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New User
Posts: 4
| I have some questions about the 2384 on the bottom right of the body tag, and what the heck is the S5? is it a non standard rear axle ratio? it doesnt seem to have anything different than any other southampton. Would there be an axle tag hanging or a stamping somewhere on the center section? worst case I can count the # of wheel turns. MODEL 56 = Imperial Southampton 2 Door Hardtop
PAINT 137 = Cloud White upper with Desert Rose
TRIM 34 = White Leather and Coral Faille
SCHED 214 = Scheduled on may 5, 1956
ITEM 1769 = 69th Imperial built that day
A1 = Manual Antenna
D1 = Radio MOPAR Model 914 Electro Touch Tuner with Rear Seat Speaker
F4 = Heater – Hot Water
G1 = Solex Glass – All Windows
S5 = Torqueflite 3 Speed Automatic Transmission and Power Steering (?!?!?)  
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New User
Posts: 4
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Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 11223
  
Location: Lower Mainland BC | .
They started installing A-466 cast-iron liquid cooled Torqueflites in Imperials in February 1956 so your May 56 build having a
TorqueFlite makes sense.
As for axle ratio, if I was guessing, my guess would be 3.31. This would be stamped on the pinion carrier, as shown for my
56 Dodge with a 3.54 rear axle:
Hope that helps.
(And welcome on board  )
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Expert
Posts: 2356
 
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Never seen “5” above “S” on Imperial, only “4” or “6”.
4 – Powerflite and Power Steering
6 – Torqueflite and Power Steering
5 – should be Torqueflite without Power Steering logically, but Power Steering was standard on Imperials…
The full list of 1956 Chrysler & Imperial “S” column codes looks like this:
1 – TRANSMISSION – 3-Speed Manual
3 – TRANSMISSION – 2-Speed Automatic Powerflite
4 – TRANSMISSION – 2-Speed Automatic Powerflite and Power Steering
5 – TRANSMISSION – 3-Speed Automatic Torqueflite
6 – TRANSMISSION – 3-Speed Automatic Torqueflite and Power Steering
7 – TRANSMISSION – 2-Speed Automatic Powerflite and Power Steering – Station Wagon
8 – TRANSMISSION – 2-Speed Automatic Powerflite and Power Steering
As you see, the codes 4, 7 and 8 are the same. More information – more questions.
The ’56 Imperials have 3.36 to 1 rear axle ratio (order code 1), no options (at least in factory brochures);
Why do you decide that your car was built on May 5, 1956?
Your SCHED column reads 214 that means it was scheduled/built on St. Valentine’s Day – February 14, 1956…
The May 5, 1956 would have SCHED 505…
P. S.
Does you car really have manual antenna? Not a power antenna?
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New User
Posts: 4
| On the 214 Ive seen both comments: “ that’s the date” and “it’s the 214 th day since production started on Oct 4, 1955” . Glad to hear it’s the date! I’ll have to go look about the power antenna, I know it’s up but broken off. If it was early in the torqueflight transition( it’s 7137, and the switchover start was 6700 on the serial #) I could believe the S5 was a mistake. |
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