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Ford 1956 272 173HP specs: 272 ci (4.5L) 8-cylinder, 3.625 x 3.30 in (92.1 x 83.8 mm) bore and stroke, 8:1 compression. Rated 173 hp, 1956. OHV.
The Ford 1956 272 173HP is oversquare — the 3.625" bore exceeds the 3.3" stroke by 9.8% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 3.3" stroke does not reach 4,000 ft/min of mean piston speed until about 7,250 RPM, so piston speed is not what limits this engine's revs — valvetrain and breathing are. Each of the 8 cylinders displaces 34.0 ci (557 cc).
8:1 is low by modern standards and generally happy on regular pump fuel.
It is one of 7 engines in the Ford 272ci family, all of them 272 ci — the differences between them are in compression, heads and rating, not displacement.
| Displacement | 272 ci / 4.5 L |
|---|---|
| Bore | 3.625" |
| Stroke | 3.3" |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Configuration | V8 |
| Compression ratio | 8:1 |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.098 |
| Block material | cast iron |
|---|---|
| Valvetrain | OHV |
| Induction | 2-bbl Holley |
| Fuel type | gas |
| Advertised HP | 173 hp |
| Years | 1956 |
| Bore/stroke character | 1.098 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 3,300 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Displacement per cylinder | 34.0 ci |
| Static compression | 8:1 — low by modern standards, generally happy on regular pump fuel |
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