Windlace retainer removal?

[rar1947]

Anyone know how to remove the windlace retainers above the doors? I've embarked on the snowballing task to replace my windlace and headliner on my 58. These retainers have a couple screws per section but these retainers seem to be pressed in and I?m unfamiliar with them.

[Swank]

Yes.   Just pulled all mine last week.    Get a fairly grippy pair of pliers and twist 90 degrees.   They are little wing looking things and should slid out when sideways.   Mine were pretty tight.  Also they do not actually hold the windlace, just the toothy strip for the headliner.  Theres a box type of clip under the toothy strip that holds the windlace.

[rar1947]

Fantastic!! Thanks for the quick reply. I guess my break is already over!

[rar1947]

Thanks again. Got them out already and see what you mean about the clips holding the windlace and that strip for the headliner.

[Swank]

Glad i could be a contributer.   Ive been a consumer on this site for forever it seems.   Planning on trying to get the windlace back in this weekend unless something gets sideways.

[rar1947]

I will be watching for updates on the install. Where  did you get your windlace from?  And headliner if you are doing that too.

[59meteor]

I have not installed them yet, but I recently bought my headliner and windlace from SMS Auto Fabric in Oregon.

[Swank]

I got the windlace from Macs.  Havent gotten the headliner yet.  I was tipped off, from this site, that new windlace doesnt have the wire,  and they were correct. So im going with Gasman826's method of 5/8x5/8 PVC trim as a tackstrip. 

Rar1947, your headliner remnants look like my original liner,  if it is/was, are you planning on replacing with the same, and were you able to find this pattern somewhere?

[rar1947]

Yes, my old headliner looked much like yours, stains and all. I have not located a similar pattern and still researching vendors. I will have to look into the pvc tack strip method. 

[59meteor]

Not sure if its the same for 57s, but on my 59 64F base model (Ford Custom 300 2dr sedan/Meteor Niagara 300), my original headliner is gray cloth fabric, but the fancier models had a off white vinyl headliner with small black "dots" that look like holes, but are not actual holes. At first I considered going to the more upscale vinyl headliner, but decided to stay with the cloth version. SMS offers both styles for 59s, so it would not suprise me if they also carried both versions for a 57. Funny thing is, my 2 old  57 Ford Sedan Deliverys were at least as "bare bones" as a Custom sedan, but they both have vinyl headliners. Has anybody ever seen a 57 wagon or Sedan Delivery with a cloth headliner? What material is a 57 Ranchero  made from?

[gasman826]

The link is to more tack strip PICs at #88

http://57fordsforever.com/smf/index.php?topic=6759.msg68282#msg68282

[Swank]

Minor update on the windlace, since ive been slack in starting a proper build thread.   Gasmans pvc tack strip deal worked great.  I just put them inbetween the original clips, used the air body saw to cut them flush, stapled right up.  I did not put tack strips down the wheel wells so i twisted some wire (20-24ga?) and re-enforced the seam of the lace. So far so good, ...if i dont knock it all out putting the rest of the junk back in.

[Swank]

take two...

[djfordmanjack]

Very nice job Eugene ! Liking how you painted the door openings and floor. looking great. I think SMS has the correct headliner material. their samples are spot on to the remnants I found in car. it is something like a woven bast material, not at all cloth or vinyl. ( at least for the wagons) it looks similar to the upper headiner pic.

[RICH MUISE]

looks......swanky!       very nice.