Headliner install question

I am planning on trying to install a new headliner in my 66 Coronet 500 and I have found some great install tips to make it a good install, but I have never done this job before and the one thing that I have heard different opinions on, is if you should remove the windshield and rear window glass to make it easier to install the headliner. I will be removing the front windshield to replace it and to also remove my dash shell to paint it, but I wasn'r going to remove the rear window glass unless I need to for the headliner work.

Thank you in advace for help from anybody who has done this install in the past.

Richard

I've never done one with the glass out. Really isn't all that big of a deal. But if you're going to remove the windshield anyway, you might as well pull it before doing the headliner. Pulling the glass without breaking it (especially if its installed on the butyl tape) is a real hassle

On the 66 Coronet hardtops, they use rubber gaskets on both the windshield and the rear window glass, but I will be dealing with the cars original 43 year old glass and gaskets, so that will be interesting. I am planning on having a glass company remove the glass though, as that's a task I don't want to deal with. I also worry about the new reproduction window gaskets not sealing as well as the originals. Have you heard of any problems with that issue?

By the way Tem, what do you think about these headliner installation tips?

http://www.restorick.com/tech/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5

Richard

That's a pretty good writeup. I haven't had to use any heat to tighten one up after install. But this is Texas, and all you have to do is park one outside and it will work itself out.

I had my windshield and backlite both "professionally" reinstalled with new rubber gaskets. The glass guy told me he had done hundreds of installs on early MOPARS, and that if they were to be installed with fresh new gaskets, that they could go in "dry", without butyl or any kind of glazing or sealer. However, AFTER he completed the installation, he informed me that the gaskets that I purchased must have been some "cheap china junk", and that he wouldn't guarantee the job against leaks. In fact, he virtually guaranteed me that they would leak, and leak they did! When I asked him why he didn't use any sealer if the gaskets fit so poorly, he said he had 4 more quick urethane jobs that day, and didn't have any more time to spend on my car., He was also doing my car on the "side" through a mutual friend, you know, cash job, no receipt, no tax.
I had to reseal the glass, myself, between the seal and the channel, and then between the seal and the glass itself with ALOT of 3M Bedding and Glazing compound. Front and rear.
If you glass doesn't leak , and it isn't fogged up around the edges, I would leave it alone. Unless of course you have a good glass guy that you trust, which I didn't.:(

I hear you about the sun, I'm in Phoenix Arizona!

Richard

One problem that some times pops up is with the glass itself. In the case of a replacement windshield for a Lil Red pickup (read any of the truck from early 70s through early 80s) the replacement glass is NOT as thick as the original. SO installed "dry" there is no way it won't leak. I don't know that that's the case in B bodies. I had a PPG windshield installed in my 69 Bee with a new (Mopar) seal. It was done by a "pro", was done "dry", and didn't leak.

Well, that answers my question on if I should remove my rear window glass or not. As mentioned, it's the original glass and gasket and both are in excellent condition and do not leak, so I guess that I will just fight with the headliner to get it installed, rather than removing the rear glass. I do need to remove the front windshield though, as it's pitted after 43 years and I also need to remove my dashboard assembly to restore all of its parts and pieces and to give it a new coat of paint, so I will make SURE that I hire a glass company that understands what's involved on these older Mopars. I had a guy a few months ago that replaced the original windshield on my 1999 Ram Sport Quad Cab after a rock damaged it on the freeway and he did an excellent job on my truck. He also looked at my Coronet and said that he could do that work also, as he had quite a bit of experience on doing the older cars and knew how to make them not leak. I will just have them remove the windshield for now and then have them back to install the new glass after I complete all of the rest of the work I need to do on the interior. I also hope that they can match the factory color tint that all of the rest of my original factory glass has. Do you guy's see any problem with that?

Thanks VERY much for your help guy's, I appreciate it very much! :yes:

Richard