Convertible / Soft Top (40A) · 312 cu in (5.1-liter) V8
1956 Ford Thunderbird Convertible / Soft Top (40A), 312 cu in (5.1-liter) V8, 3-speed manual with overdrive
Ford's revised factory specification identifies the Convertible / Soft Top (40A) model with the 312 cu in (5.1-liter) V8 and 3-speed manual with overdrive.

Photo: “1956 Ford Thunderbird (53771367106)” by Mustang Joe / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Factory configuration
What this model is
- Trim
- Thunderbird
- Body style
- Convertible / Soft Top (40A)
- Engine
- 312 cu in (5.1-liter) V8
- Transmission
- 3-speed manual with overdrive
The factory matrix restricts the 292 V8 to the conventional three-speed manual and the 312 V8 to overdrive or automatic. No unsupported engine/transmission cross-products are implied.
Configuration-specific ownership
Maintenance for this exact configuration
These items are filtered to the engine, transmission, trim, and model-year applicability recorded for this configuration. Broad Amazon category searches are suppressed here; shopping links appear only beside catalog-backed part numbers.
Service desk
What this car needs & when
Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1956 Ford Thunderbird Convertible / Soft Top (40A), 312 cu in (5.1-liter) V8, 3-speed manual with overdrive. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.
- Service topics
- 1
- Factory intervals
- 0
- Fitment-scoped
- 1
- Exact references
- 1
Before orderingIdentify your engine, options and build date.Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.
Engine oil-filter cartridge
Exact reference available
Baldwin P80
Baldwin P80
Source: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog (2017) · Ford 1956 — Thunderbird application, printed catalog page 677, Lube column · checked
Verified ordering references
- Validated equivalentBaldwin P80
Qty. 1 · Replaceable lubricating-oil filter element · catalog-listed
Cataloged for the 1956 Ford Thunderbird. Cataloged cartridge-type lubricating-oil filter element. Confirm VIN, installed engine, and filter housing before ordering.
Catalog: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog (2017) · Ford 1956 — Thunderbird application, printed catalog page 677, Lube column · checked
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Sources
Other 1956 configurations
- Convertible / Soft Top (40A), 292 cu in (4.8-liter) V8, 3-speed manual
- Convertible / Soft Top (40A), 312 cu in (5.1-liter) V8, Fordomatic automatic
- Hard Top (40B), 292 cu in (4.8-liter) V8, 3-speed manual
- Hard Top (40B), 312 cu in (5.1-liter) V8, 3-speed manual with overdrive
- Hard Top (40B), 312 cu in (5.1-liter) V8, Fordomatic automatic