57 Nomad Project

[kwhizz]

Here's a picture trail on the progress on the dash cluster.........When I got the car is had faded chrome on the cluster and the lower column cover......I sent them out and had the chrome stripped, then along with the cluster and cover I also sent the ash tray and glove box door to Puleras for painting...........the guy's at Puleras hit a home run again as far as matching the paint and the quality of the work done.........picked up the parts yesterday and installed the Dakota Digital VHX Gauges.....

[kwhizz]

Now we get to the part I have been worried about..........Getting the 4L85E transmission into the car.....Get the car up on the lift and the moment of truth.......5 minutes later the trans is bolted in place with no issues at all.......plenty of clearance all around.......the 57 has an extremely large trans tunnel.........the Trans mount even bolted in place with two of the existing bolt holes.....But....After looking at the relation between the engine and the firewall, I may move the engine forward 1/2" to give the engine harness a little more room.........gonna check it out a little closer today...........

[GregWeld]

Looking great Ken!!



Was chuckling to myself with the transmission lift.... you have no idea how much stuff I've hoisted on mine! I've built all kinds of jigs for it even - to hold various parts - sometimes having nothing to do with cars. LOL

[kwhizz]

I got another package today so I can move forward with getting the dash area finished up.........I just couldn't see putting the Vintage Air plastic swivel balls in the dash....... Found these ..........Gotta cut the openings and get the Duct work finished ......then I can get the gauge cluster back in.......Soon.......

[waynieZ]

Nice looking parts.

[GregWeld]

Nothing worse than a nice car with those NASTY plastic A/C outlets!

When I was re-doing the '56 Nomad -- I found a pair of perfect OEM A/C outlets... IIRC I paid about $500 for the pair at a swap meet. Nobody made repops back then.

The problem was - the compound curves - and I wasn't exactly certain of their location. Since the car was painted - I wasn't about to just hack away and rework an area... So lucky for me - I found a dash from a '56 A/C, and get this, also factory PADDED!! I've never seen one (padded) in a car. I bought the whole dash - and then I could make a pattern from that and cut my dash, and they fit perfectly. I still have that dash... for no other reason than I've never seen one.


I'd also made a "console" out of wood and bondo and metal.... because I loved to drive that car and needed a cup holder!!! LOL

[jy211]

it's a "pucker" moment when having to cut into a dash...

[kwhizz]

After installing the Transmission for the trial fit and seeing how much room there really was around the trans.....I decided to remove it and put in the Converter for the final install.....this is actually going too easy, the cross member bolted in with two of the existing holes (just have to drill 2 to suit )......and today I took the driveshaft to get a new transmission yoke put on match the 4L85E trans........and the driveshaft fit's as is........Here are some pic's.......I also received the Concept 1 Front Drive system.......I'll get that installed over the weekend.....Pic's to follow

[kwhizz]

Easy project for today........Get the new (OEM) A/C vents in the Dash....Hole Saw, Carbide Burr to elongate the hole to fit , add the screw mounting holes ..........and get the "Tweeters" installed in Kick Panels......Easy day.....Now....Time for a Nap and some Football..........














Kick panels roughly stuck in place

[kwhizz]

Haven't posted for a while.......Been very busy on the car but it's all wiring related....so....Not much to see.....We are gaining on it......LOL