Just joined? Please introduce yourself.
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 16

Thread: 55 Pontiac Safari Body Converted to 55 Chevy Nomad

  1. #1
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2014

    Member #:2341
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Posts
    6

    55 Pontiac Safari Body Converted to 55 Chevy Nomad

    I have an opportunity to p/u a 55 Pontiac Safari body only which in good shape and complete except for the following:

    * No frame, front sheet metal, no drive train, no bumpers.....basically just a body/doors/complete tailgate & lid and all glass that has been stored inside for a few decades.

    My "crazy" question is has anybody ever converted a 55 Safari to a 55 Nomad. I know it will require a new chevy dash, both 55 nomad rear quarters, ???. So one question will 55 chevy front sheet metal bolt up to the front of the safari body? Also I know the cost of the fender eyebrows are extreme but I'm thinking of a "resto mod' build, new frame, LS motor, C-4 susp. to keep me busy in my retirement mode.

    I know someone might say why not just embark on trying to restore the Safari......well I had a 55 Nomad as a young adult (396/4sp) and I'm getting the urge to get another. I currently have built a resto mod 55 Chevy (check out threads on this site), 69 Camaro resto mod, 66 Corvette coupe resto mod and a 32 Ford 3 window coupe, full fenders with LS1/4L60E drive train, all independent susp. which could be considered a resto mod. I'm currently building a 69 Vette with 500hp LS3/6sp Tremec Magnum trans, etc......so I have quite a bit of experience building cars and only farm out the final paint to a 3rd party. A project like this kinda get's me excited but I would like some experts on this site to share some of there thoughts.....thanks in advance for your input!

  2. #2
    Registered Member Custer55's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015

    Member #:2442
    Location
    Custer, WI
    Posts
    640
    Not sure about any of the other aspects of the conversion you are thinking of but we talked to the owner of a Safari Wagon at Back to the 50's last year and I'm pretty sure he said it has a longer wheel base than tri-five Chevys. Nomads are the same 115" as are wagons and passenger cars. I actually used a nomad frame to do my C4 conversion.
    Brian

  3. #3
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011

    Member #:115
    Location
    Fort Collins, CO
    Posts
    10,835
    The US-built 55-57 Pontiacs had a 122" wheelbase and I believe that included the Safaris. The Canadian built ones used Chevy frames with the shorter 115" wheelbase. I believe the added length was all in front, so the Canadian ones used shorter front fenders. Since you don't have any front sheetmetal maybe you can find some Canadian sheetmetal for it. I'm not sure but I think you'd have to change the floor to a Chevy floor to use the Chevy frame.

    It would be a heck of a lot of work to change the quarters, rockers, floor, frame, dash, and all the front sheetmetal just to make a 55 Nomad. But I think it could be done. You might be better off finding a 55 Nomad project.
    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


    Other vehicles:

    56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
    56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    1962 327/340HP Corvette
    1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
    2001 Porsche Boxster S
    2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
    2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

  4. #4
    Registered Member Custer55's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015

    Member #:2442
    Location
    Custer, WI
    Posts
    640
    Found this on the differences between Pontiac & Chevy
    https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...change.122913/

  5. #5
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2014

    Member #:2341
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Posts
    6

    Thanks

    Quote Originally Posted by Custer55 View Post
    Found this on the differences between Pontiac & Chevy
    https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...change.122913/


    Good info.....thanks for posting!!!!!

  6. #6
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2016

    Member #:3018
    Posts
    157
    There are quite a few differences on the Safari. Safari uses a C channel frame with an X style crossmember similar to a chevy convertible, frame is a much wider, 48" at the rear frame humps. Floorpan is totally different, A/C actually comes through the floor pan from under the front bench seat (if equipped). The eyebrows can be plucked from some of the pontiac chieftain/ star chief sedans, so they shouldn't be too hard to replace.

    I have a 56 Safari I'm working on (or trying to work on if I can get off the road), I'm putting a chevy floor pan in so I can put it on a chevy frame and fit the C4 suspension (given the rust my car has, I'm basically building a parts car, so I don't feel too bad about making the modifications that I am making). I would find a 55 nomad if I were you. You'll spend the budget for a 55 nomad builder just in conversion parts. http://pontiacsafari.com/ has a lot of information if you're interested in digging through the documents.

    IMO those Safari's are too rare to hack into a nomad, only 3,760 made in 1955. That being said, if the price is right, I might be interested if you decide to pass on it. I have an addiction to projects that I don't have the time to complete

  7. #7
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2013

    Member #:1806
    Posts
    414
    Actually, it might be cheaper to convert it, since it already needs a frame, front sheet metal, bumpers, and maybe some trim and seats also. If the cowl is the same, then the dash is pretty easy to change, and all the parts are readily available.

  8. #8
    Registered Member BamaNomad's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2016

    Member #:3217
    Location
    Rocket City, USA (Huntsville, AL area)
    Posts
    3,774
    '55 Nomad Quarters aren't available to my knowledge...? Maybe he should build it into a '56 Nomad?

    PS. It's pretty interesting to me that his Safari was missing so many parts, BUT.. it still had the doors and tailgate and liftgate? (which are usually the FIRST things removed from 'junked' Safaris by Chevy/Nomad nuts.. . I've done that myself many years ago (I also got the cargo strips, which are nicer on Safaris than on Nomads)..
    Last edited by BamaNomad; 02-01-2018 at 07:20 AM.

  9. #9
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011

    Member #:115
    Location
    Fort Collins, CO
    Posts
    10,835
    Quote Originally Posted by BamaNomad View Post
    '55 Nomad Quarters aren't available to my knowledge...?
    They are the ONLY Nomad quarters available. On a 56 and 57 you have to use hardtop quarters, or sedan quarters for a 57.
    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


    Other vehicles:

    56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
    56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    1962 327/340HP Corvette
    1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
    2001 Porsche Boxster S
    2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
    2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

  10. #10
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2016

    Member #:3018
    Posts
    157
    Quote Originally Posted by LEE T View Post
    Actually, it might be cheaper to convert it, since it already needs a frame, front sheet metal, bumpers, and maybe some trim and seats also. If the cowl is the same, then the dash is pretty easy to change, and all the parts are readily available.
    Depending on what direction you take the build would certainly be a factor in how comparable the costs are, but here's the list I have so far. I think even a pretty savvy shopper is going to put at least 5k into this shopping list.

    Floorpan
    Complete dash
    Steering column/wheel / pedal setup (pretty sure these are different)
    Quarter Panels
    Tail pan to quarter panel sheetmetal
    Tail lights
    All the 55 trim and badges
    Front sheetmetal Clip w/ radiator support, lights, inner fenders
    Bumpers Front / Rear
    Complete frame w/ suspension

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •