Wagon build

[doghows]

I will be very interested in your results. I am going to attempt all this myself as well. Headliners scare me. I want to try and do my own door panels and so forth. Keep me (us) posted. Good luck

[Luva65wagon]

Jeff - you have a few toys yourself there. Didn't know you were into motorcycles. And cool ones too.

And yes, please take lots of pictures when you put that in. I someday hope to do this in my wagon. And will do the Ranchero too, now. It's got a nifty headliner in it right now. Pictures to come, I'm sure, of that.

[doghows]

Roger I thought the custom western Naugahyde headliner was the key selling point for you?? After all the visors match??

[Jeff W]

I'm going to have a go at my own door panels as well. For $30 I bought the three yards material. Used some for my wind lace and have plenty to make some door panels. Here is a sample I was goofing around with. I found that a piece flat bar stock in a 400 F oven (I was making Pizza at the time) made a factory perfect impression in the vinyl.

The secret is covering the material with one layer of tin foil to keep the vinyl from sticking to the metal.

I'll work on some kind of falcon brand to give the panels a unique, but period look.

[Jeff W]

Thanks to Kenny, the headliner is in!.

It wasn't any harder than anything else I have done on the car.

Just patience and common sense. It's not perfect but looks pretty good for a couple of amateurs working in an extremely small garage when it is 55 degrees outside. I will try the steam through the dome light hole to see if that tightens it up a bit. (Update 2013... the steam did not tighten it up after installation ... i think the professionals steam while stretching during install)

Tips: Windshield out (Kenny is actually sitting on my dash while stretching the front- a full size version of the dashboard Jesus). A little glue goes a long way. Binder clips. Electric heaters. Tiny scissors. Two people really helped with some of the longer stretches... that is one long roof.

It took us about five hours including prep, looking for missing parts, lunch and breaks for fresh air and to check up on Brian's engine install (two houses away).

No reservations, just go for it. A large heated garage would have cut the time down to three hours. A Ranchero would take about 15 minutes. I don't know who started the "hire a professional" rumor... probably the professionals.

[redfalken]

Tips: Windshield out (Kenny is actually sitting on my dash while stretching the front- a full size version of the dashboard Jesus)...

As they say, do unto other's Falcons before you do unto yours! Always good to get in some practice. More room and a warm summer day would have helped but it wasn't too bad!

[doghows]

Looks good to me. It should tighten right up. Practice on a couple more and I wil let you know when I am ready for mine to go in...

[falcon cobra]

jeff,,I forgot to ask at the swap meet the other day, how your wagon is comming ? how did the paint come out ?
john h

[Jeff W]

jeff,,I forgot to ask at the swap meet the other day, how your wagon is comming ? how did the paint come out ?
john h

Your question couldn't have been timed better... Kenny and I just picked it up from the body shop an hour ago.

It's all the same color now and the tailgate shows no sign of bubbles.
There are a few tiny issues but I am much happier with it this time around than last. He even squatted down a bit more on the repaint (I asked him to) and put good coverage on the rockers and wheel well lips.

I can't wait to start putting the shiny stuff back on.

[Luva65wagon]

Jeff,

Your car has rear facing seats?

I wish I was as far as you are right about now.

[Jeff W]

Jeff,

Your car has rear facing seats?

Umm, yes it's a rare feature on the two door wagons... Don't worry, I have them strapped in with bungie cords.

[falcon cobra]

jeff I sure hope you didn't put a painting of kenny and the tent on your tailgate !...it sure looks good I really like the color...jh

[Jeff W]

jeff I sure hope you didn't put a painting of kenny and the tent on your tailgate !...it sure looks good I really like the color...jh

Actually that is my wife in the reflection taking the picture... she looks better in person.