VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 Headliner tack strips

I have a 1948 Chev Fleetmaster coupe and I have to replace all the dried out and rotten tack strips for the headliner, what do you people suggest as a replacement? is there something better then the stock cardboard ? who sells good repalcements??thanks very much :)

The trim shops used a soft plastic strip.

As Gene said. I got mine from Hampton Coach. When I ordered mine, the sales person informed me it requires two layers of theirs for the proper thickness for the '48. Worked well. When I installed the headliner/wind lace I used staples long enough to go through the first layer and into the second to help stabilize the two as they are slick and want to move.

Thanks for the info , I read were some people use fan belts,,,,,sounds like it would work well??anyone use fan belt material?

I use the oem style cardboard strips available from Restoration Specialties in Pennsylvania. Works great.

Chev Nut
Would the soft plastic tack strip be installed with contact cement?
Thanks- Mark

What I did was put a little silicone bead in first then the first layer. Another bead then the second layer and bent over the little tabs to hold in place.

Thanks Russell
Looks great. did you use tack strip on the upper inside of front and rear window frames as well? As there is no channel it would have to be glued really well I assume. Or perhaps there is another method of securing the headliner there. I'm not finding much info so I appreciate your feedback.
Regards-Mark

Sorry so late. I just found your question. This is how it was originally. I did not find a answer as to what to use for this. I decided to use 1/8 inch non-tempered Masonite ripped to what I thought was the right width. I applied contact glue and slowly worked it in place. Also used very small (#4) flat head screws, pre-drilled hole, every 4 inches. You might notice the old was stapled in place.

When I installed the headliner I used a staple gun with staples I ground down to shy 1/8 inch. Have no idea what others have done but this worked for me.

This might help.