#1  
Old 06-08-2020, 10:17 AM
getmygoat's Avatar
getmygoat getmygoat is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Huntsville Alabama
Posts: 2,229
Default Replacing headliner rods a must?

Hi all,

Just wondering what the standard practice is for replacing headliner rods when putting in a new headliner? I believe I read on here a while back that some people believe there is a danger that the old rods could leech rust through to the headliner itself and therefore recommend replacing them. Mine have some light scale on them but not too bad. Also didn't see any bleeding through on the old headliner.

New rods are $65, would rather not spend if not needed. Is there a process to protect the rods so they don't cause problems later. For example, could I sand them down and paint them or clear them, etc?

Thanks!

__________________
1969 Judge, 4-speed, CR/Parchment, Quasi-Survivor, #'s match - under restoration
  #2  
Old 06-08-2020, 10:47 AM
stich's Avatar
stich stich is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Pioneer CA
Posts: 64
Default

Not necessary to replace. I sand and paint all rods before re-installing. I have an upholstery shop and have done this for 45 years. No rust through

__________________
www.recovery-shop.com
My upholstery shop
The Following User Says Thank You to stich For This Useful Post:
  #3  
Old 06-08-2020, 10:48 AM
Old Goat 67's Avatar
Old Goat 67 Old Goat 67 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: La., 67 GTO, Original Owner
Posts: 6,720
Default

Gibbs Protectorent, then paint if you want to, probably not necessary.

http://www.gibbsbrandlubricant.com/

  #4  
Old 06-08-2020, 12:22 PM
JLMounce JLMounce is online now
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Greeley, Colorado
Posts: 3,679
Send a message via AIM to JLMounce
Default

Just had my headliner replaced and re-used the original rods. My upholsterer made no such claims and had no issues re-using the original rods.

The original headliner in the car with the by then rusted bows showed no sign of discoloration or other issues that may have been caused by surface rust on the bows. In fact, the only reason it got replaced to begin with is because I was changing the entire interior color from dark green to black.

__________________
-Jason
1969 Pontiac Firebird
  #5  
Old 06-08-2020, 12:56 PM
ZeGermanHam's Avatar
ZeGermanHam ZeGermanHam is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,924
Default

Why not just wire-wheel or sand away any rust on the headliner rods and then prime & paint with rust inhibitor?

Also, FWIW, the headliner rods in my car had surface rust, but there was no discoloration on the original headliner when I removed it to restore the car. Regardless, there's no reason why you can't simply clean up the rods and use them again. Should only take an hour or two to do yourself.

__________________

1966 Pontiac GTO (restoration thread)
1998 BMW 328is (track rat)
2023 Subaru Crosstrek Limited (daily)
View my photos: Caught in the Wild
  #6  
Old 06-08-2020, 02:37 PM
389 389 is offline
Suspended
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 561
Default

Not necessary but mark the holes..

  #7  
Old 06-09-2020, 07:07 PM
rambow rambow is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Snohomish, WA
Posts: 220
Default

I don't like them when painted, they don't seem to slide as easy as bare metal (which is likely why the factory didn't paint them either) Also sometimes you wind up having the sand the paint off the tips where they go into the holes in the roof supports just to get them in.

I just wirewheel the hell out of them until they are shiny again and re-use.

  #8  
Old 06-25-2020, 09:14 PM
goatwgn goatwgn is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Chesapeake Va.
Posts: 1,387
Default

Easy to sand the rods like others have suggested. That is what I did with the rods in my Tempest Custom wagon when I put a new headliner in it back in 1990. No issues at all with it to date,and it is a parchment colored headliner. I used to do upholstery for a living,and I did probably a couple of hundred older car headliners reusing the rods, cleaned up.

  #9  
Old 06-27-2020, 07:43 PM
LATECH's Avatar
LATECH LATECH is offline
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Indoors
Posts: 594
Default

Smooth paint helps the listings glide and fall into place. Rusted ones will grab at the listings and make it harder to fit.

Sand them and paint them.

Also once they are painted , it will keep you from getting rusty stain/mess on your hands that will ultimately end up on your headliner when installing.

I painted mine.No regrets.
You need to do everything you can to keep the job CLEAN.

Also , I hung my headliner in the bows and clipped it to stretch it out.I let it set for a week, each day I would go out and tug it a little here, a little there.
It was stored in the box for 3 years before installing it so it had some creases in it. Maybe yours isnt creased. Even if it is, you can genmlty steam out the creases , or be patient and they will eventually dissapear on their own anyhow, becasue it was stretched neatly before gluing it down.

Not saying you have to do this, but it did help it to lay down pretty well before I glued it.

  #10  
Old 06-27-2020, 07:48 PM
LATECH's Avatar
LATECH LATECH is offline
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Indoors
Posts: 594
Default

Its not perfect, but my first one .It turned out decent.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	DSCN0495.jpg
Views:	167
Size:	51.2 KB
ID:	543603   Click image for larger version

Name:	DSCN0496 (1).jpg
Views:	160
Size:	44.6 KB
ID:	543604  

Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:43 AM.

 

About Us

The PY Online Forums is the largest online gathering of Pontiac enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Founded in 1991, it was also the first online forum for people to gather and talk about their Pontiacs. Since then, it has become the mecca of Pontiac technical data and knowledge that no other place can surpass.

 




Copyright © 2017