Re: KPack's 1954 Panama

Posted by kevinpackard On 2020/6/13 0:24:04

Headliner Removal

I was dreading this job, and it was about as unpleasant as I expected. The first challenge was getting past the many layers of trim to get to the headliner. These screws haven't been used in 60 years and they were not in good condition. On the sunshades, 5 out of 6 mounting screws (tiny things) broke immediately upon mild pressure with a screwdriver...even after soaking for two days with PB blaster. That was the first sign of trouble.

The trim over the windows was also difficult to remove. The screws were tough, and some were rusted. I eventually won the battle though. Some screws will not be reusable, so I'll have to find some that are similar when the time comes to put everything back together.


One I exposed the edges of the headliner, I popped it off the old glue that was holding it down. Then I just ripped it off the bows. It was so fragile that it came down easily.
<img src="https://pryzyw.bn.files.1drv.com/y4mTHbeoUkzjNSIklii_5KsueD-4zEEtBYnC-CzSoUQxW76hxOVYivaX0khc4qBtRl84kVd49Dq4m33DLfFPu1p3bkfcopoNyJg939_haZz4TL3Mq-0GLtXG1TdVMgk4znmJUbrGl5V_KsFWlMEDmtIlGZeNRxI9oSCRQB8IyOVG-hKLoTQgvvoqomdGrJgdoPfzMOktF_Aj857fc8JgMuLAA?width=1024&height=768&cropmode=none" width="1024" height="768" />

And here's the other half of the nest that was in the front of the headliner. The amount of stuffing that the mice brought up here was unbelievable. And the amount of mouse poo was insane.
<img src="https://pry1yw.bn.files.1drv.com/y4m3yhPqvc2h8C2na5gz1UpXjdqYOhuEpr98e0gwyIoz1IEH1mNEd2RR1VOFMy7LNIQsmiXwPI16vNiAZXcjuRx8tPWXcqBP0CYSq8qlivx2NRZpn_00LmQTz-KD96QcD_ukAOY9mbZ8mcDp7pzCKfR8S_RA5PFGvs1ZGqcj5A7PKXDHof_P3-5nwXjfjAP80rNqv2YpXE4gQXyxrM9d23wQw?width=1024&height=768&cropmode=none" width="1024" height="768" />

The original asphalt-like insulation was up there but mostly unattached. It pulled down easily. There was a ton of surface rust underneath it, so maybe a problem with condensation?? The bows are also pretty rusty, but should be able to get cleaned up and painted.
<img src="https://p7yxyw.bn.files.1drv.com/y4mS3ZzXUlYPvUw2KJZuwP2mpprH393ZMAIu_o7R1ad_xzhMWMmU_kFS7aaJHLan6r4gVHUX4jjxZ6jNIRW_rF7A3iYR09xDiopj01Bk_1K6VQOVnfhcV1qdX1JZsJc_XaKOpAYpvXEMAISqbqpsWKB3MDQVIW6aWwOaLCAMHuuL6vq5sZNqqVmHJqbe_ojr-vm7YRmUhVeWgP4uERuV2swDA?width=1024&height=576&cropmode=none" width="1024" height="576" />

The biggest issue is up at the front of the roof where the huge mouse nest was. There is bad rust here that I was not expecting. I haven't found rust anywhere else on the car, so I was shocked to see this. I actually think it's from mouse pee....it probably kept this area moist for years. That thing on the left of the picture is where the sunshade mounts (driver's side), complete with broken screws.
<img src="https://p7yvyw.bn.files.1drv.com/y4mOtu99S2lzcnlNV8s8q3Pa8Y_jiGDguDy9TnLpQM3sk5loaheogKoVzez9WG5VJMVnOQnzZfX-PTk3HZ_3b0YH7jNcIJnNewvqT09E5F5Ubc_Bv1Q3pkxbR-9FeJWUMs1DdscMOJTPc154ZgKgvKOWqwvUZBKpagfL9_mC31kldgzfHN3Z25iZMUFfNbq356k6ptzQc6JFqKz29kN2nay8A?width=1024&height=768&cropmode=none" width="1024" height="768" />

So I am not sure what I need to do to clean this rust up. For the bulk of the roof I plan to use a wire wheel/brush in an angle grinder to clean it up, then apply POR-15 over the entire thing. But the front part is way worse on the driver's side where the nest was. I don't know if I can get it all the way down to clean metal. Advice???

-Kevin