Customs (New to Me) 55 Nomad Project: Ditch 79 Camaro Front Clip?

I guess I going to chime in hear and I am not a fan of swapped sub frames, but that is just me. What you have now, you do not like! You mentioned changing a bunch of stuff on it to get it where you like it! To me, right there you answered your question.
Now for you Chevy boys.... are all 55 Chevy frames the same, 2 door, four door, station wagons? I know it’s a hike but I have a 4 door 55 Chevy frame for sale.








Bones

 

I really don't think the GM clip will hurt the value of the Nomad. It's an accepted, tried & true 20+ year engineering upgrade to the original suspension. It's been done for years to lots of different cars and trucks for one reason...it WORKS!...and people (buyers) know it works if done correctly.

 

My buddy recently bought a very, very nice 55 Sedan. It had the same front swap. He paid some pretty hefty money for the car. So to just address resale value, being that it was done well you are never going to be lacking for people willing to buy the car if you leave it as it is.

Unless I wanted a full restoration I'd probably leave it as it is now.

 

That would be the only reason I would swap back to original

 

Having had both 55-57 chevys with original suspension and a couple pickup trucks with the late front steer subframe, I'd go with the Camaro subframe as long as the track width can be narrowed to fit under the fenders.
I always used the Z-28/trans-am subframes because they have an 1.25" stabilizer bar and variable ratio steering gears. Makes the vehicle a joy to drive! You can use as much of the front "kick up" as you want to set ride height too.

 

..looks like a very professional job,...with a few bolt-on things you'd be ready to roll;...it'll drive very nice and be enjoyable...only you can decide what you want to do and end up with.

 

Yeah, it's pretty amazing. Someone had custom bracket pieces made to weld on to the front horns of the Firebird clip for the bumper mounts, and even fabricated an all-pro framework for the radiator.

 

My 48 Buick had a Camaro front clip on it and it drove great. (Better than my 57 Chevy with CPP control arms and 605 steering box.) I believe you can buy dropped spindles for that front end and I believe that ECI Hot Rod Brakes (engineered components inc) has a rotor setup to narrow that track. Give them a call and do a little digging. Don't change that clip if its well done.

 

I think instead of messing with the front suspension, just donate the car to me. Just saying. I would see if i could have rims made to work with that suspension.

 

I'm kinda lost as to why anyone would clip a tri five car. There has been suspension upgrades for these cars for forty years or more. In your case I'm not sure what I would do. The VIN is on the a door post on the driver's side so I wouldn't worry about swapping frames. There is a VIN on the frame, but it would be covered by the body.

 

If you want a stock car, 283, PG, Chevy Diff stock Interior swap the frame to stock, if you are keeping the 350 hiper, TH350 and 9" Ford diff don't sweat the frame clip if done right it has better geometry, more adjustment, better steering .

 

In California, if the car goes through a VIN inspection by DMV or the California Highway Patrol, they WILL check the VIN that is stamped on the frame. If it does not match the VIN plate on the A pillar and the title it will open up a big can of worms. The car will most likely get re titled as special construction to the VIN on the frame and a new tag with the frame VIN will be attached to the door jam. The VIN on the frame is the official registration number for the car, not the plate attached to the A pillar. Don't ask me how I know all of this.

 

Boom... Two page's, In one post, Totally agree...
An if ya trip over a stock frame, Put it in the rafters... They always show... When not looking!