The Great Ms. American 3.14159 Headliner Installation Caper

Originally Posted by FEandGoingBroke

#1: Good Luck!

Hey Gary,
Thanks. With all the help, we shall overcome.

#2: Wrinkles AND Sag's are the hard parts.

The 1964 Ford and Mercury Shop Manual tells how to install the Headliner. As was mentioned, it all looks VERY straight forward. NOW, if SMS has just made the Headliner correctly...

#3: The Bow TIPS are color coded on the drivers side I believe. Black, pink etc... Pull one out and examine closely, then simply write color on roof with pencil next to hole...

I've looked carefully. The COLOR is on the Passenger's Side end of the Bow, but it is soooo faded. And since it doesn't show, am going to just repaint them. I'm thinking Red, White, Blue, Gold, and Black. Red, White, and Blue for Ms. American, and Gold and Black for Ford.

#4: You're back to your mind bending, quote rendering, not so subtle, hard to read, headache causing posts, that I love you for! Keep it up

If I don't do it, who will?

#5: Headliner Adhesive (with L-M-H settings on the nozzle) It's an auto parts store thing about a 16 ounce rattle can of it which often carries an Orange (colored not flavored, please do not lick it) label.

I'll look for it. I seldom check a rattle-can for flavor.

#6: when cleaning out the gutter use a THIN regular screwdriver or similar tool, but be cautious about lead seams and/or rusted spot welds so you do not part a seam of metal by accident. (followup with wire wheel on a Dremel type tool to cull the rust)

Whomever put the silicone caulk in the front "gutter" completely filled it up. That's going to come out as well. I'll get some "BEFORE", and "AFTER" JPGs.

#7: 800 EZ is a good and proper sealer for the rain gutter, and I highly recommend it.

Obtainable from NAPA and/or AutoZone? I'll check.

#8: I'm done flappin' my phalanges, have a nice day and I am Glad to find you well! FE

Thanks for the phalanges flappin' Gary. I'm in full "let down" mode. I hadn't let myself notice how tired I was from the past eight months.

QUESTION: Is there a way to clean out the volume UNDER the Fresh Air Grille in front of the Windshield?

Happened to have opened the Fresh Air Vents on the way to Trinity yesterday, and LOTS of dried up Weeping Willow Tree Leaves came out of both the vents, and got all over the Front Foot Wells. It is almost certain that there are more in that space. And where are the Drain Holes for the Fresh Air Inlet Grille? Does THAT need cleaning too?

Anyway, it's supposed to rain here tomorrow, but it looks doubtful at this time.

Thanks again.

JC

the fresh air intake is under the grill in front of the windshild. the grill is removable, but taking it out could include scratching the paint. if you reach in behind the hood springs you can feel a hole near the top of the cowl. it is smeared with putty from the factory. if you put a hose in the grill, the water will wash out debris through these holes. you will also find out if the heater box to firewall seal is good

Originally Posted by galax-z

the fresh air intake is under the grill in front of the windshield. the grill is removable, but taking it out could include scratching the paint.

Hey Mr. G,
At this stage, scratched paint is NOT a worry.

if you reach in behind the hood springs you can feel a hole near the top of the cowl. it is smeared with putty from the factory. if you put a hose in the grill, the water will wash out debris through these holes.

I'll give these a check in a few minutes as Ms. American needs to be covered for the night.

you will also find out if the heater box to firewall seal is good

As a matter of fact, the Heater Box on a 1964 is a self contained unit, and is connected to the Firewall by but four nuts. There is no Firewall Seal.

The only places that it could leak is through the Fresh Air Vents, and if that could happen it would happen when the car is driven in the rain.

Thanks for the information. I'll let you know what I find.

JC

the seal i was talking about is the boot thing that seals the box to the air intake

The grille thing just in front of the windshield can be removed also. With this removed you are able to stick a wet/dry vacuum into it to clean it out. While it is apart you can also recalk any seams that are now cracked and if you will attach a good quality screen wire to the underside of the grille you can prevent the leaves from getting in there to begin with.

If you notice at the lower edge of the front fenders, just in front of the door, a lot of Galaxies will have some rust through! That is because the debris that enter through that grille usually collect at the lower edge of the fender at that spot.

Scott...

I totally didn't even notice the 64's cowl came off!!! That's awesome!

Take it off then clean clean and caulk!

I'll look for it. I seldom check a rattle-can for flavor.

some people are color blind and a bit retarded...

Good luck! Get some rest!

Originally Posted by FEandGoingBroke

some people are color blind and a bit retarded...

Good luck! Get some rest!

FE: You shouldn't talk about yourself like that FE.


JC: I keep saying maybe one day I'll win the lottery or some long lost relative I never knew will leave me gazzilions but so far neither has happened. Of course there is a better chance of the relative than the lottery since i have yet to buy a ticket.
As for the speeding, was only givin ya a hard time, gotta loose the beast now and then and it's been a long time and needed some carbon blown out.

I need to get a new buffer myself, mine is starting to smell in short amount of time like overheating. But til it quits.... Of course i might be only 1/4 of the way done with the hood when it does as seems to happen!

JC I used to work for an upholster who made me do headliners we used 3m 90 spray adhesive. I never did a bow headliner but did many of the newer types the 3m adhesive will work great on the insulation you spray it on the roof and on the insulation wait till it gets tacky and put it together once it's together you won't be able to move it.

Originally Posted by galax-z

the seal i was talking about is the boot thing that seals the box to the air intake

Hey Mr. G,
Oh THAT seal!

Well, out of all the stuff that was done on Ms. American, the installation
of THAT piece was probably the NICEST piece of work that was done.

As you may or may not have read about the Heater/Defroster Unit Restoration, when the H/D U was removed, there WAS no Accordion Pleated Boot there. There was just a band of metal that was gooped up with "DumDum" (the ubiquitious Gray Adhesive Caulk used in so many places).

A NEW Accordion Pleated Boot was obtained from Greg Donahue, and installed with a custom made Rubber Gasket, and then when the H/D U was installed, it was figured out HOW to get it to fit PROPERLY over the Flange on the H/D Unit Fresh Air Inlet.

This was done by taking off the Grille on the bottom of the H/D Unit, where the Fresh Air enters into the Passenger Cabin, and reaching up through the H/D U and pressing the Accordion Pleated Boot onto the Fresh Air Inlet Flange from the INSIDE.

Alas, that piece of work is almost totally un-viewable, and therefore
un-JPG-able. But lying on my back after having reinstalled the Fresh Air
Inlet Grille, I had this feeling of satisfaction knowing that it had been
done probably BETTER than NEW, and should last a LONNNG time.

I went out last evening and before putting the VizQueen and Tarp over Ms.
American tried to feel behind the Hood Hinges for the opening of which you
spoke, but found them mostly inaccessable because the space between the
Hinges and the Fenders is smaller than my forearm.

I was thinking that I could possibly clean out that area using a metal Tape
Measure that could be inserted through the Fresh Air Inlet Grille, and
"snaked" through that region seeing as to how it would be flat and flexible.

Will let you know how THAT goes.

JC

Originally Posted by one37tudor

The grille thing just in front of the windshield can be removed also. With this removed you are able to stick a wet/dry vacuum into it to clean it out.

Hey Scott,
That's what I was hoping to hear.

While it is apart you can also re-caulk any seams that are now cracked

When I take off the grille, I'll check on the seams.

and if you will attach a good quality screen wire to the underside of the grille you can prevent the leaves from getting in there to begin with.

GREAT idea!

If you notice at the lower edge of the front fenders, just in front of the door, a lot of Galaxies will have some rust through! That is because the debris that enter through that grille usually collect at the lower edge of the fender at that spot. Scott...

I'll check that too.

Weather here is OVERCAST. Supposed to rain this afternoon, tomorrow, and Friday.

Thanks for the info.

JC