'40 coupe - headliner question-III

[fordman]

my apology because I still can't post pictures (?) its been that way a week.

above the doors: the headliner is clamped across the top of the door with screws into a clamp/backing plate and turns up inside the car. I don't understand how that is done. Please explain.

thanks
fordman

[47Merc]

The screws only hold the clamping plate on, not the headliner.
If you remove the clamp plate you will see little teeth on the back of it facing upward. Clean the old liner from these teeth and re-install the plate making sure there is not much gap between the plate and the body.

After you have installed the headliner on the bows and fitted it in the car it will have to be tensioned front to back and then edge of the headliner will be hanging down above the door openings. You then get a dull edged scraper and push the edge of the liner up behind the clamp plate and the little teeth will hold it in place.

The windlace should also be fixed in place before you fit the clamping plates and the Headliner.

You may have to cut some material off the edge of the headliner before you push it in because there is only a limited amount of space behind the clamp plate. Also the reason for the dull edged scraper is because if you use a sharp one you may cut the material as you push it up.

[TJ]

You can buy a cheap "tucking tool" from LB to push the headliner under the retainer.

[19Fordy]

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As an addition to what 47Merc said, here's a few photos of how the windlace is installed in a 40 coupe. Be sure and make a 45 degree miter on the corners of the windlace. If you look carefully you will see the little screw holds for the clamping plate (called grabber rail #14 in the instructions below) which holds the headliner. The clamplng plate with the reverse claws goes on after windlace is installed and IS NOT shown in these photos. IT IS shown as item 14 in the instructions below. When installing the headliner BE SURE to allow enough material for the headliner to pull tight where the sunvisors screw on. The last photo is the tool used to tuck the headliner up underneath the clamping plate. I got it from Eastwood. I rounded off the corners of the metal blade and covered the blade with masking tape so as not to tear the headliner. Use gently and tuck in a little at a time. These 1978 instructions are from LeBaron Bonney when the entire interior upholstery kit, including the seats, doors and package tray cost $550.