Hi every one

I have a 1956 Chrysler New Port , inside it has the early hemi Engine 331-349 to my best knowledge ,"I'm a rookie" Got the car from a older gentleman, who said the car used to run fine before it was parked about 2yrs ago. First thing he told me was to get the starter and carburetor redone, so I pulled out the starter and sent it to my local repair shop, with in a few hours done , put the starter back on the car hiT the Key , the starter turns the engine over and WONT STOP un less I disconnect the battery.. Being my first Chrysler I really don't know much i see it has a relay box, which I'm unfamiliar about , I can also jump start it from this box "next to the battery" and the starter kicks on but agin wont disengage until I disconnect the battery... I've had a couple people come and look at it , with no results.
I've also looked online for any info and rarely even see any info about this 1956 Chrysler new port alone ..


Please any help would be appreciated..
Thank all of you in Advance..

To start with If you have the N start button it might be sticking.My 57 had it as did a few later years.The switch on the block is supposed to disengage the starter when they start.It has 2 prongs and not very big.Rocky

Take the starter back to the shop that rebuilt it and have them fix it Those starters have a piggyback solinoid that has a big copper coated washer inside to conduct the current from the battery cable into the starter motor when the solinoid is engaged, it sounds like the shop forgot to put the return spring back in the round metal part(CRS for proper term, sorry) that the magnet sucks the washer onto the cable contact BTW, someone put a Hemi in that car, it came with a poly headed Chrysler 331 C.I. motor originally IHTHs

I think Cab_Burge nailed it, but since it never started before the starter was rebuilt it could be the Solenoid is pulling the starter gear to far into the flywheel and is hanging up. I've had that happen on Chebbys were you had to shim the starter for proper depth.

Not on a '56, the starter motor is powered directly from the firewall solenoid switch. I'd suspect the firewall solenoid is th culprit.

Oh, BTW, welcome to the board Orlandohemi.

Thank all of you for responding , but Unfortunately we've lost interest , wish I would've found this form months ago . Was very hard finding anything for this car.. I wanted to post pictures here to see if you guys would know which motor is in there just say Crysler Fire Power .on these massive heads.. And originally were that motor was from.. Agin THANK ALL OF YOU I'm just a little to late .

Newport was probally a 354 poly.Very easy to tell from hemis as hemi plugs go thru valve cover.Only NewYorkers Imperials and 300s were supposed to get hemis.Rocky

Here a quick Vid on the motor and the car itself .
Thanks every one



http://youtu.be/lZI0U_49vLw

Thanks rocky.
From one car lover to Another do you think its fair to dump money on her , and get her back up and going to show or driver quality.

Hi, Ok, first of all your car is a 1956 Chrysler New Yorker Newport. The name Newport indicates that it is a hardtop instead of a sedan body, there is no post between the back of the front side window and the front of the back side window. No "B" pillar in other words. The Chrysler term for this year and body style is Series C-72-1

When you go to look/ask for parts you need to tell them you have a '56 New Yorker. Your engine is a 354 Hemi and you could have a 2 or 3 speed automatic transmission or a manual transmission, couldn't tell from your video.

The good news is that your engine is just about bulletproof and still supported by the aftermarket. You will have to look for/seek out parts but they are out there. Your transmission can be rebuilt or changed out to a more modern one with moderate mechanical skills. Your have the mid-line car in the New Yorker line for '56 but it is a 4dr so..... it will never be highly desirable/big money but it is still very nice looking car.

I would go with driver quality rebuild/work on her. Make it look nice and be reliable and have fun with her.

I agree its a New Yorker with a as said 354 hemi.From the looks its a solid car.Dont know how much you have in it but its woth some money to get it up and going.Sadly 56s arent the biggest sellers as most want either a 55 or 57/58.I like them even though 57s are my favorites.Rocky

Au contraire, I'm more of a fan of the 56 Chryslers.

Thanks to all of you guys that helped, and responded.

Looking at the video at the 36 second mark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZI0U_49vLw&feature=youtu.be


I could be wrong, but I'm not so sure that's a 354.


As far as I know, early 1955 was the last year for the 1st Gen Fire Power Hemis used a wet intake that had a thermostat housing in it. From that point on the heads directed the water out of ports in the front of the heads thru a crossover pipe (part of the water pump housing assembly). Additionally the oil fill was relocated to the valley pan and centered almost directly behind the thermostat housing. Passenger car 354s were one year only in 56 (unless you're counting the fifty or so 57 Dodge D501s) and I believe all incorporated those changes.....at least my 354 does.

At a glance I would say it's an earlier 331. The only real way to know is look at the engine number located under the thermostat housing just in front of the leading edge of the valley pan.