Headliner Tack Strip Above Windshield

[Joe Flanagan]

Can anyone tell me how thick the tack strip is supposed to be above the windshield? I would also like to know how it attaches to the sheet metal. Mine was long gone when I got the car. It looks like the tack strip was stapled to the metal. I have new tack strip from Restoration Specialties, but it is too thick to use in that location because it will interfere with the windshield garnish. Luckily, that stuff comes in laminated layers, and you can separate them to get the thickness you want. Another question: Does anyone know how the headliner is attached to the tack strip above the windshield? It looks like it would have to be staples because I believe the original tack strip was probably too thin for nails. 

[Andydodge]

Joe, when I was looking to replace some of the tack strip on my Oz 1940 Dodge I needed some for the area above the door openings plus on the side & above the front windscreen. As I live in a country town there is not much in the way of auto places around here but I asked everywhere and was able to get a neoprene rubber seal strip thats 1/2" wide and about 3/8"th thick from a local glazier......its a sealing strip that they use in household door installations, very cheap & I bought a couple of metres worth. The original stuff on my car was held in the channel by sheetmetal flaps that were bent over and some nails. I used a few small self tapping screws every few inches which worked fine..............the new stuff is pliable enough to be bent to suit the channels and also hold the staples that the upholsterer used for the new roof lining.......regards, andyd      

[Joe Flanagan]

Thanks, Andy. 

I have those metal flaps on my car, but not above the windshield. 1/2" wide and 3/8" thick sounds about right. I think the only tough part will be finding staples that don't bottom out on the sheet metal. 

[Andydodge]

Joe, I just went & remeasured this stuff........its 9/16th by 1/4 thick..I was close........I trimmed its width down with a Stanley knifeand chamferred the edges so it would sit in the channel curvature and just used small self tapping screws...........I wouldn't bother using staples to hold it, the screws worked o/k, you could maybe use some hi strength glue but I preferrred the screws, a mechanical way to hold something on is my preference.......lol.......andyd  

[Joe Flanagan]

That makes sense, Andy. How did you attach the headliner to the tack strip? 

[Joe Flanagan]

OK, so what I wound up doing is separating one layer off the tack strip I got from Restoration Specialties, which makes it the perfect thickness. I countersunk a bunch of holes and then drove in some self-tapping screws as Andy did. It's a good, strong foundation for the headliner. I temporarily fit the windshield garnish into place to make sure everything will go together correctly and all is good. 

[48ply1stcar]

Windshield tack strip

 

Sorry this took so long, but I would send a picture of the strip above my windshield.

 

 

 

[Joe Flanagan]

Thank you. That's about how I figured mine was attached. It looks like my work-around is going to work, though.

[Andydodge]

Joe, apologies for the late reply.......I just used small self tappers every 3-4 inches to hold the strip on and the upholsterer used staples to attach the roof lining to this strip..........worked well......andyd

[Joe Flanagan]

Yep, worked for me, Andy. Thanks.