Projects 1959 Chevy Nomad wagon build

Bruce A Lyke · Nov 25, 2011

Time for an update to help keep me moving. Impala rear valances to fit, based on a really banged up wagon one i got cheap. Made some patterns and got after them. The valances will need some filler but should look okay when done. It took a lot of cutting as they truly are unique compared to the car valances
The bumper is now solid as a rock, I think i could even use a jack on it to lift the car up

Bruce A Lyke · Dec 5, 2011

no new pictures at the moment, i was out of town for work 3 days last week and the year end will be hectic.
tried a couple of ways to remove undercoating from the front inner wheel wells. plan to paint them flat black fairly soon and get them out of the way. they are both clear of all but some residue that i will use some solvent to remove.
plan will be or a better post next time

koolkemp · Dec 5, 2011

The car is looking great !

davidh73750 · Dec 5, 2011

I never knew a 4 door sedan frame would slide under a wagon! Good save from the redneck 4x4 get er done. you guys got me feeling guilty about not getting my mine off the back burner.

J.Fishbeck · Dec 5, 2011

I used to ride around in a 59 Nomad. My Uncle threw in a 283/350 to replace the missing 348. My Dad also had to repair the cancer in the rear of the roof, like I seen you've done on yours. A friend of mine bought it from him, and drove it for years.

Bruce A Lyke · Dec 6, 2011

koolkemp said: ↑

The car is looking great !
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Thanks Koolkemp, as follower your 47 build, I really appreciate it.

J.Fishbeck said: ↑

I used to ride around in a 59 Nomad. My Uncle threw in a 283/350 to replace the missing 348. My Dad also had to repair the cancer in the rear of the roof, like I seen you've done on yours. A friend of mine bought it from him, and drove it for years.
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It seems the the area above the rear window was especially problematic on these wagons

davidh73750 said: ↑

I never knew a 4 door sedan frame would slide under a wagon! Good save from the redneck 4x4 get er done. you guys got me feeling guilty about not getting my mine off the back burner.
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The basic frames are the same , some of the mounts needed to be moved down or back a few inches. i think only the convertible frames are unique as it sounds like they have additional reinforcements
Compared to many I've seen and the picture of your in the weeds, i think you have to give your 59 wagon some time, it still looks way to solid <label for="rb_iconid_6"></label>

It looks like I finally figured out how to do a multi-quote reply. So I learned something new while I should have still been sleeping. A good start to the day

Wags66 · Dec 6, 2011

Your 4 x 4 pic in your garage looks a lot like a car that used to be here in Montana.

Sauli · Dec 9, 2011

Wow! What a project!!! I´ve seen some 50s-60s full size cars fitted on 4X4 frames before, just never one being restored back to a "car" before...Good for You. The ´59 Chevy is by far one of the coolest wagons out there, and well worth the work depicted in Your thread here, I think. What with all the beautiful Nomad –spec trim in place no less!
If it´s of any consolation, as a former ´60 Nomad –owner I can tell You I´ve yet to see one of these without that rearmost back edge of the roof rotted through.
Has to do with the aerodynamics of the wagon body, where the displaced air moving over the roof of the vehicle forms a "reversed whirlwind"/vacuum of-sorts behind the car, raising debris/moisture off the road surface up and directly back towards the rear of the moving car. (As You´ve most likely observed on a snowy day on the highway with the back end of every square-back vehicle such as a bus, van, STW or an SUV covered in a solid layer of snow from bumper to roof.)
Anyway, like I said I have first-hand experience of a 1960 similar-model Chevy, it was a low-mile car that I knew had been sitting since 1975 at least, at which point it was disassembled by the previous owners. As straight and solid it was elsewhere on the body for it´s age, the two most noteworthy spots needing attention were the lowestmost 4 inches of the chromed-steel rear window- frame uprights, as well as about a 4-inch –wide section of that very rear roof had to be replaced. The two layers of sheetmetal overlapping each other there seem to not take on too well to moisture. Should be a pretty straightforward fix with homemade patch pieces if You just take some time with it.

jazzfidelity · Dec 9, 2011

man, we'll never forget the 59 Chevy.. our neighbors across the street had a blue 59 4-door wagon all those years we were growing up, dont remember if she was a Parkwood or Brookwood, but she was nice.. keep us posted..

NAPA 68 · Dec 9, 2011

Hail to 59's!

Bruce A Lyke · Dec 10, 2011

Sauli said: ↑

 Wow! What a project!!! I´ve seen some 50s-60s full size cars fitted on 4X4 frames before, just never one being restored back to a "car" before...Good for You. The ´59 Chevy is by far one of the coolest wagons out there, and well worth the work depicted in Your thread here, I think. What with all the beautiful Nomad spec trim in place no less!
Click to expand...

Thanks Sauli, it seemed like it needed to be done and has provided me a lot of ways to learn and improve my skills. i really like the Nomad side trim too and will be keeping it. the fender birds and the narrow strips behind them will be left off, at least to start with. i can always drill some holes and add them back but from a few Impalas i have seen with out them, i think they look better without.
I may be in a little bit of a bind from removing the "bathtub clips" on the rear door and fenders, as it seems no one sells them, but they were very rusty and the areas around them needed a lot of attention. I'm sure there is some other hardware I can find to make it work

Bruce A Lyke · Dec 12, 2011

Did some more work on the rear valances, had to do a pie cut and fill to make it fit up right, kind of like a baby roof chop. Turned out pretty good so i went on to the drivers side, which went a lot faster, since i had patterns and knew where to cut the piece in half to take ~ 1/2" out.
Also reworked part of the wiring harness where the insulation basically turned to dust when i took the tailgate off. The worst was next to a molded rubber grommet that went to a plug connector. The wire was still sound so i cut some off of some solid 14 Ga wire, wrapped it around the stranded wire, wrapped that with electrical tape and then wrapped the whole works.

ronnieknoxville1 · Dec 12, 2011

1959Nomad said: ↑

Did some more work on the rear valances, had to do a pie cut and fill to make it fit up right, kind of like a baby roof chop. Turned out pretty good so i went on to the drivers side, which went a lot faster, since i had patterns and knew where to cut the piece in half to take ~ 1/2" out.
Also reworked part of the wiring harness where the insulation basically turned to dust when i took the tailgate off. The worst was next to a molded rubber grommet that went to a plug connector. The wire was still sound so i cut some off of some solid 14 Ga wire, wrapped it around the stranded wire, wrapped that with electrical tape and then wrapped the whole works.
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I just did my '57 210 Townsman's wiring a year ago so I feel the pain. I had to CHISEL the firewall grommet out of the firewall because it was so petrified! Your body work looks good keep up the good work. Wagons rock!

59brokewood · Dec 14, 2011

Nice work man! hope to be working on mine soon.... after my current project. you gotta love 59 wagons! they are awesome, well unless they are a 4x4, that first pic is hilarious!

SAM123 · Dec 14, 2011

Hiya 59Nomad .... Imma 59 SedanDelivery. Hey on the "bath tub clip" are you talking the ones that are on the rear quarter wing trim at the pinches? ... if so they are available .... forget the site but let me know if you want it.

You gonna go with backup lights on the center valnance? Nice going project.

Bruce A Lyke · Dec 17, 2011

SAM123 said: ↑

Hi ya 59Nomad .... Imma 59 SedanDelivery. Hey on the "bath tub clip" are you talking the ones that are on the rear quarter wing trim at the pinches? ...
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no they are only on the Nomads and Impalas they hold the two trim pieces that go from the flags back. i posted a item on then yesterday.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=653093

59bones · Dec 17, 2011

As another 59 guy, I feel your pain on the "bathtub clips". I think clips for these cars are the hardest damn part to deal with. I am not ready for them on any of my 59 projects but rumor has it they are being made.

Try Jim Warger in Ohio...www.21stchev.com. Tell him the 59 guy from Chicago sent you and PLEASE let us all know how things work out.

Bruce A Lyke · Dec 18, 2011

thanks for the lead on the clips. I'm not ready yet, but need to know if they can be found or will have to come up with something else, let's hope the rumor is true and someone is making them again.

b-mauger · Dec 27, 2011

its good to see someone as crazy as me fixing these 59 wagons out of projects most people would just pass by. im doing a 59 nomad now myself. i will figure out how to post some pictures. looking at yours got me going on mine again. thanks

Bruce A Lyke · Dec 27, 2011

b-mauger said: ↑

its good to see someone as crazy as me fixing these 59 wagons out of projects most people would just pass by. im doing a 59 nomad now myself. i will figure out how to post some pictures. looking at yours got me going on mine again. thanks
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Welcome to the HAMB
yep, their too unique to let them get melted down. I look forward to seeing your Nomad pictures. As you may have notices, there are quite a few 59 Chevy wagons and El Camino's here

59 brook · Dec 27, 2011

got a new 59 4 door brookwood for xmas from the wife and kids

thewishartkid · Dec 27, 2011

I have thought it would be cool to do a 2-door conversion and add all the Impala trim to build a real Nomad.

Bruce A Lyke · Dec 27, 2011

Here is what i have been working on recently. when i cleaned up the wheel wells, it was clear that the side under the battery was full of holes. The first picture is with a light behind it and the bright spots are all pinholes.
I decided to try to make a repair panel, first out of a single piece. once that proves to be beyond my current skill level, i made it from 3 pieces
it will need a little bit of bondo, bit it is solid and make me want to keep finding ways to make parts.
left over sheet metal from the 61 Belair parts cat continues to be "the gift that keeps on giving (cousin Eddy to Clark, in Christmas Vacation)"

Bruce A Lyke · Dec 27, 2011

thewishartkid said: ↑

I have thought it would be cool to do a 2-door conversion and add all the Impala trim to build a real Nomad.
Click to expand...

I still may do that, but take a foot or two out of it at the same time. for now making it solid and presentable will have to do. like the hard top, the early Belair's are great looking

Bruce A Lyke · Dec 27, 2011

59 brook said: ↑

got a new 59 4 door brookwood for xmas from the wife and kids
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that is quite a present, looks really good. congratulations

59 brook · Dec 27, 2011

good luck on your project i've got a 59 brookwood not perfect but it runs well and is a lot of fun

59bones · Dec 28, 2011

Not trying to hijack your thread, just throwin out a little inspiration.

Done for years now, even had it out Christmas day.

59brokewood · Dec 31, 2011

59 brook said: ↑

got a new 59 4 door brookwood for xmas from the wife and kids
Click to expand...

Where did you get that? I want one of those !

Bruce A Lyke · Jan 5, 2012

not a lot of progress worth posting a picture. trying to get the wheel wells ready to paint. also found i need to remount the brackets on the rear bumper so the spacing is correct on the 3 valance pieces. hopefully there will be more visible progress next time

Bruce A Lyke · Jan 7, 2012

well it look like i have all the rear bumper and valances fitted up and it should book good when all done.

Projects 1959 Chevy Nomad wagon build

Bruce A Lyke Member from Lakeville MN

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Bruce A Lyke Member from Lakeville MN

koolkemp Member from Nova Scotia

davidh73750 Member from kingfisher, OK

J.Fishbeck Member from San Bernardino, California

Bruce A Lyke Member from Lakeville MN

Wags66 Member from Montana

Sauli Member from Finland/ Pencil-vania

jazzfidelity Member from Kansas City

NAPA 68 Member from Waukesha, WI

Bruce A Lyke Member from Lakeville MN

Bruce A Lyke Member from Lakeville MN

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ronnieknoxville1 Member from Kailua, Hi Military HAMB'ers

59brokewood Member from Mustang, OK

SAM123 Member from NorCal (transplant from SoCal)

Bruce A Lyke Member from Lakeville MN

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59bones Member from Illinois

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b-mauger Member from pennsylvania

Bruce A Lyke Member from Lakeville MN

59 brook Member from hollywood fl

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Bruce A Lyke Member from Lakeville MN

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