bullrunmotor
Senior Member
Will a 56 Ford Dash replace a 55 dash in passenger car applications without major modifications? Thanks in advance
Will 55 & 56 passenger dash boards interchange
- Thread starter bullrunmotor
- Start date
dmsfrr
Well-known member
Besides the dashboards being different styles and 'assuming' it would fit ???...(photos below)
The short version of the story is.. no, not really
'55 was the last year Ford used a 6 volt positive ground electrical system, '56 was 12 volt negative ground.
The '56 gauges in the dash and the '55 gauge senders in the car won't talk to each other.
The gauge Senders from the '56 could most likely be put into the '55 but the 6v car would need to be converted to 12v neg ground if it isn't already. Original '56 gauges and senders are one-year-only parts
The short version of the story is.. no, not really
'55 was the last year Ford used a 6 volt positive ground electrical system, '56 was 12 volt negative ground.
The '56 gauges in the dash and the '55 gauge senders in the car won't talk to each other.
The gauge Senders from the '56 could most likely be put into the '55 but the 6v car would need to be converted to 12v neg ground if it isn't already. Original '56 gauges and senders are one-year-only parts
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Hot Rod Reverend
Well-known member
Let me add a couple of things here about sheet metal and "hard" parts.
The dashes swap to BOLT IN but you the separate wings, uprights, and windshield pieces are particular to the model year. You will also have differences among models as a hardtop has a lower windshield, the Sunliner has its own pieces of trim, etc.
The steering column in a 56 is shorter than a 55. The angle is the same, the column OD is the same and all, but you will need the pieces that give you the shift indicator, the tubes for the turn signal wiring, etc. Underneath, the pedal arrangement or measure is the same, but there is a slight upgrade to the 56 model for the pedal bracket - especially if you have a standard transmission.
More fellas may chime in later on this.
The dashes swap to BOLT IN but you the separate wings, uprights, and windshield pieces are particular to the model year. You will also have differences among models as a hardtop has a lower windshield, the Sunliner has its own pieces of trim, etc.
The steering column in a 56 is shorter than a 55. The angle is the same, the column OD is the same and all, but you will need the pieces that give you the shift indicator, the tubes for the turn signal wiring, etc. Underneath, the pedal arrangement or measure is the same, but there is a slight upgrade to the 56 model for the pedal bracket - especially if you have a standard transmission.
More fellas may chime in later on this.
Daves55Sedan
Well-known member
The '55 and '56 car bodies are identical. The dashboard bolts on to the car body. The dash itself will bolt in, but you would need the '56 dash garnish moldings and the windshield garnish moldings and sun-visors. The '55 dash is three pieces including the two end wings, but on the '56 it is all one piece. I'm pretty sure all mounting holes are in same place, but if not you can drill a new hole in car interior structure.
As far as steering, you would not necessarily need to swap out the steering column as the '55 steering column will bolt to the '56 dash (but you may need the '56 steering column bracket to holt it to the dash).
If you do want to use the '56 steering column, you will have to swap out the '55 steering gearbox with the '56 steering gearbox, because the steering shaft is shorter on the '56 to permit the '56 deep dish steering wheel to be used.
As far as electrical components, clock, radio, gauges and light bulbs at a minimum would all be un-usable unless your '55 has been converted to 12-volts negative ground and then you would need to get '56 fuel and temperature sending units to match the gauges.
As far as steering, you would not necessarily need to swap out the steering column as the '55 steering column will bolt to the '56 dash (but you may need the '56 steering column bracket to holt it to the dash).
If you do want to use the '56 steering column, you will have to swap out the '55 steering gearbox with the '56 steering gearbox, because the steering shaft is shorter on the '56 to permit the '56 deep dish steering wheel to be used.
As far as electrical components, clock, radio, gauges and light bulbs at a minimum would all be un-usable unless your '55 has been converted to 12-volts negative ground and then you would need to get '56 fuel and temperature sending units to match the gauges.