59 Sunvisor install

[Jack M.]

Can anyone tell me what the correct configuration is for a Sun visor Option for a 1959? I'm currently working on assembly of the front windshield and don't see how they attach. When I bought the car and the sun visor were in a box, looked original and I thought they just attached in the upper windshield mounting screws. Well, I was wrong! Looking in the assembly manual, it's not clear on actually how the inside visor ends bolt in. Did they have different upper channels to accommodate the visors or were they just modified?

Does anyone have a picture of mounted visors, so I can see the correct installation?

Jack

[Bob B.]

Re: 59 Sunvisor install

Jack,

Cars that originally had sunvisors had a hole drilled in the window frame and a nut threaded for a machine screw already installed behind it for that purpose. If your car doesn't have this, then it wasn't originally equipped with sunvisors.

It would be tough to dismantle your window frame to add the nuts behind it, so the easy option, if you decide to drill holes at random to put them in, you might hit the door post and then have to try again in another spot. If you drill holes, you will want to use sheet-metal screws and make the holes smaller than the screw. Start with a pretty small hole and work up, so you don't end up with holes way too big to fit a normal screw.

Here are some suggested measurements. From either end of the frame segment to outside holes: 1/2". This is a little farther in than on the originals so as to miss the door post. From either end to center holes: 16-1/2". Using a soft tape measure like for fitting clothing, from inside windshield around to the outside holes: 1-7/8" and from inside windshield up around to the center holes: 1-5/8".

The critical part is to not hit the door posts when drilling the outside holes. If your window frame has a bit of clearance between it and the door post, try sticking a paper clip with a bent end into it and see if you can feel for the edge of the door post.

Original visors have a very minimal heat weld around the edge. I trimmed mine using my bench grinder as you can control that a lot better than using scissors. Then touch up the edges with a magic marker or sharpie that matches your visor color. See also the pic attached.

Bob

[Jack M.]

Re: 59 Sunvisor install

Bob,

Thanks for the info! Great instructions to getting the visors mounted! I have the windshield apart and could pilot a hole before I assemble. It just seemed unlikely that the factory would do such a thing for the visor option. I learn something new about the history of this car everyday!

So, based on your instruction and the picture provided, it looks like the end screw is actually tapped into the end of the post covered by the SS molding, is that correct? I only want to make one hole, just making sure I understand before I jump!

I guess I really need to make a decision about whether I should add or not. This car must not have been optioned with visors or the posts are not original. Well, I guess I will never know?

Best Regards,

Jack

[Jack H.]

Re: 59 Sunvisor install

"It just seemed unlikely that the factory would do such a thing for the visor option."

Think for a moment... If all cars were built to go either way (sun visor option equipped or not), then owners of non-visor equipped cars would be staring at four empty/ugly holes on the reveal molding of the windshield!

Does it make more sense to you now that cars not originally factory equipped with sunvisors would lack mounting provisions?

[Bob B.]

Re: 59 Sunvisor install

Jack,

It does look like the screw is tapped into the door post, but I haven't seen one apart. If you do that option, you'll be closer to a factory-type job, but be sure to make the hole in the molding closer to the edge and not the 1/2-inch I recommended for just tapping into the molding itself. You might want to see how easy it is to make a hole and tap it in the door post before you drill a hole in your trim. If you have the molding off, you can put nuts behind the center holes, but you'll have to have some way of adhering them so they don't come off when the molding is back on. Of course, it's easiest to just drill a hole and let the sheet-metal screw take care of it.

Bob

[Richard T.]

Re: 59 Sunvisor install

Jack,
If your going to install visors I think your much better off finding the correct upper stainless that has the nut plate for the inner mounting holes spot welded in. Your upper stainless without the plate can be resold for the same or more money to re coup the cost.
Once you have the correct upper stainless the outer mounting holes can easily be located, drilled and tapped into the side posts. In the end you'll wind up with a better job . Rich 2276

[Jack M.]

Re: 59 Sunvisor install

Rich,

Sounds like a smart move. This should help in preventing damage to the posts or the SS.

I really appreciate everyone's advice. Glad to be a member!

Jack