Windlace

rmk57 · 2009-01-28 13:31

Anybody know of a good supplier for windlace? My car came without an interior, so I'm guessing it came with
the cloth covered stuff. Also does the windlace have to be put in before installing the headliner?

JPotter57 · 2009-01-28 13:46

You can get it from Concours Parts, Dennis Carpenter, Macs, Dearborn Classics. I think Dearborn has a fair price on it. Also, yes, the windlace does go in before the headliner. Good luck, that stuff sucks unless it has a good wide edge sewn onto it...

JimNolan · 2009-01-30 07:16

RMK57,
The correct windlace will be hard to find unless you get it from Labarron Bonney. Most all the good places, ( Jerry's classic car, Dennis Carpenter, etc ) will be ordering in from Labarron Bonney. That's the Company that bought ABC. I thought since SMS made good door panels I'd order the windlace from them. Ninety dollars later I had the wrong stuff, Oh well, live and learn.
Installation of my windlace came after the headliner. But, I've got a Fairlane 500, it may be different than a Custom. I do have a tip for Windlace installation though. Thread safety wire thru the windlace flat area. Mount the windlace normally with the clips, then tie safety wire to the wire that is threaded into the windlace to a predrilled and tapped screw and tie it off. Do this all along the areas that the windlace might get hit with you legs or butt getting in and out of the car. It'll keep the windlace from pulling out when kids climb in and out the back for sure and when you crawl into the floorboard to reach up under the dash your body won't pull out the windlace in front. Jim

gasman826 · 2013-04-08 20:30

I know this post is really old but so am I. To answer Jim's comment about the installation order of windlace, I was just studying the assemble manual and the windlace goes in before the headliner in the Customs. For my question, what size is the windlace...1/2, 5/8 or 11/16"? I'm getting ready to order the unfinished material/cord so I can sew up my own. I also have to order the attachments for my sewing machine.

RICH MUISE · 2013-04-08 20:54

Gary...I used 1/2" rubber core for mine. I got some from my local upholstery guy. I tried using the rope-type such as used in furniture and that was a disaster. My upholstery shop guy here said the foams are no good also..only way to go was rubber.
The windlace material can be glued rather than sewn also, but I suspect the sewing will give more flexibility than the gluing that I did.

clusterbuster · 2013-04-08 21:39

I bought my windlace from Mac's and it is just like the original. I bought the 3M FAST TACK TRIM CEMENT and plan to glue it where ever I can. Yes it does go in before the headliner. I also bought new kick panels and the ad said the gray ones can be dyed. I cut them to fit, prepared them and applied a flexible primer surfacer. Shot them with acrylic lacquer interior semi gloss that I had mixed. They turned out rather nice.

gasman826 · 2013-04-09 18:10

Quote from: RICH MUISE on 2013-04-08 20:54
Gary...I used 1/2" rubber core for mine. I got some from my local upholstery guy. I tried using the rope-type such as used in furniture and that was a disaster. My upholstery shop guy here said the foams are no good also..only way to go was rubber.
The windlace material can be glued rather than sewn also, but I suspect the sewing will give more flexibility than the gluing that I did.

Now that you mention it, I remember you had quite a time of it. Is the 1/2" big enough? If you had to do it over again, would you glue or sew. The industrial sewing machines have an optional foot to install to do piping and windlace but they are specific to the size of material.

RICH MUISE · 2013-04-09 18:47

By the time you get a thick fabric over the core, it'll be at least 9/16. I never considered anything over 1/2", looked at 3/8 or 7/16..decided on the 1/2" for "performance" reasons although I personally would have prefered a smaller diameter appearance wise. I think I made the right choice...the 1/2" is a good size. The "problems" I had with it were related to attaching it.
I don't know how to sew so gluing was my only option and it worked quite well. I used the same weldwood contact adhesive as on everything else. Make sure you only apply the glue to the fabric..not the rubber. after I wrapped the fabric around the rubber, I worked my way down the windlace with pliers squeezing the two layers together right up against the rubber making a sharp inside corner.

Ecode70D · 2013-04-09 20:09

Jim.... I like that tip on the safety wire. At some time in the future I will have to open my back panels when I install my quarter panel stainless. That's when I will install the safety wire on the B post windlace.

Gary.... I ordered my complete upholstery kit from ABC before they sold out to Lebarron Bonney. The core of it it looks like a porous rubber with a strip of cardboard/paper down the center. The cloth cover fabric is wrapped around the rubber and sewed onto the cardboard. The diameter of the windlace bead is .550. The strip that is fastened behind the panel is .447 wide.

RICH MUISE · 2013-04-09 21:10

Jay...I'm surprised at the narrow width of the flange...I don't think my install would have been as easy if I had trimmed them that narrow...but I didn't use the oem attaching method either.

Ecode70D · 2013-04-10 19:39

Rich
I'm not happy with the narrow width of the ABC windlace attaching strip. It was not easy to install. That's the reason that I'm going to use Jim's safety wire tip. It's going to be fun weaving the safety wire through the three layers of material.
Jay

Frankenstein57 · 2013-04-10 19:55

I got mine at dearborn classics, no problems. I saw problems with the areas Jim mentioned, I fastened some plastic strips and used small screws to attach the windlace more securely. I'll try to dig up my pictures of this, Mark

JimNolan · 2013-04-10 20:22

Quote from: Ecode70D on 2013-04-10 19:39
Rich
I'm not happy with the narrow width of the ABC windlace attaching strip. It was not easy to install. That's the reason that I'm going to use Jim's safety wire tip. It's going to be fun weaving the safety wire through the three layers of material.
Jay

Jay, You'll appreciate this when after the cars finished and you have to crawl up under the dash and your rubbing your stomach on the wind lace but after you get through the wind lace isn't pulled out. Or, the kids are piling into the back seat and don't wait till you get the seat pulled up far enough for them to enter without rubbing the wind lace. Jim

Ecode70D · 2013-04-11 07:09

Jim
It has already started to pull out on the B post and the car has not even seen the street yet. I have been placing a few small items and new stuff that I don't want to get lost on the back tray. (Isn't it funny how parts seem to get lost/vanish? Well that's another story.) Just my reaching in the back to get things in and out has made my windlace start to come loose a little, and I am very careful doing things like that.
I remember getting headliners and windlace for 57-58 Fords from J.C. Whitney for less than a hundred bucks and never had a problem. Jay

gasman826 · 2013-04-11 08:07

The windlace attachment design is very poor. I am a novice upholstoyer but a good researcher. Both the upholstoy books and experienced, high end upholstoy shop owners scrap the OEM attachment. They suggest using a continuous band of wood or poly (attached with screws) around the perimeter of the door. I intend to use to OEM attachments and poly trimmed to fit between the OEM windlace attachment stands. I will staple the windlace continuously along the entire door opening.

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Windlace