Newbie trying deciding to buy 1959 nomad. Help

The Turbo-glide ****** with Grade Retard didn't pan out .They were not used as they were intended. One wrecklesss moment by the driver and they were toast.

 

Sounds like the missing trim wouldn't be terrible to find, just wagon specific would be.
Like I said before I'd keep the 348 but unless it's a stick I'd dump the original auto for sure, I put a turbo 350 behind my 348, big improvement over the glide and cheaper then rebuilding the old stuff. Been too many years but I don't think my 348 was any worst on milage then a small block, got to remember it's still smaller (cu in wise) then a small block 350. The cool factor aweighs the minemal cost differance between a w motor and a cookie cutter sbc since you'll aready have the 348.

 

Having had a 59 El Camino years ago I can say that 59's aren't hard to work on mechanically.

The "cool" factor of the 348 is a big plus but I'd suggest swapping to a turbo 350 Trans. Not far from a drop in and any automatic trans tech can work on them. Hell you don't have to be a tans tech to work on them most of the time.

The price sounds fair for a 59 Wagon in a basket especially with a 348. As you seem to like it and are not "settling" for it that also is a plus as I hate to see guys settle for a car because they can't find what they actually want and then dump money in something that they won't keep but never really planned to flip.

 

floor pans and quarters are readily available from alot of impala vendors. I'm sure there are differences, but if you can fab, then I'm sure you can make em work. I'm sure they'll have the trim you need too. www.impalabobs.com www.cars1nc.com
I'm picking up a 59 Pontiac wagon and 4door parts car when I'm home on leave. I can't wait to get it ready for road trips!!

 

good luck...

 

$1000 or $1300 doesn't really matter. A good deal either way. Why spend 5k and then tear it apart anyway...?

As others have said, there are lots of interchangeable parts, so basic stuff is easy to find. Some stuff is more difficult. Quarters for wagons and El Caminos are different than for other cars. Patch panels are available for the cars but will need mods for Nomad. Outer rear valances are also wagon/Elco specific and can be hard to find. The rear side curved gl*** always worries people but they can be found, someone currently has some for sale now in the cl***ifieds. Sometimes the tailgate is the biggest problem, rust, unique tail lites, I think the rear gl*** is harder to find than the curved sides.

348 vs 350 all depends on how much you want to spend.

Sounds like a great deal to me. If it were closer, I'd jump on it. Enjoy!

 

i would buy it, they make cool rides. but im biased, parts are hard to find, especially the trim wagon pieces. 59 parts are gettin hard to find but not inpossible. id order up.

 

Thanks for all the replies. I have decided that I'm going to buy the car. Problem is I can't get it until the weekend. I'll be heart broken if someone buys it out from under me! I will get the 348 no matter what. Really not sure if I should use it or not though. Looking on eBay a rebuildable engine complete engine is going for roughly $800 bucks. I will already have the engine but I will need a rebuild kit and machine work. I have found a complete running 305 for $300. It seems like that could get me on the road quicker, and I could rebuild the 348 later. I'm sure I just stirred up a bit of controversy by mentioning a 305. I don't know very much about Chevys (yet) but I have done a little research and found that most people would say to throw that engine in the trash.... But me not having much previous knowledge of Chevys, I also don't have any pre conceived notions either. I've seen a couple guys saying they can get pretty decent performance from a 305 and great gas mileage if built right. So if I could get it cheap get good gas mph like I want and maybe a little bit of performance why not? Isn't hot rodding about making things work that others can't and doing for cheap? Maybe that's rat rodding I don't know. Just seems like I'd be getting what I want, gas mph a little bit of performance, and doing something unique. Like I've said before, I don't know much about Chevys (yet). So don't tear me apart to much for thinking about a 305. I also have a t5 that has been completely rebuilt. The problem is I was going to use it in my falcon so it's a ford, with an s10 tail housing on it. Would it be to much work to mate it to a Chevy? Am I better off selling it and going a different route? The problem is I have a lot of $ into it, and most people looking to buy t5 want em for cheap. I'm not very excited to sell my ****** for a loss! Any ideas here would be helpful. Thanks for everyone's responses! I already feel a lot more confident buying this car knowing there are so many people with knowledge that are willing to answer my dumb questions.

 

Hello! Did you get my Email?

 

Email?

 

Email or PM ..

 

I don't have anything in my inbox or a pm that I am aware of?

 

ok pm sent,

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_90-Degree_V6_engine ok check this then we can email if you wish to continue

 

ugh bob., for some wierd *** reason chevrolet continued the Nomad badge on wagons, through 68 or 69 that I know of go figure L.B.

 

AND Chevell had NOMADs ,was their cheap wagon model

 

-----------------
Ditto, ditto, ditto on keeping the
348! W motors are 'Très Bien" and
'Très COOL"! (A factory optional '58
through '61 348 3X2-bbl set-up
would be WAY COOl - especially in
a wagon, but even in stock or near
stock, garden-variety single-4-bbl
form, the power will be be about the
same and probably better than an
average, stock '70's or 80's vintage
sbc 350. And the gas mileage with
the 348 - in either single-4bbl or
factory tri-power form, - will certainly
be no worse - and possibility even
slightly better too. The only thing I'd
change - if it's got the stock, old style
cast-iron case Powerglide - would be
to swap the ****** for a late '60's or
newer vintage 350THM. If fuel mileage
is a real concern, you could even go to
a later model 4-speed OD 700R4 or
200-4R. One of those would probably
work great with the strong low and
mid-range torque curve of a 348 in
a big, heavy wagon. Definitely though,
it its at all salvageable and rebuildable,
keep the 348. Even if the block numbers
check out as '60 model, the 348 was still
the top optional engine in the '59's and
thus, at least period correct for a '59
wagon. And compared to a ubiquitous
'belly-****on; SBC, the W-motor is
what will make this car special and
stand out.

Mart3406
===============

 

Good luck with the Chevy. You did the intro...good man. Lots of views and replies too. See...we do care. Lol.

 

Hey guys. I need to call the guy to make arrangements to get the car. Are there any specific questions I should ask to make sure I'm getting everything? I think he has a lot of spare parts as he has his own 1959 nomad that he's building. Are there any specific parts that I need to make sure are there, or would b a deal breaker if they arnt included? Thanks for the help!!

 

IT has a clear ***le ready to be signed and notarized ?????? oh he has a 59 Nomad ,so any thing extra he will need and keep for his,,,,,,

 

can't go wrong with a Chevy wagon

 

You are definitely gonna have trouble finding a gas tank. They are not reproduced and good ones are very hard to find.

 

I bought the car over the weekend. The guy had a gas tank so that's one less part ill need to find. It is a bit intimidating though..... Tons of parts all in box's and most unlabeled. Most of them will need cleaned and a little attention. It's going to big like one big puzzle!! Wish me luck. I'm kinda tempted to start a build thread, but hesitant at the same time. I'm sure I'd look way less impressive than the other 59 nomad being built!! So excited about my new car though!!!

 

Good For You!!!My advice to You would be to start out by purchasing re-prints of the factory ***embly&Body ***embly manuals. I got both for my ´58 Chevy -project a few years ago, they were $20/each. That´d be Your best investment at this point.

I´d start out w/an inventory of everything that came with it, indentifying/labeling all the loose stuff what it is, where it goes and sorting all multiple items together w/each other. Zip-lock bags, masking tape, cardboard boxes in various sizes, and marker are Your best help at this point. As is plenty of shelf space.

Make a short-list of things that may be missing. Replace as needed during the course of the eventual re-***embly. Don´t throw anything away at least until You actually have said replacement physically in place in the car.

Since the car appears to be stripped down to a rolling shell, I´d start out by cleaning/welding up/repainting the frame+body to my liking first, and then going about each sub-***embly (electricals, gl***, trim, upholstery etc.) one at a time.

Personally I wouldn´t worry about the engine choice/ -rebuild at this point, as interesting an original engine as You seem to have there. Leave that for last, it´ll clear itself up while You deal with the ch***is+body, and first build Your foundation for all the various sub-***emblies to go on, so to speak.

Lastly, as You said You have experience in automotive work, but may not be particularly familiar in this specific make and model of car, get in touch with people who are! This makes for half the fun of working on Your project.

Just some thoughts after reading through Your whole thread, best of luck! That´s a real cool car and well worth the work!

 

Glad to hear you got the car. my advice is "see Sauli's advice. he has laid out a good plan and one which will save you a lot of effort later by doing the first things first.
don't be afraid to start a build thread, even the pro's had to start somewhere. looking forward to seeing the progress, and hopefully some pictures soon.

 

congrats on the purchase. i thing you have some great suggestions above. i would definitely go through everything and box/label/bag every part that isnt. that will make re-***emble much easier. if you have some parts you dont know about, go ahead and make thread to post them. there is great knowledge here that will be able to help you identify them. then when you actually start the repair and re-***embly do a build thread. welcome and i look forward to more.

 

EVERY wagon build on the HAMB pales in comparison to what Cody Walls is doing to his '59, including mine...!!!

Start a thread...if nothing else, it may get you some help in ***embling the giant puzzle...I'd help with what little I know...!!!

R-

 

That's a great layout of what to do!! I greatly apreciate it. I am going to use that advice, and use the layout you suggested. I really appreciate all the advice. I welcome any that anyone has to offer me. I'm sure I will use it all. When I went to see the car in person, I nearly p***ed on it. I knew I wanted a 59 Chevy wagon, but man all the parts dis***embled and everywhere is really quite intimidating! I think I I took it apart I'd have a lot more confidence as to where everything goes, and could've labeled for the rebuild. Oh well though, I love seeing it in my grage and can't wait for the day I get it back on the road!

 

Guydudebro, if you have a running 305 theres no reason you couldn't use it to get on the road. You can always replace it when you have more cash. 59 Chevy wagons are way cool. See the great work 59nomad has done with his. Wagons are a hot item right now and I don't see that changing any time soon. I love my 62. Keep us posted.

 

I'm glad you bought it.

Don't be intimidated. It's only a 59 Chevy. Lay out the parts and do a little sorting. Take lots of photos. Hell, post em here if you don't know what you've got. Somebody will help.
There's a few folks here that know their 59s.