VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Upholstery - Interiors & Glass Headliner Listing Wires

I have ordered new interior parts for my 35 Chevrolet Master. Instructions will no doubt come with the package. However, I am trying to have everything else ready ahead of time.

The listing wires I removed that held up the old headliner are rusty and were wrapped in a spiral fashion with some kind of paper. The wires are also curved. I presume I should replace the wires because of the rust (though I suppose I could grit blast and paint them).

Questions:
Is the wire a spring steel like piano wire?

Do the wires need to be wrapped? With what?

Should the wires all be pre-curved or do you just curve them during installation?

I could be wrong but I would clean the old ones up and paint them without straightening them. As for the wrapping I would suggest using a similar type paper as came off or any rust that occurrs later may leach through to the new headliner.
They are generaly spring steel but have slight curve to start with.
Tony

Thanks tonyw. Maybe I could use some kind of tape to wrap the wires (after cleaning and painting). Any other suggestions before I start on them?

Concur with Tony on everything but rewrapping the wires with paper tape. On my '40 I used light weight acid free plastic tubing. Got the tubing at Lowes or Home Depot can't remember which. Hope you marked the wire for position as you took them out. On the '40 each one was slightly different in length. Don't if this is true in your case.

Yes Mike, each wire was marked as I removed them. Each one seems slightly different, either in length or shape.

Thanks for the tubing idea. That had not occurred to me. The tubing would help prevent any possible future rust from leeching throught to the headliner.

Sorry for the repeats! I think it is AOL doing me in again.


Deleted extra posts. - Chevykid