Just joined? Please introduce yourself.
Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: 1955 Nomad Quarter Panels Repair

  1. #1
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2017

    Member #:3477
    Posts
    370

    1955 Nomad Quarter Panels Repair

    This is for a friend who makes the sign of the cross when he sees a computer.

    He has a 55 Nomad that was an old drag car run in the Delaware area. It must have been low-buck because the racing mods are pretty primitive.

    It has pretty good quarters, except they cut the wheel openings, radius-ing them for slicks. They cut about the last 5 inches on each side facing the front (yes I know pics would help but I am not near his car presently and I just spoke to him about it) up from the bottom of the rocker. The outer wheel arch is intact, but its the area that wraps around the quarter that's gone. Think the piece of the arch that would generally face the tire tread, the wrap around transition.

    So we need to fix both sides.

    I read once that you could flip fenders and that the left front contains a wheel arch pattern that approximates the rear passenger quarter arch, and vice versa. However, when he spoke to a local "Nomad guy" he was told since it was the bottom five inches up from rocker bottom that a standard sedan quarter patch would work. Yes I know they make full quarter skins, but I dont like the idea of sawing off otherwise good quarters. I also am skeptical that the "gasser arches" they sell would work to patch. Oh and let me mention my friend doesn't have a ton of money so he wants to get a pretty exact idea of what he needs so he is not buying extra stuff.

    I will end up helping him with the work, as my shop is set up to do it, but I want him to source the parts.

    So Nomad-ers, thoughts? Best way to patch the lower 5 inches of a 55 Nomad rear wheel arch?

    I will try and snag a pic and post it.

    Scorp
    Last edited by scorpion1110; 01-07-2019 at 04:30 AM. Reason: hopelessly unable to spell

  2. #2
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2017

    Member #:3477
    Posts
    370
    I am resurrecting this post folks. Just got word my friend has several spots on his lung. Not a good thing. I think the next several months will be a challenge.

    I was planning to help him but dont think he is going to be up to it or even focused on the Nomad, so I called another friend and we are going to tackle the work. Fix the quarters and a few holes in the floor and give him back something to work with. No I am not 100% up to it, but I have walked in his shoes and it might help.

    Here is what we are dealing with:

    Attachment 9540

    Attachment 9541

    Attachment 9542

    What is the best approach to patch?:

    1) flip fenders and use wheel arch from opposite side front fender?
    2) Go with the standard 55 patch and re-arch the wheel opening? or
    3) leverage a patch pannel from something else?

    I am sure the fix has been done without full quarter removal but the Web is not giving up its secrets.

    He doesnt have the money and now he probably has cancer. I would like to help him.

    Scorp

  3. #3
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2012

    Member #:571
    Posts
    4,671
    I don't know where you got the idea of the left front arch working on the right rear. It won't.

    There are repro patch panels that have the wheel arches and more. You may want to trim them.

  4. #4
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011

    Member #:115
    Location
    Fort Collins, CO
    Posts
    10,835
    If that's the extent of it I don't think it's too bad to fix. However, I'd take a good look inside the quarter and see how far up the rust extends, or if it's been patched previously. It could be a lot uglier than it looks.

    I'd go with the patch panel and see if you can make it work. Seems like we discussed this here before a couple years ago.....maybe in one of Rockytopper's (RIP) posts.
    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

  5. #5
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2017

    Member #:3477
    Posts
    370
    Quote Originally Posted by Rick_L View Post
    I don't know where you got the idea of the left front arch working on the right rear. It won't.

    There are repro patch panels that have the wheel arches and more. You may want to trim them.
    Rick, right here:

    https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...arters.558468/

    Scorp

  6. #6
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2012

    Member #:571
    Posts
    4,671
    First off, the fronts won't have a piece for the front vertical edge. They also don't have the same contour at the bottom rear. I also would bet that the top of the front arch is much longer than the Nomad arch. No guarantee that the radii match either, though they are somewhat close.

    That said you could probably get parts of the contour by cutting up front fenders. Where are you going to get the rest?

  7. #7
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2013

    Member #:1806
    Posts
    414
    I would strip that whole panel first to see how much work it needs. Pay special attention to the bottom all the way up to the door.

  8. #8
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2017

    Member #:3477
    Posts
    370
    Quote Originally Posted by Rick_L View Post
    First off, the fronts won't have a piece for the front vertical edge. They also don't have the same contour at the bottom rear. I also would bet that the top of the front arch is much longer than the Nomad arch. No guarantee that the radii match either, though they are somewhat close.

    That said you could probably get parts of the contour by cutting up front fenders. Where are you going to get the rest?
    Thanks Rick-

    At this point I am just doing the research. I really need about 6-8inches up from the rocker corner.

    I thought that I could get part of what we need from the stock 55 patch panel- at least that would take car of the rust hole and give us the rocker corner as well as some wheel arch.

    Scorp

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

    Member #:115
    Location
    Fort Collins, CO
    Posts
    10,835
    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
    Jul 2017

    Member #:3477
    Posts
    370
    Cnut-

    Thanks! I went looking but couldnt find this thread. Its exactly what I needed. Many thanks.

    Scorp

Posting Permissions

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