Headliner installation

[1940plymouth]

I am new to this forum, but not new to the old Plymouths, as I have a 1940 Plymouth P-10 Business coupe, which I have had now for 20 years. It should have been junked, but I liked the body lines and it ran. I have been driving it for better than 11 or 12 years when the weather here in the Catskills of New York permits.

I have a headliner and windlace that I would like to install. Do I install the windlace with the carpet tacks before I install the headliner. It would seem that I would have to attach the windlace first before I put the metal pieces with the serrated teeth back on, then the headliner is pushed gently over those teeth with a blunt plastic putty knife.

Starting at the rear window and working forward is the general game plan I would think.

How close am I in my thinking?

Thanks,

Bob

[Norm's Coupe]

Sounds like you have the right plan. However, when I installed my headliner in my P15 I didn't use the tacks. Was easier and quicker to use a staple gun and staples. I used a plastic putty knife to push the headliner up under the serrated teeth over the doors.

Where glue was required such as around the rear quarter windows I used double sided carpet tape. Was cleaner and neater that way.

[Rodney Bullock]

I wish I could help you, I have a 1940 coupe however mine is a P-9 Roadking. my Headliner was done by a pro. I do know that it's a very tight fit. The bows are very important. I also know that my rear window was removed to install it because I don't have trim around my window I think the P-10 does have a garnish moulding around it. Let's see some pic's of your Plymouth.

[Normspeed]

I'm glad you brought this up. I have a fresh headliner and windlace that came with my Suburban. I've been looking at those serrated pieces and wondering how in the world to go about this. Also, is it a good idea to take the serrated parts out and re-point the serrations or just use as the factory used? Some of mine look kinda flattened.

[Norm's Coupe]

I'm glad you brought this up. I have a fresh headliner and windlace that came with my Suburban. I've been looking at those serrated pieces and wondering how in the world to go about this. Also, is it a good idea to take the serrated parts out and re-point the serrations or just use as the factory used? Some of mine look kinda flattened.

Norm,

Those metal serrated pieces over the door is one reason it took me awhile to get the headliner back in. When I took those out of my coupe they were rusty. When I cleaned them off the one over the drivers door was rusted out to the point it had holes in it. Looked for a couple of years for those pieces to turn up on ebay. When they did turn up the bidding got up to over $50 or more for them. So.............finally after a couple of years I made new ones myself. The black one is the original that had hole rusted in it. You can see it had a pretty good spot rusted out right in the middle. The unpainted one is the new one I made before I painted it.

[Normspeed]

Nice metal work. Mine may be a little different design, I'll try to post a pic. Seems like mine have quite a few little wedge shaped points punched in the metal.

[Norm's Coupe]

Nice metal work. Mine may be a little different design, I'll try to post a pic. Seems like mine have quite a few little wedge shaped points punched in the metal.

Norm,

Mine have the serrated teeth too. Those are on the backside and can't be seen in the picture I posted. Also, never took a picture of the other side. Actually, cutting those teeth was the most time consuming part of making the new piece.

[1940plymouth]

Thanks everyone, my wife and I installed the driver's side last evening, and started the passenger side. Hopefully I can finish it today. I used the staple gun to hold the windlace in place, then used carpet tacks to finish.

My metal peices were all in good shape except I had lost the lower one for the driver's side. I made one by reversing the passenger side one.

I didn't make the teeth the same, but close, so hopefully it will hold the headliner when the time comes.