By the way, the 1956 dealer installed dual quad intake and hot cam could also be installed in a 277, which upped the hp from 200 to 230.
And while I'm discussing arcane and mostly useless info about a motor family that hasn't been produced for well over 50 years, one more thing I only learned recently:
If you get a timing cover gasket set for a small block, you'll notice that there is one extra water pump gasket that doesn't fit whatever small block - A or LA - you might have. Turns out that the 56 motor has a different timing cover, that places the water pump higher on the motor than 57 and later. In other words, the 56 water pump and timing cover are unique to that year. Reason being that the 57's were lowered several inches from 56, and so the radiator was lower to clear the hood, so the water pump had to be lowered too. And the 57 water pump was also re-designed. So the water pump gasket changed.
I only found this out recently when I put a new timing chain in my 56. Its timing cover is cast iron, and I was thinking I might change to a later aluminum timing cover. But no - that would have lowered the water pump, which would have lowered the fan to where it wouldn't be in the right place for the radiator. So, I finally found out what the extra water pump gasket is that's in every small block timing kit I've ever bought.
I kept the 56 timing cover and water pump, but I did swap in a 65 poly 318 crank damper (the 56 didn't come with one) and pulley, and bolted a 273 timing tab to the bottom of the water pump. That tab clears the damper by probably an inch. Still usable, but it doesn't hug the damper like it does on a later A/LA.
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