Hot Rods Project Blowmad - A Build Thread (1956 Nomad)

I don't know why...

But "you mad, bro?" Comes to mind when I see this car

 

Boy this Chevys gonna get to Bonneville howling like a wolf...gotta admire the near dry state sheetmetal...it really makes a rustbelter drool...looks like it's gonna look just fine the way your configuring it.

Is that scoop going to poke through the hood? It'd be nice to see some Chevy Script or a finned more period rockers on there and maybe less billety stuff but that's up to you...

 

Ran into some oil pan clearance issues, which I was anticipating. I wasn't prepared though for my solution (had multiple other pans on hand) to not work either, so I will be ordering a Milodon pan and pick up. If anyone has experience using their 30900 pan on a tri-five feel free to chime in.

I was also surprised at how far off the side mount motor mount kits are in terms of fitment. I tried two different sets, one from a local supplier and one from Danchuk, both had their own separate issues when it came to fitting the frame, each having sizable gaps that required considerable shimming and monkeying with. They were so goofy that I ended up bolting stock front mounts on to locate the engine just to be totally sure they were as far off as they looked. They were.

All things considered, the challenges were minimal and have been mostly overcome. I was happy to find that my Sanderson Headers clear the Borgeson steering box very well. We also knocked out a bunch of other small, tedious (although not as exciting to look at) items off the list while it was on the lift. I didn't want to plop the blower and carbs back on until I had a chance to final-weld all the mounts for the motor and trans, but it was fun to push it out and take a look at the progress.

Blower pics coming soon and yes, I'll be updating the valve covers and other things to tidy up/improve the look of the engine.

ironandsteele.com​

 

Dig it!

 

As a 56 lover myself, I can´t wait to see this thing going down the road. Good job, I like where this is headed... please keep the updates coming!

 

Please don't ever paint this car. Love it!

 

Don't worry, I don't think this one is going to get painted. I'm not necessarily a "patina guy" but this car does have a pretty good look to the old paint.

ironandsteele.com​

 

Looks good! What a great nomad.

 

I did a motor swap with side mount kit and transmission crossmember in a '56 Chev for a buddy, and had the same issues. I bolted the new 350 SBC in with the original front mounts, and then did one side at a time. I had to cut small pieces of spacers to slip between the mounts and the frame and tack them to the mounts. Once I had the gaps filled and welded I tacked the mounts to the frame and pulled the engine back out. Then burned them in and reinstalled the engine. The trans crossmember was a great fit, and nothing needed there.

 

That is one good looking wagon. HRP

 

That's just what we're doing too. Before final welding, I set the blower on to have a look and make sure everything clears ok. I can't believe how killer it looks.





Now to yank everything out, pull those front mounts of and weld everything up.

ironandsteele.com​

 

Hope I can see it in person one of these days!

 

That's going to be a fun car. Not many blown nomads out there!

 

The alternator is going to be way up top like that ?

 

That’s where it was when this motor was in a hot rod previously. It isn’t where I will have it.

ironandsteele.com
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Good Lol

 

Looks like you might be able to put that alternator bracket on the passenger side head and make a new mount for the adjustment arm to get it down lower?

 

Yep, I am moving it to the passenger side.

ironandsteele.com
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way cool going to be a good one

 

The things I've been working on have been pretty boring, but I did scare up a scoop with a better look, although it is just on loan.



I also found a perfect set of caps. The Impala caps looked fine, but I've been on the hunt for these for a while and finally rounded some up. The '55 I posted a photo of on the first page of this thread had them on it and I really liked them.



More updates soon. I'm really aiming for spring. If every star aligns perfectly, maybe I'll drive it in to The Portland Swap Meet. Maybe too lofty of a goal but we'll see.

ironandsteele.com​