PDA

View Full Version : Restored liftgate



MadMooks
02-08-2017, 12:02 PM
A customer of ours just installed one of our restored liftgates on a 56 nomad...

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj280/56madmook/Mobile%20Uploads/4D1E9CEC-D8B0-40CE-B836-0DE6C0111267_zpspzckquum.jpg


http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj280/56madmook/Mobile%20Uploads/B8F0FB1D-5E0C-48E3-BAA3-2DECADCE513B_zpskg7o0ntf.jpg


http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj280/56madmook/Mobile%20Uploads/F6BA80A6-0F83-44FC-96F5-46AE568C4B4F_zpsgpf3vdki.jpg

http://i274.photo-bucket.com/albums/jj280/56madmook/Mobile%20Uploads/DDB162CD-1CA9-471C-82A1-1BE1A75742D4_zpstj3evppi.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj280/56madmook/Mobile%20Uploads/E0641913-C0A6-4136-8726-231F536F77BF_zpsumsaf9be.jpg

chevynut
02-08-2017, 12:23 PM
Nice! I see he painted the driprail. How did he prep it?

MadMooks
02-08-2017, 03:40 PM
Not sure how he did it but we always just scuff and self etch . We do this with painting aluminum or stainless also

MP&C
02-09-2017, 05:30 AM
Beautiful work Mike!

MadMooks
02-09-2017, 10:04 AM
Appreciate that Robert . Thank you

rockytopper R.I.P 5-13-2017
02-09-2017, 06:32 PM
Mook You fix striped hinge threads? You will be getting mine soon.

MadMooks
02-10-2017, 03:27 PM
We helicoil the hinge holes and strut bracket holes whether they need it or not . Those are the most important and it's nice to have stainless coils in there

rockytopper R.I.P 5-13-2017
02-10-2017, 05:57 PM
We helicoil the hinge holes and strut bracket holes whether they need it or not . Those are the most important and it's nice to have stainless coils in there

Sweet!!!!

567chevys
02-11-2017, 08:46 AM
All I can say is Great Job Mike ,

keep it up!!
Your doing great stuff for these trifivechevys

Sid

MadMooks
02-11-2017, 01:45 PM
Thanks Sid !

MadMooks
02-16-2017, 03:30 PM
Sid, where can I see pics of ur 55 nomad?

567chevys
02-16-2017, 08:02 PM
Here is one of the Pile of Junk . LOL

Had is since I was 13 , I have many parts that I have collected for it , 6 Doors , 3 Tail gates , 4 lift gates its on my list


Sid

MadMooks
02-16-2017, 09:13 PM
Cool Sid. Hope to do work for u one day . Show u what we are all about . I could use a few liftgates tho, interested in selling?

rockytopper R.I.P 5-13-2017
02-17-2017, 06:11 AM
Way cool sid. What is the body number and original paint colors?
Rocky

BamaNomad
02-17-2017, 01:46 PM
Mike: I have a couple of extra liftgates myself... Do you *restore* one in return for an extra? :)

MadMooks
02-17-2017, 02:06 PM
I can give you credit on a core absolutely. I have two customers needing gates

rockytopper R.I.P 5-13-2017
02-17-2017, 03:00 PM
Mike: I have a couple of extra liftgates myself... Do you *restore* one in return for an extra? :)

I trade ya for some good oem A arms:)

BamaNomad
02-17-2017, 09:31 PM
Rocky, I DO appreciate your trading help at the time, but you know after rebuilding those A-arms and installing them, later I decided to purchase the CPP +5 deg uppers so now I'm not using them... :)

chevynut
02-17-2017, 10:17 PM
I have a bunch of good a-arms if anyone needs some. Lots of uppers and a few lowers I haven't sold yet.

markm
02-18-2017, 05:23 PM
Rocky, I DO appreciate your trading help at the time, but you know after rebuilding those A-arms and installing them, later I decided to purchase the CPP +5 deg uppers so now I'm not using them... :)

Great parts with todays options no need to sodomize your car.

chevynut
02-18-2017, 05:45 PM
Aftermarket control arms don't fix all the deficiencies in the stock suspension because they don't move the pivot points of the a-arms. You still end up with a 60 year old suspension with a little more caster. Tubular lower arms do nothing to improve handling.

MadMooks
05-25-2017, 12:16 PM
Customer of mine sent me a few pictures of a liftgate /struts/hinges we just shipped them. Looks killer on his ride

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj280/56madmook/Mobile%20Uploads/D1F579F6-9503-4C28-93EA-21D1ED138000_zpsu8phoeov.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj280/56madmook/Mobile%20Uploads/F4B304CB-5AA8-4E47-A310-51BD83C89F3A_zpsbj9tlhtr.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj280/56madmook/Mobile%20Uploads/66E67A69-9F07-4F64-A867-EA66555492AD_zpst97zhfui.jpg

567chevys
05-25-2017, 01:33 PM
Very Nice Fit ,
Super looking 56 Nomad


Thanks for sharing Mike .


Sid

chevynut
05-25-2017, 07:04 PM
Looks like he needs to paint that drip rail. Were they body color from the factory? Nice 56....even though it's RED!:D

c57heaven
05-25-2017, 07:21 PM
yes, roof color drip rail, factory on all three years.

MadMooks
05-25-2017, 07:35 PM
C'nut , he's planning on painting the rail . They flow so much better when they do. All nomads came painted with the roof color

chevynut
05-25-2017, 07:44 PM
One more question Mike. I'm going to buy the weatherstrip retainer from Mr. Nomad (even though it's absurdly expensive :)). I want to get it drilled and fitted before paint. Looking at the pics of the liftgate, I assume all the screws are hidden with the hinge cover on? I swear I don't recall my Nomad ever having that retainer on it.

BamaNomad
05-25-2017, 07:56 PM
CN: If you are referring to the simple retainer across the top above the liftgate? My understanding is that '55's didn't have it, but Chevy added it for the '56 and '57 model years. The factory used raw metal tack welded to the body and painted with the body, then crimped down when the weatherstrip was applied. I recently installed new upper liftgate weatherstrip on my '56 and I was amazed to find that metal in great condition (with some original paint on it!).. whereas it had rusted away on my '57 Nomad, so I will need to replace it before I paint that one. I'm considering using a 'body adhesive' to retain it.. although most people suggest using 5-10 pop rivets to hold it to the body. I would definitely suggest using a sealer along the edges of it regardless of how you decide to retain it...

PS. Mr Nomad sells them in raw metal or stainless... but for a man with your talents, I think it would be VERY simple to make that piece from your choice of metal...

chevynut
05-25-2017, 08:00 PM
CN: If you are referring to the simple retainer across the top above the liftgate?
PS. Mr Nomad sells them in raw metal or stainless... but for a man with your talents, I think it would be VERY simple to make that piece from your choice of metal...

Yes that's the piece I've been discussing with Mike off and on. I didn't know Mr. Nomad had them in both materials. This is the only one I see, in stainless.

http://mrnomad.com/product.asp?pid=2451&scid=51&wf=cat

How hard could that piece be to make? It seems like it's just a simple bent piece of sheet metal? I have a 48" sheetmetal brake....if I knew what it looked like I could probably make it and save myself $55 plus shipping. :)

Anyone have one of these? What are the dimensions and metal thickness?

MadMooks
05-25-2017, 08:25 PM
Weve used both 20-22 gauge for our vertical retainers. Should be fairly easy for a person to make . I've heard of people using pop rivets but I personally haven't. You have to be aware of where the hinge cover is if you use screws.

I was only aware of him making them In stainless. News to me! I guess you could use the steel and spot weld it like the factory.

If you make one I would buy the rubber for reference .

BamaNomad
05-25-2017, 08:45 PM
CN: The retainer across the top performs the same function as the 'stainless strip' down each side, so you could model it after those.. If I were to guess, I'd say the portion that is 'tacked' or fastened to the roof is ~ 1/2 - 3/4" in width, and the 'foldable part' is ~ 3/8-1/2" in width. Of course the length is the width of the liftgate opening. Here's a photo I took during my w/s replacement on the '56 which shows the 'foldable' portion bent up and cleaned in preparation for installing the new W/S...

chevynut
05-26-2017, 06:26 AM
Thanks guys for the info and pics. Mike, I think I bought the seal from you when you did my liftgate if I recall correctly so I should have one. In fact, I've probably bought a couple others over the years....lol! :D

Bamanomad, that pic really helps. Like I said I don't remember my Nomad ever having one of those and I don't see any sign that it did but I've had it so long I could have forgotten. :p

Looks like it's pretty thin, much thinner than 20 gauge (.036"), maybe 22 gauge (.030") like Mike said or even 24 gauge (.024"). Also looks like it butts up against the roof on the folded side. I'm guessing you'd want it bent to about a 45 degree angle, so you could tap it down after the seal is installed? Or is that too tight of a bend and would make seal installation difficult? I've never messed with one of these. ;)

As for installation I have a spot welder but it seems like it would be best to install this AFTER paint to make sure it gets painted above/behind it. So stainless steel pop-riveted in place looks like the best route to go. I'd like to get the holes drilled in the body before paint.

LEE T
05-26-2017, 05:14 PM
The Mr Nomad SS replacement part is probably 24 ga, and the original is either 26 or 28 ga

The original is 1/2 inch wide, the repro is almost 5/8 and 42 3/4" long

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/from7/Forum%20photos/55e4b862-d506-4968-9cf1-d6521637940b_zpss8c19snt.jpg~original

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/from7/Forum%20photos/4dc082f8-a656-4471-812a-93b0bedd2ce1_zpsa2j7hhft.jpg~original

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/from7/Forum%20photos/6c4dd285-410d-443a-952b-856b8b2526be_zpsjh2ltmsa.jpg~original

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/from7/Forum%20photos/5f998756-060b-4252-8633-3355880697a3_zpso9ro4786.jpg~original

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/from7/Forum%20photos/3d0cab10-34c6-41f5-bb52-2563019a4402_zpsvs0hjqkr.jpg~original

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/from7/Forum%20photos/c437ce5b-00bc-4c81-8427-aef73d710b14_zpsm3bj0f7t.jpg~original

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/from7/Forum%20photos/e37ea7bd-5374-4fc9-8449-2700dcccc1be_zpsflfgv9fu.jpg~original

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/from7/Forum%20photos/a90da9f7-deb9-4897-b7eb-e6400e3d3787_zpsbtwzgney.jpg~original

LEE T
05-26-2017, 05:23 PM
As for installation I have a spot welder but it seems like it would be best to install this AFTER paint to make sure it gets painted above/behind it. So stainless steel pop-riveted in place looks like the best route to go. I'd like to get the holes drilled in the body before paint.
What material will the pop rivets be made of? Right now my plan is to use body panel adhesive.

chevynut
05-26-2017, 05:30 PM
Thanks for the pics Lee. It looks like there's a pretty large radius on that bend. Is that necessary? Are both legs around 5/8". Not sure how critical that really is to fit the seal correctly.

I have both steel and aluminum pop rivets. There shouldn't be much stress on that retainer so I would think either one would work. What issues do you think there might be?

LEE T
05-26-2017, 06:40 PM
One leg is about half as long as the other on both the original and repro.
I wouldn't use alum rivets on steel over a long term.

MadMooks
06-06-2017, 04:35 PM
Another one a customer just installed.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj280/56madmook/Mobile%20Uploads/2BDCB4E2-631B-4CBD-B772-A5653AC3C6E8_zpsvqu29lzq.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj280/56madmook/Mobile%20Uploads/CF825299-5CF4-46BE-8BC3-7FD04320F2C4_zpszbnzttsg.jpg