Hot Rods Project Blowmad - A Build Thread (1956 Nomad) --update-- running an driving as of 6-28

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
​

 

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
​

 

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​

 

Those BDS style scoops are expensive new and used, when you can find them.
I was lucky to find a decent priced used one several years ago, the guy I got it from even had it chromed.

 

That's awesome, it looks amazing.

ironandsteele.com​

 

I ran it on the big block for awhile

 

Love your Nomad ..... what are you doing trans and rear end wise.
A 9-3/8" big Olds/Pontiac rear is almost a given for a traditional blown tri-five car.

 

I like where this is going. The blown engine sitting in there gives this Nomad some real attitude.

 

Thank you. Trans is just a built turbo 350, nothing fancy. Rear end is stock at the moment and will be for a bit, but I am having a 9" posi being put together for it.

ironandsteele.com​

 

Very cool

 

Every time I get into a project like this, I'm reminded of how tedious this stuff is, even a simple "bolt together" build like this one.

I have gotten a lot done since my last post, just not as much as I was hoping. Spring at my place means days on a tractor mowing, spraying, etc. so that has eaten a lot of time, especially since this has been an especially warm spring.

I was also distracted by a new toy, a pretty unreal 50's survivor hot rod that has been stowed away in a Bay Area garage for basically 70 years. Between the road trip to grab it and the subsequent few days of gawking at it and making vroom-vroom noises, I lost about a week there





All that said, the Nomad is pretty far along. A few small things and some plumbing and wiring and I will be ready to fire it. I was hoping to make it to a show tomorrow that kind of kicks off the season around here, but unfortunately I will have to take something else.

A few weeks ago when I was still thinking I could make this event, I put the bug in my friend and upholstery guy's ear that it would be great if the front seat could be re-done in time to bolt in and go. He didn't disappoint! This dark green was the right choice, it looks absolutely killer and is going to go great in an all-black car with green glass!





I'm close to putting the front clip back on and will post an update when that happens.

ironandsteele.com​

 

Nice!

 

Front clip is back on and we fired it for the first time. It runs awesome! Just a few small bugs to work out and then I'm going to bolt the seat in and take it for its first drive. The front end will come down some more too.

ironandsteele.com​