I found two sun visors stored ( lost) in my garage when I cleaned it to do the epoxy flooring. I mentioned that the passenger side seemed to be too long and interfered with the mirror, so I shortened it by 2".

My goal is to upholster them this winter. I am buying a 1956 Singer sewing machine, hoping it will be able to handle the job ! I've done a bit of research via interweb and think I need to build sleeves that will slide over the visors, then finish stiching them on by hand. Noticed yesterday that the passenger side metal over windshield seems to be warped a bit, so I am going to have to carefully try to straighten to be able to bolt the visor to it . Don't know how that got missed, but will have to deal with it.

I'll post a couple pictures soon, dentist awaits me.

Tom

 

Are the knockouts already punched on the passenger side? That may be why it's warped.

 

Ross, both sides were punched out with visors attached. It bows out so getting the visor to bolt up probably needs a little tweaking first.

Tom

 

Just a thought. Is it possible to turn the sleave inside out just to stitch it up then turn it back to install?

 

I will form the sleeve by sewing inside out, then top stitching but I think I will need to leave the end open to slide it over the visor then hand stitch the last section to close up the end.

I hope to start this next week when my machine arrives.

Tom

 

Are the visors supposed to pivot to the side as well as down , ie: covering the windshield or drivers/passenger window for instance ?

Tom

 

Yes, they swing from side to side. But, if the pivots are stuck, be VERY careful trying to free them! the bases are pot metal(zinc?) and will break very easily.

 

I've been shooting them with penetrating oil, but they don't want to pivot side to side. They will move up and down. I'll keep at them and have them working before I upholster them.

I did a 300 mile road trip today, in the truck as we are having a mild November with no snow to speak of. It will soon be time to put the truck in the garage, as it is useless on ice. Today I had to take a run at parking in an area where the snow had become compacted by traffic.

Tom

 

Yes, great weather lately for driving old trucks! Might change soon though...

The visor shaft is tapered where it goes through the base, some times a few taps on the end of the shaft will unstick it.

 

Scott;

I gave the assemblies a couple "taps", no go.

Would I get away with a little bit of heat on the mechanism ? I can always repaint, in fact the paint might be part of the problem.



Tom

 

I doubt that heat would help.

I had one stuck badly. Finally removed the retainer and spring from the end. Laid the base over the open jaws of my vise and tapped downward. It came right apart, not rusty, just stuck I guess. I cleaned both parts really well and put a tiny bit of lube on it.
Had to tack weld the spring retainer back on IIRC.
Seems to work fine now...

 

.....or get brand new chrome ones for 30 bucks each????.....


Ford Pickup Truck Sun Visor Arm & Bracket - Chrome - Ford F1 To Ford F8 | eBay

 

I am a believer in "if it came off the truck. it goes back on" or just too stubborn to admit defeat.

Tom

 

Then try a molasses dip?

 

Oz

For me or the visor ?

Tom