Projects '55 Chevy Nomad Project

Yea I'm sure it'll be a challenge, that's a pretty complex shape too deal with. It'll be a while before I get to this project full steam but I might strip the body to see what I've got to work with. I'm kind of excited to do that part. Maybe I'll even get this one chemical dipped due to those type of areas throughout the car.

 

Haha yes indeed!

 

I was involved in a 56 nomad that just debuted at the GNRS. This year. It was an absolute turd and had been hit hard in the RH 1/4 and badly repaired.Every part that was missing was expensive. Luckily the Mad Mooks guy was easy to deal with and all the glass is available new.Good luck with your project.

 

These Tri 5 cars are iconic. I remember drooling over them in the magazines as a kid. Congrat's on your new project. Restoring these 50's cars are not for the faint hearted. Just the shear number of parts is intimating and seems that's where the cost really adds up. Luckily you have most of them. Looking forward to seeing this one come back from the dead.

 

I gave that a try, installed a 55 Chevy Hardtop door on to a 55 Nomad. The door was a good fit except that the hardtop door had a dip at the upper belt line and the Nomad went straight across.

 

That's news to me.... I'll have to learn on that. Thanks for the info.

 

I don't think so. I think I have heard sedan doors without the window frames were used. But that was a long time ago. I have been told hardtop doors won't interchange.

 

Got a little hood jewelry at the swap meet today. Only paid $40 for the two pieces so I picked them up. The bird is pretty pitted and I might even have the original in that tote fill of smaller trim pieces, I haven't dug through that yet. The emblem is in great shape. Only other stuff I picked up was a 57 nomad die cast and a piece of 57 Chevy wall art. Oh and a hot wheels nomad lol....

Also picked up the dash inserts and the title from my buddy today. Still need to grab the body tag.

 

Also... Forgot to mention, I found a right side door that came off a 55 Pontiac Safari at the swap today. It had been blasted some time ago and had some silver metal based filler in a couple places. A little rough but overall solid and workable. Only pin holes on the bottom edge in a couple spots. He had it marked at $500 but told me he wanted $400 for it. The trim holes are all different than nomad, but that's easy enough to fill and redrill. I passed on it but kept his number, he had loads of Trifive parts and I met another nice fella in his booth that was from my area that gave me his number and had a possible line on a door so we'll see. He's in the nomad association. I think I'll join....

It was a bust on the door spear trim today.

 

I’ve spent a lot of time helping my best friend with his 56 Nomad. Pretty active group of them over here. I’m in Kent Wa. If you need a contact in the local Nomad club, drop me a pm. I think he’s got all that info.

Nice project. He’s got a mid performance crate 350, a 700, and it’s a great cruiser both in town and on the road.

 

57 hardtop, 55 Nomad; are you going to pick up a 56 convertible next? Nice cars, I'm following along.

 

You know....I just might!!! 56 had always been my favorite growing up. I wanted a 56 2-door post in the worst way since I was a kid and a family friend had one when I was young. I fell in love with it and always from that day forward loved trifives but always wanted one of those. Lol here I am with that gap to fill so who knows.... It would have to be tropical turquoise and white. No exceptions! Haha.

This nomad came up unexpectedly. I had shown interest in it over the years to this friend of mine I wound up recently buying it from but he was always hoping to go through it. He's got his energy focused on a couple badass Chevelles and several other "things" so he was ready to let it go. The 57 hardtop also came from a friend along with those two parts cars. 57 came home in December, and obviously the nomad did last week so life has changed significantly in the project spectrum lately!

I have a 57 4-door 210 as well (for sale). And a 2-door belair post there's not much left of (parts car).

 

You passed on a door that was only $400? !!!!!!!!!!!! For a Nomad!
Holy shit, Batman!

 

Thanks for posting I’m excited to see it all coming together. Hope you post a build on it when the time comes. I know you said it’s like third in line so many projects and so little time. A few little tid bits that tailgate handle looks to be correct. 55 only had the knuckle buster 55 had the high raised area under the handle 56-57 was trimmed down smoother to allow your fingers to slide in better. And be really careful with the mounting pins on the die cast trim. And be careful who you trust to rechrome your die cast. I’ve seen them destroyed trying to grind out the pits.
This is a picture of mine the day I towed it home it set on the back burner for twenty years or so then finished it.

 

Haha, yep! Sure did....
I have a line on a couple more that are nomad rather than safari. This fella with the safari door also may be interested in my 4-door 210. We'll see I'm not in a rush at all and I have his number, if he doesn't sell it at the swap meet I may pick it up later. I have a couple other rigs to put together that are going to cost a lot of money before getting to needing a nomad door.

I may regret it.....

 

Wow, cool! I love that you flat towed it home too, with that sweet ol square body Chevy, and "period correct" canopy haha, so cool. It reminds me of my old 84 Chevy truck.

Those Cragars on your beautiful black 55 is a great look!!!

I'm sure I'll post little things here and there until I get really fired off on the nomad. It takes a lot of resources to put these cars together and it'll have to pretty much be all done myself with a little help here and there.

 

Well, not really project related.... But it's nomad stuff! Got these in the mail from 3000toys today.

 

The Nomad @carpok built proves Cragar SS wheels were made for tri 5s. Striking look, the black paint with the chrome. Cruising through pics online, it's hard to find cars that don't have modern big wheels. This one caught my eye, though.

 

I saw a guy post this online. Never responded to anyone though.

 

Is the door itself unique? I always thought it was just the window frame??

 

Yes! Absolutely...

 

Yes the nomad/safari door is unique, kind of a cross between a sedan and a hardtop. People have made two into one using both as donors. New steel stamping, complete steel door, minus any glass or hardware is $1k out of the catalogs. I'm in touch with a guy with a safari door, we're considering doing some trading, possibly next weekend. I guess the only difference between nomad and safari are the trim holes but I can work with that. He's at $400 for that door. Again, just the steel.

 

A couple of tease shots sent to me by my friend. he's been trying to buy this car for awhile. another one of those "I'm going to fix it someday" stories. Very complete, very straight, and relatively rust free.

 

I'd be surprised if a hardtop door and wing window assembly wouldn't bolt right on a Nomad. Then just need the Nomad door glass and edge trim.

 

The doors are definitely Nomad/Safari specific.

 

There's a difference in the door jamb area-combo of hardtop and sedan style. It was explained to me once before, but can't remember specifics.

 

Nomad door's are flat across the top, Hardtop door's dip down at the rear.

 

Looking at images of the Nomad and hardtop doors, it seems like the slight dip would be easy to rework with some metal working skills. At least, unless Nomad doors are cheap and easy to find?