Chrysler 1956 Imperial User manual

CONTENTS
General Data and Specifications ........... ;.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
License Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Front
Wheel Suspension. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4·6
\
Axle - Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Brakes - Manual. ...... .... ........... ; ........................... . .7·12
Power -Bellows Type ...... .. .. .. .. ....................... 12·18
Piston Type ....... . ..... . ......... ... ........... 97·104
Cooling System ......... ... ... ... ........... ......... ............... 19·20
Electrical System . . .................................................. 21·44
Engine ................. . .. .... .................................... .45·53
Fuel and Exhaust Systems ............ ... ... .. ...... .................. 54·58
Frame. Springs and Shock Absorbers ... . . .................. . ......... 59-62
PowerFlite Transmission ............................................. 62·68
Universal Joints and Propeller Shaft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Wheels and Tires. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Body and Sheet Metal. . . . ... ........... ..... ........ ..... ... . ....... 70-77
Lubrication ... . ....... ..... ... ...... ....... ............. .... ........ 78-79
Radio .......... .. ..... ....................... . ..................... 79·82
Heater ............. ........ .. . . . ......................... ..... ..... 83-92
Air
Conditioning ................................................ . ... 92·96

PRELIMINARY
FOR 1956 CHRYSLER CAR S
This manual contoins advance service information for the proper servicing of the 1956
Chrysler Cars. It covers changes in design , improvements and new methods for ser vicing.
The preliminary manual must be used in conjunction with the 1955 Chrysler Service Manual
0· 15431 in order to obtain full service cov erage. In order to use this preliminary manual
with the service manual 0-15431, the corresponding and superseding car models must be
understood. The supersedence of these models is as follows:
Chrysler Windsor v-a , ..... .. . .
Chrysler New Yorker V-B . . ....... . . .
Custom Imperial
Crown Imperial .... . ........... . . .
1955
C·67 (S.Cy!.)
C·6S (S·Cy!.)
C·69 (S.Cy!.)
C·70 (S·Cy!.)
1956
C·71
C·72
C·73
C·70
The service tools referred to in this Manual are available through the Miller Manufacturing
Company,
5919 Tireman Avenue, Detroit 4, Michigan, U.S.A., unless otherwise specified.
Extro copies of this Service Manual
are available at $1.50 each, under part number
D· 15470. Order from Chrysler Sales Division, Detroit 31 , Michigan.
CHRYSLER
SALES DIVISION
Chrysler CorporatIon
DETROIT 31, MICHIGAN
CIo,.,oIe. Co,po,otion ,. ........ ,10. 'i~'" '0 mClle <IoCln~ .. ill d.li~1I CI, 'CI mol. addi,iClIII /0 0' imp'o" ....... ,.
ill i l. p,adud wi/Ioowl impo.ill~ allY ob/i~alioll' upon ilulf 10 ill"oll IIo,m all ill p,odw<1I p,."i, .. ,.ly
manufo<lw,.d .
D.15'(70- 15M - ES S 9·5S
lITHO IN U. S. A.

GENERAL DATA AND SPECIFICATIONS
(1956 CHRYSLER CARS)
C·71 C·72
ChrYlier
Chrysltr C·70
Windsor New Y aTka C·73
CTown
Item Body Style V·B V·B
ImperiaJ
Im pniui
Wheel Base FouT Door Sedun 126 126 1
33 ....
(Inches) Convcrlihle Coupe
126 126
... . ....
Special Four D oo r (Hard T op)
126 126 133
....
Newport (Hard T op)
126
126 133 ....
St. Regis (liartl Top )
126 126 ... . ....
Town lind Countr y Wagon
126 126 . ,' . · '
..
8 Pa~nger Sedan and Limousine .
,' .
.... . ... 149.5
Tr ead (Fronl -Four D
oo r Sedan 60.4 60.4 61.3 ....
Inches) Convertible Cou
pe
60.4 60.4 ... .
.. ..
Special Four Door (Hard T op) 60.4 60.4 61.3
.,' .
New!'ort (Hard Top ) 60.4 60.4 61.3 ....
St. Regis (H ar d Top) ... . 60.4 ... . ....
Town and Country Wagon 61.3 61.3 .. , . ....
8 Pa ssenger Sedan lind Limousine . .. . , ' . . . ..
61.3
Tread (Rear -
Four Door Sedan 59.6 59.6 60.4 ....
Inches)
eo""erti hl e COll pe 59.6 59.6 . " . ....
Special Four Door (H ar d Top) 59.6 59.6 60.4 ....
Newport (Hard To p)
59.6 59.6
60.'
· ...
St. Regis (Hard To!))
.. . . 59.6 .. . . .. ..
Town and Coun!ry Wllgon 60.4 60.4
... . · ...
8 Passenger Sedan and Li mousine
.... ... . .... 6O.B
I.ength with Four Door Sedan 220.4 221.2 229.6
.. ..
Bumper
Converti bl e Coupe 223.4 224.2
.. . . .. ..
Special Four Door (H ll rd T op)
223.4 224.2 229.6
....
N!:wport (Hard Top ) 223.4 224.2 229.6 ....
SI. Regis (Hard Top)
.. . . 224.2 . ... ....
Town and Country Wagon 219.5 220.3
.. . . ....
8 Passenger Sedan II EUJ Limousine
... . . . . .... 243.6
Width with
Four Door Sedan 78.8 81.0 78.8 ....
BUm l )e r Convertible Coupe 78
.8 81.0 ... .
....
Special Four Door (Hard T op)
78.8 81.0 78.8 ·
..
Newport ( Hard Top ) 78.8 81.0 78.8
....
St. Regis (Hard Top )
....
81.0 .. . . .
...
To wn lind Counlry Wagon
79.1
81.0 ... . ... .
8 Passenger Seuan and Limousine
.... ....
. ... 79.1
Rf'ar Axle Ratio Four
Do or Sedan 3.73 .
.. . ... . ....
with 3·Speed Converti
hl e Co Ulle
3.73 ... . ... . ....
Transmission Special Four Door (I-lard T op)
3.73 ... . ... . . ...
Newport ( Hur d Top ) 3
.7 3 ....
.. . . . ...
S I. R egi.'! (Hard TOI)
.... ... . . .
..
'" .
Town and Country Wagon 3.73 . .. . ... . ... .
Rellr Axle Ratio F
our Door Seda n 3.54 3.36 3.36 ....
with PowcrFlite Co nv ertible (o UII C
3.54
3.36
.. ..
.. , '
Special Four Door (Hard T op)
:t54
3.36 3.36 ....
Newport ( H ar d Top)
3.54 3.36 3.36 ....
SI. Regis (Hard Top ) , . . . 3.36
... . . ...
Town and Cou ntr y Wagon 3.73 3.54
.. ..
. ...
8 Pa s!;C nger Sedan and Limousine .... . ... . .
..
3.54
Tir e Sile
Four Door Sedan 7.60xI5 8.00xIS* 8.20xl S ....
Convertilile Coulle 7.60x15 8.00xl!'.;*
... . ....
Special FOUT Door (Hard T op)
7. 60xl S B.OOx15*
... . ·
., .
Newport ( Hard Top)
7.60x 15 8.ooxl.1* 8.20x1
.1
.. . ,
SI. R egiM (l iar d Top ) ... . 1l.00xI5* .
.. . .
.. .
Town alld Country Wagon 7.60x I5 A.20x1S
... , ....
8 Passenger Sedan and Limousine .... . ... . .
..
8.20xI 5**
*8.00x I5 Spec ial High Speed on (·72 .300 ....Special High Speed
Tir es
2
-- -- -

LICENSE DATA
The following method of numbering vehicles
and their engin es ma n ufactured in the Detroit
and Los Angeles production pl ants will be used
on the 1956 Models.
For Detroit built cars the vehicle numbers
will be revised as follows:
Chrysler Windsor V-S
Chrysler New Yorker V-8
Imperial and Crow n I mpe r ial
IV 56 1001
N 56 1001
C 56 1001
-----'Ii l\'1odel -
Year Bu ilt-------- - -'
Serial Number-----------'
The engine number will be revised as follows:
Chrysler Windsor V-S
Chrysler New Yorker V-8
WE 56 1001
NE56 1 001
Imperial and Crown Imperial C E 56 1001
MOdel ___ _ _ ___ ...J l
Denotes Engine---------'
Year Built - ----------'
Seria l Nurnber----- --- --...J
For Los Angeles built cars the vehicle num-
bers will be revised as follows:
Chrysler Windsor V-8 IV 56 L 1001
Chrysler New Yorker V-S N 56 L 1001
Los Angeles IdentifieaUon ~
, 3
VEHICLE NUMBER
V&H.Cl..C NO
"'00000000 ~
- -- . ~ -
Fig. 1 ~ Vehicle Number
The vehicle number is stamped on a metal
plate
attached to the left front door body hinge
post.
as shown in Figure L
ENGINE NUMBER
r
Fig. 2 - Engine Number
The engine number is stamped on a boss on
the top front of the cylinder block just back of
the waier pump, as shown in Figure 2.
BODY NUMBER
Fig. 3 - B ody Number
The body number is stamped on a plate at-
tached to the body in engine compartment, as
shown in Figure 3.

/FlmNG
rPIN
~"Al
~BUS H ING
~ -SEAL
T SCREW
lOCKWASHER
NUT
/BUSHING
;;!'
STRAP
BUMPER
•
SCREW
LOCKW AS H ER j
SUPPCOl !
, -"
\
flmNG
~
~~;. ~;;~~~~ ;tP!N----UNU T'
J . '1'0
SHOCK ABSORBER
MOUNTlNG----{j
lOCKWASHER SCREW
-----..~
Fig. 1 - Front Wheel Suspension ( Di sassembled View)
4
l'
PlUG
PLUG
SEARING
SEAL
--.. ---

FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM
The 1956 Chrysler Models will continue to fea-
ture the Hi gh- Roll Center front suspension sys-
tem introduced on the 1955 MOdels. Oriftow
shock absorbers, soft acting front and Tear
sp ring s are used to improve the riding comfort
and other functional qualities of the suspension
syste m.
The sLee ring knuckle, sleering knuckle sup-
port and steering arm have been redesigned to
acco mm odate the center plan e brake assembly
FiJ::"ure 1. These new parts are not interchange-
able with the parts used in the 1955 Models, The
king pin thrust bearing is now located at the
upport su pp ort face o( th e steering knuckle.
When s ervicing the stee ring knuckle and king
pins, the thrust bearing should be assemb led
with the thrust side of the bearing down to-
wards the steering knuckle and the king pin
"0" rings should be properly positioned to in-
su re retaining the lubricant in the king pin and
bearing assembly.
Damaged steering knuckles or arms should be
replaced. DO
NOT attempt to straighten or
weld.
FRONT SPRING LEVELING
MEASUREMENTS
With equal pressure in tires and the ca r on a
level floor,
with only weight of car on springs
(no passengers in cur), measure the distance
from (1oor to center of grease fitting in forward
bushing of lower control arm bar, as shown at
"At> in Figure 2. Then measure from floor to
center of lower control a rm pin, as indicated by
"B". The measurement "A" may be either high -
er or lower than "B". In the followi ng table. a
" plus" meallS that" A" is higher than "B" and
a "minus" means that "A" is lower tha n "B".
The table shows the limits f or satisfactory
spring heights (between which "A" may be
eith er higher or lower than "B") for vario us
models.
5
~ ; I
, I
A
49)(719
Fig. 2 - Che cking Front Spring Height
A - Firs! mu.ur"one,,! tI - S«ond m(UUfelll~f"
Front spring heights for the 1956 Chrysler
Models are as follows:
C-71
Sedans and Coupes + 1 inch to -0
inch
C-71
Town and Country Wagon +11/.~ inch
to +%. inch
C-72 Sedans and Coupes + 1 inch to - 0
inch
C-
72 Town and Country Wagon + 11 /4 inch
to - 0 inch
C~73 Sedans and Coupes + 1 inch to -0
inch
C-7
0-8 Passenger Sedans +1l,4 inch to
- Y.J. inch
C-70 Limousine + 1 1,4 inch to -i,4 inch
C-72-300 Sedan + 1 inch to - 0 inch
Obtain these "plus" or "minus" figures, as the
case may be, on both right and left sides of the
car and compare them with each other. If the
two figures differ by more than V4- inch, check
both
sp rings for correct installation at top and
bottom. Look up into the center of each spring
t.o make sure that the top coil completely sur-
rounds the pilot flange in the frame front cross-
member. Also feel along
the b ott om coil to the

end of the coil and make sure that it indexes
correctly with lowest point of the spring seat
ramp. 1f the two spr i ngs are correctly installed
and the "plus" or "minus" figures on right and
left sides are still different from each other by
more tha n '/. ~ inch, correction can be made by
use
of space rs, which should be placed between
spring seat and sile ncer at top of spring.
Each spacer will raise car approximately %
of an inch. No more than two such spacers
should be used with anyone spring. If more
than two space rs are required, replace the
spring. Coil springs are identified by the part
numbers near the end of coils. The part number
will also indicate n definite step in relation to
car height, the higher the number the higher
the car will be raised. Car hei ght can be changed
approximately % inch by using a lower or
hig-her part number. For example, if a spring
with two mnrk s replaces a spring of the same
part number having three marks, the car height
on that side will be increased approximately %
inch.
NOTE: Whenevel' the h'ont or 1'ear springs are
t'eplaced, the headlights shvuld always be re-
focussed.
Refer to your 1955 Service Manual D-15431
for refocussing instructions and for the service
procedure s covering the 1956 Front Suspension
System.
REAR AXLE
The rear axles used on the 1956 Models are of
the same design as used on the 1955 Models.
They are of the semi-fl oating type with hypoid
drive gear and pinion.
C-71 Models equipped with standa rd 3.speed
transmiss ion use an 81 ;" drive gear set and 2
pinion differential.
C-7J Models equipped with
PowerFlite transmissions use an 8i,4 inch drive
gear set with a 4 pinion differentiaL
The C-72. C-73, C-70, C-72-300 and C~71
Models equipped with power package and C- 71
Town and Country W;\gons axe equipped \vith
an 8% inch drive gear set and a 4 pinion dif-
ferential.
LUBRICATION
Lubrication specifications remain the same, as
shown in the 1955 Service Manual under Rear
Axle Data and Specifications with the following
exception.
Model C-71 T
own and Country Wagon and
Power Packag e equipped cars will have a refill
capacity of 3Y:! pints. This is shown as 3i,4 pints
in the 1955 Service Manual.
For the balance of specifications and service
procedure refer to the Rear Axle Section in
your 1955 Service Manual.
TIGHTENING REFERENCE
foot ·Pounds
Axle Shaft Nuts ....... . 145 (mi nimum )
Brake SUVIXIrt Plut e to Hous ing Mounting Boh Nuts............. . .... . ...... . .. . ........ 35
Differential Carrier to Axle Hou sing Bolt Nuts........................ . .. . ... . .. ..... .. . 45
Rear Axle Drive Geur Boh N uts ..... ................... . ....................... . ..... 40
Differential Bearing Cap Bolts ..... ........... . •...... • .............•......•......... • 90
Pinion Shaft Companion Flange Nut
C-?l __ .
240 .mini mum}
C·72, C·73, C·70 and C·72.300 ... . . .... ..•...... 250 (mini mum)
6
-- - --

BRAKES
SPECIFICATIONS
(CENTER PLANE BRAKES)
Drum Diameter .......•......• . ..• .. •.. .
Lining:
Type
Attachment
Width .............. . .•... _,_ ....••..
Thil :KneS! ................... . ••.... • .
Brake Shoe Hcturn Tension ...... ..... .
Using Fish Scale H oo ked at Toe of Shoe .....
Brake Penal Free Play (inches) ...... . .... .
Wheel Cylinder Bore:
Front -Upper and Lower ..
Rear ....... . ................... . . .. .
Master Cylinder Bore ........ .
Pi
ston Clcarllnce:
Master ann Wheel Cy l inder. ....... .
DESCRIPTION
Center Plane brakes are of the d rum type, with
floating shoes mounted between two plates
lo-
cated on the center plane of the linings (Figs.
land2) ,
With the wheel cylinders mounted in the
same plane,
braking forces are transmitted
equally across the width of the lining, giving
uniform pressure against the drum at all times.
The web of the shoe is calibrated in depth, so
that when the brakes are applied, equal pres-
sures are also applied to the brake drums along
the
entire length of the lining.
7
All Model3
Center Pl ane ~ Fl oating Shoe)
H
rdra ul ic
12"
Molded Asbestos
Cydebond
70 Ibs. ± Sib s. @ 2:y, (I"
Jnstalled Length
35 10 451bs. r equired to break con tact
between shoe and push rod
Yc/' to %"
1 %"
I ',k"
1%"
.003" to .006 5"
The new Ce nter Plane brakes have more re-
serve, less fade and more lining area than the
brakes previously used, and because of the lower
unit pressure (reducing peak temperature), as-
sures more stable braking under extreme con-
ditions
an d longer life.
BRAKE ASSEMBLIES
The shoes are n ot anchored but are held in po-
sition by
the brake shoe return springs. One end
of each
spri ng is hooked in the loop of the re-
turn spring links. The other end engages the
web of the shoe.

BR AKE S HIELD
SUPPORT
SPRING
LINK
RE T UR N
SPRI NG
LOWER WHEEL
BRAKE CYLINDER
5S X 710
CONNECTING TU BE
UPPER W
HEEL
BRAK E CY LINDER
ADJUSTING
" "
SPRING GUIDE
Fig . 1 - Center Plane Brake A ss embly (Right Front)
RETURN
SPRING
ANCHOR
BRAI<E SHOE
SUPPORT PLATE
BR A KE SHIEL O
SPRING LINK
WH EEL BRAKE CYLINDER
ADJUST I NG CAM
S'lX7 11
SPRING
GUIOE
Fig . 2 - Center Plane Brake Assembly (Right Rear)
8
----