The person I purchased my 55 from has a 56 and also has a 312 motor with a fordamatic together on a stand and all he does is  start the motor to impress visitors. He is getting aged plus his wife requires him to care for her .because of her age and health. I feel he will sell me the 312 system, my question is what would be a fair price to offer him, last thing I would want to do would be to insult him  but I don't want to over pay. .The 56 he rarely drives but he is a man that can't sit still. He just purchased a 37 Ford Coupe out of North Carolina and the 37 gets his attention when he has the time.

Ask him to put a price on it

GooD advice there from John . . .


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

How can you be sure it's a 312? 
56 312 are a lot rarer than people think.

Lou is correct, 312s were spread thin in 1956, what with covering Merc's, T. Birds & official cars, before being available in late spring for general use in sedans etc. According to research, only about 17% of Fords had 312s that year.. To check it out properly, U need to have the Fordomatic pulled back, to look at the crank flange. If it has a 5/16" diameter short protruding dot in one of the cutout, it's a 312. If not, ( or it has smaller diameter protrusions it's not a 312.) However, apparently some 312 cranks weren't cast with the 5/16" dot, you then need to have the pan removed & check for ECZ markings on the rods & crank to be sure. ECU markings indicate a 292 or 272" engine.. O.K?  Another possible issue is block cracks. Due to the crank mains being bigger in 312s, the area along side the main bolts is thinner. An incorrect torque spec was issued in early 1956 which if used risked cracking the block in the main webs. This could also happen if a rebuild was done by someone who over tightened the main bolts.. Beware!  


Paul