headliner

D

darrell

Well-known member
just how big a job is it to put a headliner in a 56 ford and have it look decent.im talking about someone who never went near one.
 
How comfortable are you removing the rear glass? 1952-56 Fords as per the Ford Shop Manual states "rear glass must be removed" so order a rear windshield rubber gasket ahead of time as the stainless trim presses into it and will be installed as a unit.I decided I do not want to take the gamble with the glass and several upholstery shops I spoke with call in glass shops to handle that chore for them.IMPORTANT if you decide to remove the old headliner by yourself be sure you tag the bows in the order they are removed for re-installation.
 
I know about the rear window but was hoping to get around it somehow.whoever said these old rigs were easy to work on.i put a windshield in a few years back what a nightmare.the new rubber was like a piece of spaghetti.other than the rear window whats the rest of it like.
 
that's the best one I heard in awile.i know all about the string it took 2 of us 3 hours if you had the original rubber for the windshield you might do it in 1 hour.the replacement rubber is trash.
 
have your uphostler do it, takes talent and experience for that job, screw it up and you will buy another headliner
 
Maybe you ought to perfect your technique. Install the rubber and trim on the glass first. Putting a few dabs of window adhesive in a couple spots to hold the seal in place is helpful.Set it in place on the car. Have one person pulling the string as a second on the outside gently presses. A new seal should always be used. The replacement rubber is more pliable, but workable. The stuff from Mac's is OK.
 
thanks guys but I think ford3 is right get someone else.thats why you see those ads I get a kick out of car for sale new interior new headliner comes with car.
 
It is possible to pull windscreens in with the help of a friend. The trick is the "string". You need a good quality cord approx. 1/8-3/16" diameter. Fit the stainless in the rubber and use masking tape to hold it in place. The last screen I had fitted I got "specialists" to fit it and had to tell them how to do it and they charged my insurance company $500 for fitting it.
The masking tape will hold the rubber to the glass as well and when finished either pull it out or leave it under the rubber.
The one thing with pros they do have the tools to make it easy and if they break it, it's theirs.
 
Rick55 is correct. The trick is the string. A 1/8" nylon rope, sometimes used on clotheslines or for camping purposes, work real well.
 
also a spray bottle with soap and water for lube so string pulls past the rubber easy as stated before put moldings and gasket on glass and install as a unit I did my 64 ranchero windshield and rear glass shield was a breeze rear glass took 1 + hours also use some sealer in the groove cause its bound to leak just put it in before the rope and keep lacquer thinner or acetone for cleanup
 
that would be an easy one.i put a windshield in a 78 1/2 ton by myself without a problem but a 56 with that wrap around glass and trying to keep the stainless in place is something else.i had to use duct tape to hold it together because of that awful replacement rubber with no corners.there are sharp turns in a 56 windshield and the rubber bulges out.you cant do nothing with it.back in the day people put them in in a few minutes by themselves but they did it often and knew how.i think the back window rubber is made to fit.it is on mine anyway.i didn't tell the whole story on the 3 hours it took to replace the rubber on my 56 windshield my friend who was helping split it up the middle.have a nice day.
 
On several forums there as been more and more talk about Dennis Carpenter rubber products quality issues and some rubber products are being outsourced,they have contracts with several Ford aftermarket suppliers which means even if you order from someone else you may get Carpenter goods.The vent rubbers in my '54 Customline fell apart in less than 6 months and the car was not even driven.Probably better to use Steele Rubber Products which are 100% USA made but will cost slightly more.
 
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