MTFCA Forum

I have decided to install the upholstery/top before putting the coupe body back on the frame because access to the inside will be easier.

I have never installed any upholstery. The instructions received with the upholstery is limited. Therefore, any suggestions/guidance will be appreciated. I assume I will be asking specific questions as the installation proceeds.

I will be installing new bows.

We did the "first" upholstery work on the coupe today! We used 3M super 77 adhesive to glue the fabric to the back side of the tray. Applied the adhesive to both sides (steel and fabric).

The first two pics show the material that the kit has to cover the tray. The third one shows the area taped off getting ready to apply the adhesive, and the last one shows the finish product.

The next step is to glue the hard backed piece, shown in the first and second photos, into the bottom of the tray.

Sorry for the odd orientation of the photos. I don't know why it won't allow them to be oriented vertically.

Here is a pic of the tray in the coupe before we started the restoration. I should have included it in the previous post.

It is always best to cut the fabric big enough (about an extra 1” per side) to wrap around the backing panel. This will allow you to glue the fabric to the back of the panel. The reason for this is so you do not ruin a piece of fabric due to the contact adhesive soaking through the fabric and discoloring the upholstery fabric. With a brush, apply a 1” wide strip of contact adhesive to the back edge of the panel and a 1” strip of contact adhesive to the 1” edge that will make contact with the back side of the backing panel when you wrap it around. Let cure for 20 minutes and join the fabric to the backing. Sometimes the surfaces absorbs the glue so that it becomes necessary to apply another application in order to get a good bond. The cured adhesive on the fabric should appear darker and a little glossy and feel tacky, but not wet. If not enough has been applied, it appears dull and light in color and does not feel very tacky. When the one side is done, turn the panel around and do the opposite side from the one you just did in the same fashion. Be sure to pull very tight so there are no wrinkles before wrapping around the back and joining the fabric to the back side of the backing. When that is done, do the remaining two sides. Be sure the stripes are exactly vertical (up and down) and not crooked. If crooked, gently pull the fabric off and start over. Do not settle for imperfection. Jim Patrick

When you get to seats, Classtique upholstery has some good videos…

I am going put the headliner in with top wood in place. I have been told this makes the installation difficult. I would appreciate anyone who has done it sharing their experience.

I have the earlier 24 T Coupe and it was easier to put the headliner in first. It was easier to get the material tighter and the wood didn’t get in the way. There are those that have put the wood and top on first and installed the headliner in later but it was more difficult to tuck and tack with the wood already in place. It’s been a few years since I redid the Coupe and I remember getting advice that Ford put the headliner in first at the factory. Maybe others can respond to your question also.
You don’t have to and Ford didn’t do it but using chicken wire over the wood gives a nice smooth top. Some do it and some don’t.

If your car year uses beading just under the headliner your installation instruction might tell you to do it before the wood goes on. Good luck.

Just to clarify, I am leaving the existing wood frame in place and installing the headliner. I will install the top material after the headliner and the interior upholstery are in place. I understand some remove the wood frame and install the headliner on to it. My wood is in good shape, but I think the individual sections that make up the frame would come apart if it was removed.

The only part of the frame that will need repair is the end of one section that is shown in the second photo. I will cut out a small piece and replace it.

I think installing the headliner is going to be challenge!! Looking forward to some suggestions.

You are doing great! I have not heard of removing the wood and installing the headliner on it. I guess it could be done. On my 26 Coupe, I installed the headliner before putting on the top material but with the wood DEFINITELY in place and screwed down. Installing the headliner is not as bad as you might image, especially without the top material on.

Gegory, What instructions did you have to follow? The ones I have are confusing.

Here is a link to a series of videos of a guy who did his own upholstery installation on his Fordor without a kit. The top and interior videos are numbers 14-17.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... A9r00a57Cz

Here is some good information. Check it out. https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/5 ... 1215402100

This is how Ford did it.

Is the wood piece, that fits on to the front of the shelf, covered with material or is just painted?

Today, we installed the "first" piece of upholstery in the body!!! As a starter, it was installed just over the doors. We tacked the top of the piece on to the grove in the top of the wood frame. We used spray glue to attach the material to the side and "bottom edge" of the frame and on to the metal below it. It went well.

The instructions showed tacks being used to attach the material to the bottom edge of the frame. We tried this, but it was hard to get the tacks into the corner between the bottom edge and metal below it.

My upholstery came from Carters Cut & Cover back in 1980. I don't have the instructions anymore, but they were worthless anyway.