold. I also couldn't see the casting number on the back well enough.
 
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