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There were two types of controls used in '55/56:
1) the el cheapo vacuum control type has a vacuum thermostat valve located inside the heater register, controlled by the temperature cable. It has a vacuum hose that runs to a water valve located on the top front of the engine intake manifold.
2) the deluxe system has a capillary tube temperature control valve, requiring no vacuum and it also is located at the entrance to the heater plenum. It is also controlled by the temperature control cable. For this system, there is no water valve on the manifold, but a 90 degree elbow for the water hose feeding the system.
Regardless which system you have, the control cable is about the same length, which I wouldn't think would need to be longer than 3 feet.
If you have something different than either of these two, it is probably a handyman special fix.
The 55 Ford car shop manual has an excellent description and illustration of these factory systems.