The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Mounting an outside sunvisor on a '57

I have just bought a repro metal outside sunvisor for my '57. It comes with a set of screws, seems straightforward, except...
How do you mount it to make sure it is horizontal and centered? I will not have a couple of buddies to hold it while I mark the holes, and I figure there must be an easy/convenient way to do that!
Thanks!

I always try to figure out how to accomplish something without help. I have not done a sunvisor, but you may need to fabricate a holding fixture of sorts, maybe using 2x4's and some clamps and nice padding. As far as centered etc. Use masking tape to mark on and measure from some reference point that exists on both sides of the cab. And again may have to be a straight edge held with a 2x4 frame support of sorts. The engineering is part of the fun. Also for horizontal a level could be used, the truck will of course need to be level to do that. If its a curved surface you may need shims the same size and located the same distance from center etc. Also refference measurments down to the hood or cowling. Take it slow and easy. Triple check.

I did that on my 57 3100 with a visor I got from Classic Parts. I remember priming and painting it to match the color.
That was fun as I did not know what color it was! I went to a paint shop and ran through a ton of books looking for something close and got lucky and figured out it was a 1979 Ford All Other Models
Paint: SS-Bright Blue 3J 1979. Had them mix me some up and it was a perfect match. Apparently the previous owner just painted it some color blue.

But All I remember about mounting it was having to drill holes and I did put a strip of foam tape between it and the cab but that may or may not be a good idea. It could promote rust or something. But seems to be OK so far.

I just looked at it and it seems that I put the two outside ends about even with the rain drip edge on the side windows. Seems like I remember possibly proping up the middle with a 2x4 or something or a cardboard box just to help hold it.
But I believe I may have screwed in the center hole first as close to dead center as possible and then did the far edges to get the right curve and positioning and then drilled the rest of the holes and screwed them all in.
I would have only had my wife to help as my son would have been too short at the time.

Mine used screws to attach with.

It did not seem to be that hard. Seemed to come out ok. I have the bottom reinforced center section sitting right down close to the stainless window trim on top of window. Maye 1/16 inch away from it.
I see now that the spacing along the top edge against the cab top is even except at the extreme outer ends where the tops curve did not quite match the visors curve so I had to live with it being a bit off. Hard to tell from the picture but it is where the glare is on the corner.


Here is a picture: Stacey's 57

Oh, and there is a section about it in the Accessories manual that I most likely referenced. It has helped a lot in the past.

Here it is: SUN VISOR INSTALLATION

RPO987182

SUN VISOR
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
All Trucks

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1. Position the visor to the under side of the roof panel windshield peak. Hold in position until one of the center support bracket holes is scribed. Remove visor and drill a 3/32 inch hole where scribed.

2. Apply windshield sealer to the entire length of the attaching flange of the sun visor.

3. Press the sun visor gasket on to the flange of the sun visor. Match the holes of the sun visor to the holes in the gasket to assure a better fit.

4. Apply windshield sealer to the outside surface of the gasket.




5. Hold the visor up to the under side of the roof panel windshield peak. With the visor centered in position fasten the visor to the under side of the peak at the drilled hole with one of the screws and lockwashers provided. As illustrated in No. 2.



6. Still holding the visor in position, and using it as a template drill and attach both ends next. Drill and attach the visor at the center and continue in the same process till completed.

I do not remember there being a gasket so I used some single sided foam tape and did not use window sealer. But that is just me. Sealer is messy for me to deal with. But it may be better to seal it.

But in general I followed those directions.

Wow, thanks a lot, these instructions are really nice! As well as your personal input.
I can see it is not a hard job but I am always interested to hear from people who have done it before, it is no use reinventing the wheel at each project!
Seal/gasket seem indeed a good idea, to prevent metal-on-metal scrubbing and maybe also rain running down between the 2 pieces, but what could I use as a gasket? Maybe sticky foam for house windows would not soak in the water and survive the weather? Is this the kind you have used?
Sealant seems indeed very messing to use there, working overhead...