The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop 1956 exterior visor fitting, New update o

I bought a new visor several months ago and took it and my truck to a local paint and body shop. After a week they called me and said it would not fit. The curve in the visor did not match the curve of the roof and because they had tried to make it fit I could not return it. Well I've decided to try it again and ordered up another visor from a different company. Yah, I know. They probably all come from the same manufacturer. Well, holding it up to the truck the new visor also appears to not match the curve of the roof. It's looks like a lot more than holding it up, drilling the holes and putting in some screws. Any advice would be welcome.

Mickey - Can you share which product(s) you ordered and maybe some pictures of the mismatch situation?

Dan here are pictures of the visor but pictures holding it up would take three people. All I can say that when holding it up to the roof and with the two ends making contact at the right and left sides of the roof the center looks to be a couple inches below the center of the roof.

Mickey - Not sure if this may help, but below is a picture of the 1957 Chevy Accessory Installation Manual instruction page for the truck sun visor. Should be same process for your ‘56.

No idea if the piece you have has enough flex in it to install starting at the center per the instructions or not.

Maybe you could protect the mounting surfaces with painters tape and attempt a test fit, with some helping hands of course.

Not a one person job IMHO.

Took the new visor and truck to local paint and body and this time he wouldn't even try it. What's with these new visors? Would really like to hear from others that have installed one of these new visors.

Mickey- I put one on the 57 3100 of mine, or I should say I had one put on by my body man. He freely said it was a PITA, to install but he got it done. No specifics. delky dave in , cooler now, WYO

Thanks Dave that helps. I hope some others speak up. If this poor fit is common it might cause others to think twice about installing one. You read the instruction sheet that Dan posted above and it sounds like a simple installation. But in addition to the cost of the visor there's also going to be the cost of a paint and body shop.

Mickey - It may help fellow Bolters, who might be considering purchasing/installing one, to know the source(s) for your non-fitting visor. Plus a bunch of complaints from current and prospective customers to the vendors might get them to go find a solution to their poor products, if they are really interested in making any money.

Yeah, I know that's probably wishful thinking, but you never know.

Dan the first one was manufactured by and bought from Counterpart Automotive and the second one was by United Pacific Industries thru Octane Lighting Inc.

I think some company made it wrong and other companies copied it with the mistakes and all.

Did you talk to anybody at either company about the problem. All they would need to see is a photo of the product held up to the windshield to see that it is formed incorrectly.

I don't think the visor is supposed to be under tension when fitted so bending it to install makes no sense whatsoever.

Otto I started the process of returning it and am waiting for a response. I will provide photos if they wish. The problem is photos are two domination and can be misinterpreted. Photos show height and width pretty well but not so well with depth. (That's just the photographer in me).

Mickey - Just an observation, but after looking at dozens of ads for these visors, I think the Counter Parts and United Pacific Industries pieces (as well as most of the others sellers offering theirs for about the same price point) most likely came from the same off-shore manufacturer.

Other than this one offered by Jim Carter under MSV100, which I would be inclined to think will fit better, I think I would investigate this Dynacorn 1103DK as a possible better fitting item. Dynacorn says these are "Made in the USA" and they have built a reputation for having better fitting products.

As you say though, it would help more if others that have gone this route would share their experiences. How about it fellow Bolters???

Maybe look for a 1959 truck and see if the visor you have will fit.

Dan I'm going to try one more. I've ordered the one from Dynacorn.

Guitplayer I like that idea but finding one around here in rural Texas would be pretty hard.

I'm interested to hear how the Dynacorn product turns out. Hoping with crossed fingers that I haven't steered you wrong.

Well the Dynacorn looks like a better fit but the paint and body guys still say it's a "no fit". I'm going to give up on them and keep looking for someone local that has done this kind of work before. I'll update if I have any success.

All of these visors from multiple vendors, including Dynacorn - producer of what are considered to be the highest quality reproduction sheet metal parts for a wide range of antique cars - are supposedly the "wrong" shape. Yet, they continue to be sold by respected vendors.

These visors are obviously being installed on hundreds or even thousands of other trucks.

The only common denominator here is your shop. I suspect they don't have the skill, desire, or knowledge to install them.

I would contact Dynacorn Classic Bodies - the division that builds the sheet metal tubs - and talk to them about the problem.

www.dynacornclassicbodies.com

Final update. As you know I purchased a third exterior visor, this one from Dynacorn. I took it to three different installers. The first was a paint and body shop that does very nice work but no real specialty with classics. The second shop was a classic restoration shop. Those first two said the first two visors did not fit and could not be installed. The first attempt had made modifications to the visor so it could not be returned. The second visor I told the paint and body shop not to make any modifications before telling me if it would fit. They called and said it would not fit. I thought at least I could return it. I packed it up took it to UPS and found out the return shipping cost barely $10 dollars less than the price of the visor. I about gave up. Sort of. A month or so passed and I decided to give it one more try. I ordered a third visor from Dynacorn. I was told it was made in USA. It arrived and looks exactly like the second one. In the meantime I had located a third source for the installation and went to have a talk with them. Turns out it was a small shop near by called Kountry Klassics that does paint and body including classic vehicles. I ask about installing the visor on my 1956 and he said "no problem" so I showed him the visor and he said he had done several of them. I got a call from him today and he said it won't fit. I immediately drove over to see what the problem was. He was the first one to identify the problem and explain it. Turns out when I had a new windshield installed I also upgraded the seal around the glass with the chrome pieces that upgrade the truck part way to the "Deluxe" model. That rubber seal and the grove in it for the metal strip where taking up too much space and would not let the visor fit in place. The only fix would be to remove the windshield and the seal and then replace the windshield with original seal with no chrome. He went on to say it could have been done when the new windshield was first installed. SO, I quit! I'm not going to that expense. Lesson learned? 1. plan ahead when other parts are involved, 2. keep looking until you find someone actually experienced in what you want done. Anyone interested in two new visors that are too expensive to return ship? 😀

Sorry it turned out to be such an expensive lesson Mickey. Who'd a thunk that going with the Deluxe style windshield seal and chrome trim would make installing the visor impossible???

If nothing else, your information can help some future Bolter from possibly duplicating your situation and for that we can offer a big "Thanks You Sir"!

If you want, you can offer the visors you have available to fellow Bolters in the Truck Parts For sale forum.

I thought about that Dan but even with a discounted asking price when you add the shipping cost it's much more than buying commercial. It cost me about $54 shipping from CA to Hico, Texas but to ship it back to CA cost $152. Either UPS or FedEx.

Sounds like listing them in a local Craigslist or FB Marketplace ad may be the way to go. Best of luck Mickey!

MickeyP sent you a PM

Wow, Mickey that's amazing. I would contact the tech support people at all of the companies involved so that they can print this information on their websites and instruction sheets. It would be very simple to include this information on the catalog page stating that the visor will only work with the original style gasket and must be installed at the time the window is installed.

Knowing all of that in advance would have saved you and probably others a lot of aggravation.