I figured I would start a build thread here to document the journey of my 1956 Chevy Nomad. I'm just getting started, but I will update it as I go along, with the goal of Spring for completion and road-tripping to Bonneville in this car shortly after. If you care to read it, the story of how I came across this thing can be found on my site, here: No-Dice Nomad - Barn Find - 1956 Chevy Nomad – ironandsteele To date I've had the car for three years and had to finish up two other projects that were ahead of it first, but I am just now finally getting to it. Here is how it looked when I bought it: I got it home and cleaned it up. As much as I wanted to rip into it right away, I had to get what was in front of it done first. So, I had to put this thing back on barn-duty. In fact, I didn't even have space in my own barn. It had to hibernate in a lean to for a couple of years. Along the way, I started picking up parts and putting together a plan. The goal is to have something unique, wicked-looking, fast and reliable to serve as a daily driver. I do mean daily. Like, throw my dog in and go camping, parts-hauling, Home Depot, the grocery store, the whole deal, rain or shine. I'll put a hitch on it to tow my race car too. I won't bore you with photos of this junk, but I bought all of the usual stuff tri-five Chevy guys typically buy: Upgraded brakes, power steering, drop spindles, sway bars, etc. I have a few other things in store for it to give it a nice nose-low rake. It will have a great stance. I went back and forth about what to use for an engine. I had a nice 283 laying around, access to a hot 327 and at one point even considered stuffing a 392 Hemi between the frame rails. But by chance, I ended up being gifted a healthy blown small block Chevy with really low miles on it from a very generous friend. And just like that, Project Blowmad was born. Just a couple of weeks ago I finally pulled it back out of the lean to and dragged it up to the garage to get started on this long overdue project. To say I'm excited would be an understatement. ironandsteele.com
I do have a fairly decent sized shop, but it is completely full with no room for this project. So I cleaned out the other side of the garage on the house and plan to do this in there since it is all basically bolt together stuff I can throw together with hand tools anyway. And the weather is still nice so I am doing as much as I can outside while I'm able to. The first order of business was to pull the front clip off. Then I yanked the old motor and transmission out. This was just a few days ago and I haven't done too much since, but I'm just happy to finally be working on it and plan to get back to it in the next day or so. I will update this as I go. ironandsteele.com
This is going to be great! The car is solid from what I can see. Quite a good friend to give you a complete blown engine! Is that a mechanical fuel pump on it?
What a peach of a starting point! And I don't even like '56's! I hope to one day find an old wagon in similar condition.
Great story appreciate you sharing with us glad it turned out you getting the car. I’m sure most of us have stories that didn’t turn out so well. I watched two 55 for over ten years stopping every so often asking the question. And always getting no not interested in selling. Then one day I drive by seeing the old barn fell over on the shed crushing both cars.
A great friend for sure! Yes, mechanical pump. Carbs are just 600's. I've always liked '56 Nomads the best but I like them all too. Thanks for taking the time to read the story and I'm glad you liked it! I've missed out on plenty too. Thanks, it is a solid rig for sure. I will be sure to post updates. Thank you! ironandsteele.com
Last summer a '55 Chevy came and went that I really liked. It had the perfect look and was fast as hell. The body and paint were driver-quality and the drivetrain was very well-sorted, making it a killer reliable and worry-free cruiser. It had belonged to a buddy of mine and was set up by my best friend, Robbie. This will be the playbook for my car as far as stance goes: ironandsteele.com
Started gutting the interior today. I don’t want any more down time than necessary so I’m taking my upholstery guy the seats and door panels so he can get those done while I’m working on the mechanical. I was able to remove the headliner in one piece so he can use it as a pattern and get that going too. I was going to put an oxblood colored interior in it, but my wife wanted green. So we compromised and it will be green. I have no idea why she cares but that’s ok. It will look bitchin! ironandsteele.com
I'm digging where you're goin, except that green interior but it isn't my ass sliding across the seat. What's the story on the engine, was your friend upgrading ? Hell of a gesture for sure, I gave a friend a ready to run stout small block for his model A but I wouldn't have given him my blower motor. Lol
It will make sense when you see it! As for the blower motor, it came out of a car that got an LS and my buddy just had it laying around. He also used to have a '56 Nomad with a blown small block in it so when I said I'd like to do the same, he said "Hell yeah, take this one!" Thank you! ironandsteele.com
I have been slowly pecking away at this car over the last couple of weeks, with a few distractions along the way... I finished gutting the interior and was pretty happy with what I found once it was out. There are four smallish areas in the floors that will need to be dealt with, but in general it is really solid. I also blasted the inside with Super Clean and pressure washed it for good measure. Last weekend, a buddy and I hopped into a couple buckets and hit a swap meet about an hour away. I was able to score a nice '59 Impala wheel for it. I think it will look right at home. Next I am going to put it in the garage and pull the control arms and steering apart and start rebuilding/replacing all of that. I need to get some wheels and tires ordered too. ironandsteele.com
Nothing too exciting, just 15x5 and 15x7 steel wheels and Chevelle dog dish caps. As much as I'd love to run Magnesium on this car, I really do plan to drive it every day, rain or shine and just don't want to deal with the constant upkeep, not to mention the cost. If I change my mind, I do have a set of big window Halibrands on another car I could rob, but I think this car will look good with the steel wheels and the right stance. ironandsteele.com
For years Cragars were real popular on Nomads, chrome wires also were more of a natural on Nomads compared to the other tri-five cars, it's pretty hard to come up with a wheel that hasn't been "overdone" still hard to beat Halibrands though. That lowered black 55 two-ten with steel wheels and dog dish caps that gets posted in the tri-five thread really works for me too.
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