headliner install

[58villager]

hey folks. getting ready to install headliner in the bermuda wagon. just ordered one today. anyone got any tips,do's,don'ts wad going to have someone install.but thought the price was a little steep. 600.00 to install(in a stripped body shell !!) thanks gerald

[RICH MUISE]

Lots of clamps. here's a link to my headliner install
https://57fordsforever.com/smf/index.php?topic=3085.msg18136#msg18136. scroll back to the top of that page for some ideas.

[abe_lugo]

I would say make sure your done light is wired in, make sure you have all the teeth or holders for tue section above the doors.

If you don't have the front glass in better. 
Rough fit your bows then number them.

Fit the sound deadened like the siless.  I got some from Amazon. 

Also check into wind lace but it can go in after. 

Make sure your glue is for headliner.  Or make sure your glue gun is not clogged.

FYI I have a  wagon with a decent headliner if you need pics.  The windlace is wrong on my doors and I bought replacement but have not gotten around to it.  But I did get a really great price from a local upholstery supply va the outrageous internet supplier prices.

[gasman826]

Also check into wind lace but it can go in after. 

Make sure your glue is for headliner.  Or make sure your glue gun is not clogged.

??

[RICH MUISE]

Those were my as well, Gary. The windlace has to go on first, and what is it you are gluing, Abe? Maybe the sound deadener? Speaking of which, make sure it is the lightest possible. There are no aerosol glues that will hold under a hot sun, and you don't want the insulation falling down into the headliner. The best adhesive is weldwood Landau roof adhesive. It sprays well with a cheap Harbor Freight spray gun. I think it has to be thinned down some with acetone.I used bubble wrap-type insulation with an aluminum facing. Got it at lowes. Even in the Texas sun, I have had zero issues with heat radiating from the roof. I do remember having a few areas where I used a hot glue gun to hold the headliner in places to get wrinkles out, but 98% of the fabric should be either stapled in place(I used wood strips....see my link above) or grabbed by those "toothy" thingies. Hopefully whoever removed the bows kept tract of the order where they belonged. thingies.

58Villager...what fabric did you choose?

[gasman826]

Glue may be used in the front and back.  The windlace goes in before the headliner.  The bows were originally marked on the left ends with color coded hash marks.  I can't remember where I read the hash mark decoding...service manual, assembly manual, ?

[Ford Blue blood]

As I recall it was in the assembly manual.  Do not have those books anymore as they went with the Ranchero.....yes the windless goes in before the headliner.  It is captured under the "teeth".

[RICH MUISE]

Yes, I forgot, on a sedan or hardtop,the headliner needs to be glued for sure on the back end to the glass flange. If I remember correctly, there is a strip for stapeling on the front header panel. Not sure about the back end on a wagon.

[abe_lugo]

Meant the glue for the front or rear.  But that was a 64 Ford wagon.  On my 57 the wrong type of wondlace was used.  So I may challenge myself to change it.   

If you do find wind lace you need to sew in the cardboard.  You used to be able to find it with a thin strip of cardboard.  That would make it easier to trap under the teeth.  I used a sewn in wire. It worked ok on the old wagon. 

[abe_lugo]

Windlace I found. It's was a great price.  Check small upholstery supply shops.  I seen some internet shops go from 3.00 a year to 12.00.

[gasman826]

Yep, the original windlace had wire re-enforcement.  To fasten windlace to the OE windlace stands requires re-enforced windlace which is hard to find or be custom made.  I chose to eliminate the OE stands and install more common tack strip and staple non re-enforced windlace.  I did find windlace foam with re-enforced tail for custom windlace.

[abe_lugo]

My wagon for ref.  I got this one like it is. 

[58villager]

hey folks. thanks for all the input on the headliner install. getting the headliner from acme headliners.off white non-perf. vinyl basket weave pattern. (seems like "pebble grain" pattern not available).install photos,etc pretty much what i had figured out, but still questions about over the rear quarter windows. seems to be a "plastic" strip stapled to the body just above the window openings. (very thin strip). maybe glue/staple to this?? once again,thanks gerald

[abe_lugo]

you know I removed the garnish to replace one of the side rear qtr glass and I think I only saw teeth like the ones on the front windshield headed that the headliner holds on to. I think the plastic tack strip might work, you may need to mount that with some screws, then staple or trap the headliner under it. I'll see if easy to pull and get you some shots  .

[RICH MUISE]

Is it similar to the thin strip over the windshield? (the passenger cars don't have that, but the wagons maybe do?)