I started removing my original headliner in my 55 F350 in preparation for putting cab clearance lights in place and insulation under the roof. I'd like to save the headliner and put it back in place. The reproduction grey cardboard headliner is plain cardboard and does not have the grain look that the original has. I have ordered a new rubber headliner holder.

I knew that thought there was a mouse nest above the headliner on the passenger side and now I think it is all over the headliner... but that is another story for a later time.

I had to take off the sunvisor. It was frozen and would not move so I took out the masonite part of the visor from the outer part to lube the arm and loosen it up. Anyhow the masonite is in incredible shape for being as old as me! The outer part isn't bad either. I will have to take it somewhere to get it stitched up.

 

Abe that's amazing for being a farm truck here in the north. They never got any special treatment other than parking them in a barn! I wish my visors would stay up gotta pull them and tap the holders so they stay up.

 

I did get it to move on the rod but it still won't pivot left and right where it is mounted. I used 3-in-1 penetrating oil and let it sit overnight.

 

Masonite, or as it used to be known, Swedish hardboard, is tough as nails as long as it stays dry. Unlike other products, it stays rigid and does not soften as it ages. It is a pain in the neck to nail into though because of its hardness. Back in the '70s when 4' x 8' paneling was all the rage, companies made theirs out of Masonite. Not only was it hard, it was heavy. Can't tell you how many times I hit my thumb because the first blow, the hammer bounced off of the nail.

Later!
Mr. Ed

 

Abe, my visor were both seized and would not turn or flip down. I ended up melting candle wax in the swivel point and they work great now.

 

In the early 70's I worked in a lumber yard. I loaded and delivered lots of plain Masonite, pegboard and paneling on Masonite. It was heavy but also very slippery when piled on top of each other. We had to be careful when loading it on our trucks and make sure it was tied down good before hauling it.
I got the pivot free this morning. Last night I used WD 40, 3-in-1 penetrating oil and this morning added PB Blaster and I was able to free it.

I took it to a local auto upholstery shop to see if he could stitch up the trim binding. He said he couldn't but recommended putting some glue under it to hold it in place.

 

Hey Abe could your describe or show me a better picture of the material for the sun visor. Mine is complacently gone and I have nothing to go by. I have not tried looking for reproduction ones on the internet yet. If they even make them? Thanks, Dave

 

The inside is made of Masonite. The outside cover is a gray painted cardboard with a gray vinyl strip sewn on to hold it together. I can't believe the shape of mine! The one in my 54 was toast when I got it in 1977. I bought a new visor when I got the truck painted in 1999. I kept the bracket. I painted it and the visor part slides on it.

Mid Fifty sunvisor: $24.95

 

It's almost bizarre that the cardboard and hardboard inside the cabs can stay in such great shape. We've recently put our original liner back into the '50 Merc after pulling it all out to rewire and it looks brand new. The truck sat in a barn in northern Alberta since at least 1979, without any real care and attention so that is kind of amazing. I never actually thought about the visor until reading some comments on here - again, it just works without any attention at all.


I remember helping my dad put up Masonite around the farm, and you're right - that stuff is dangerous when the nail goes flying, and the hammer bounces back at you.

 

I wish I was in that good of shape when I was 62.

 

My 55 does not have any leaks so there was little moisture in the cab. My 54 on the other hand was rusted out and the windshield leaked so by 1999 when I fixed it up, the sunvisor was in bad shape. The headliner was gone when I bought it from Grandpa in 1977.

You say you took out your original headliner and put it back in? I am trying to do the same to my 55. Any tips?

 

Abe - I wanted to get some pics pics of the liner in the cab to include here. Not much to to tell you that you probably don’t already know. With the seat out (and rear window previously removed) it was relatively easy to remove screws and slide the headliner out of the cab. Same going back in -didn’t even try it with seat in place.

 

Thanks, Dave. I know yours is different than the 53 to 56 truck's headliner, but the principle should be the same. And yours looks good.

 

Dave, I'm not quite clear on this part. Did you say you R&R'd the headliner with the rear window already removed? I'm wondering if it would add much difficulty with the window already installed.

 

The challlenge with the window in is that you have to get behind the seal with the headliner so having it out let’s you get the headliner in place and then place the seal. I saw a video where a guy was pressing the headliner into place with a tool of some kind, but since the window was out it was easier to put the headliner in, and then do the window and seal. It worked for us.