Projects '55 Chevy Nomad Project

You need to stop posting pics of your shop... because it makes me very jealous all the space you have!!!
I plan on having a nice big shop one day but the boss says we can't move until my son graduates which is a couple years soooooo until then no more shop pics!!
Cool build on the nomad though brother. I'm moving along on my 56 build just north of you. They are a cool era of car to build!

 

HAHA! I hear ya man, but don't be jealous...I do feel blessed to have the shop but it was tough getting here. Took 2-1/2 years to build it and was plenty stressful! I know full well what it's like to work under tarps in the rain, on gravel, in the dark.....God forbid you drop a fastener....!!

My favorite part of having the shop is having family and friends over to hang out or wrench on projects. It's a great space to just be together with like minded people!

Best wishes in reaching your goals my friend and thanks for checking in with the kind words! We'll see where the Nomad goes from here, but it'll be pretty spotty at best until I get the 57 put together and get my Jeep going. The kids are pretty interested in the Jeep, that's the one I hear about the most.

 

The Nomad doors are around, but not cheap or "easy" to find bet they are gettable. The repop steel shells are running about $1K per door. The used door off of the Safari I scoped out at the swap meet last week the guy wanted $500 for the bare steel door shell, but was willing to take $400. He still has it (set) and we're chatting about it, might pick up the one I need in a trade for some stuff. I have those parts cars that aren't worth much that we might work out a deal on, among other things. The safari door is the same as a Nomad dimensionally and shape wise, but has different holes in the outer skin for the Pontiac trim package. That's easy enough to work with. It's a little crusty and has some "all metal" silver colored filler material in the outer shell, but otherwise structurally solid and workable.

 

Stoked about this!! I found a set of NIB nomad doors here locally through FB Marketplace. They're brand new, the fella that had them sold his project and moved to Hawaii and his friend wound up with the parts to sell off. This has to be a lucky and odd find. Got what I feel is a great deal at $900 for the pair. Made friends with the seller during our short meeting and we're staying in touch so that was a double win! These are absolutely new and perfect from Golden Star, who seems to have nice stuff from what I've seen. Haven't messed with the nomad yet but always scouting for parts!

https://goldenstarauto.com/products/1955-1957-chevrolet-nomad-door-shell-rh

https://goldenstarauto.com/products/1955-1957-chevrolet-nomad-door-shell-lh

 

If you are buying stuff in advance, the quarter panel, curved glass gaskets, were reproduced, but have been unavailable for some time, now, as are the roof rail gaskets (above the door glass). If you find some, snap them up. In fact, get a set for me, too, if they have extras!

 

I was bit confused at the mix of body colors, I assumed the original car was red & white by the interior front clip, door & tailgate, but yet the main body color appears to be yellow which coincides with the green dash as they were originally produced. You might ck. the body tag to verify the color code, it is probably of little consequence as you have 99% of the needed parts, however it appears it is a blend of two different Nomads. It is the possibility a color change was in process at some point & only specific body parts were refinished when it was side lined, but the interior color remains a mystery, in that regard it also appears the seat inserts were reupholstered with the sedan square pattern as opposed to the waffle design of the door panels. All this is a moot point, as it is certainly a buildable Nomad & you did well. In your quest it would be interesting to verify the body production number . Good find, Ron

 

Hi Ron,
Yea she's got a story behind her for sure. My friend bought this car in the state it's currently in roughly 25 years ago and stored it. I bought it just last year and been scouting for parts. What I think is that it was an orange car, whether originally orange or not I don't know, and was hit in the passenger side. When that happened, the door was sacrificed (I do not have the pass side that would have come with it) I only have the driver's door which is orange like the front clip and rear gate. I assume the owner found this body and replaced only the body but lost the door.

When I found the pair of new doors for $900 I thought I better grab those and stock pile them until I move ahead on the project. It's hard to say if the chassis is the same one from the car that was orange or not, I'll be comparing tags at some point, I have the trim and vin tags for the car.

 

Thanks for the tip on the hard to get stuff!

 

I've scoured the Internet high and low looking at '55 Nomad builds. Looking to see if there are any members here with in-process or completed build pictures to share?

There aren't many of these out there, so I'm interested in all build features, wheel choices, engine swaps, chassis, etc etc... I'm currently setting mine up with a stroked small block, Muncie 4-speed, with the P case posi rear end. Running factory frame, solid chrome smoothie type wheels for now, minus the moon caps. All new floors going in soon. Intending to run the factory style waffle pattern interior once color choice is picked (thinking orange/white).

I see the prices keep climbing on nomad parts, especially this '55 front headlight/fender/door trim set. I only need the passenger side door spear if anyone has one available! I have the rest of the set.

Thanks....

 

Sent you a pm

 

Paging
@ironandsteele

 

Can't be much help on the door trim, but I would call Cliff's Classic Chevrolet Parts and speak with Cliff. He likely has what you need. (503) 667-4329 he is in Gresham, Oregon.

I'd post some pics of the one I'm slamming together, but it is a '56. Here is a link if you care to check it out: Hot Rods - Project Blowmad - A Build Thread (1956 Nomad) | The H.A.M.B.

My buddy does have a killer 70's-built '55 Nomad with a killer stance and Mitch Kim pinstriping, I will try to grab a photo of it.

Killer project by the way! Nomads are just plain cool.

ironandsteele.com​

 

Right on, thank you! I'll for sure check out your '56! They're all cool!