HowTo ·

Seamless Insulation: Wrapping the Ford Transit C-Pillar and Sliding Door Opening

Hey, welcome back to the shop! Today on AVC Chronicles, we’re wrapping your C-Pillar and the area over the passenger sliding door—two key areas that define the finished look of your interior.

Let’s get to work!

🛠️ Tools and Materials

  • Adhesive: 3M Foamfast 74 Spray Adhesive

  • Insulation: 1/8-inch Landau Foam

  • Finish: Your choice of wall fabric

  • Basic Tools: Scissors or utility knife, isopropyl alcohol (ISO), and a spray shield.

Step 1: Prep the Opening

Before applying any materials, you must clean and prepare the metal surfaces.

  1. Remove the Bulb Seal: Gently peel the factory bulb seal off the passenger door opening. Do not remove it entirely; let it drape on the ground outside the van. Be cautious of the gray sticky residue inside the seal, as it stains easily.

  2. Degrease: Use isopropyl alcohol (ISO) to thoroughly degrease the entire area. Clean up to the seam where the metal meets the roof on the C-pillar and the overhead section.

  3. Apply Adhesive (74): Spray the 3M 74 adhesive onto the C-pillar vertical surface and the overhead section. Crucially, avoid spraying glue on the door jamb flange where the bulb seal will be reinstalled.

    • It is essential to let the glue off-gas properly before applying the closed-cell landau foam. The closed-cell foam prevents the propellant from escaping, which can lead to bubbles later.

Step 2: Install the Landau Foam

  1. Over-Door Section:

    • Start by installing the foam right into the inside corner of the roof seam.

    • Roll the foam up and over the top of the space, ensuring you do not cover any rivnuts or mounting holes if they are present.

  2. C-Pillar Section:

    • Start Point: Begin the foam at the bottom, right above where your flooring is cut. This seam will be hidden by your final wall kit.

    • Tension: Place the bottom edge, then stretch the foam tight vertically as you work your way up.

  3. Match Cut Seams: If you need to seam two pieces of foam:

    • Use your knife to find the line between the two pieces and make a clean match cut.

    • Use the back of your knife to smooth the foam tightly into the corners.

  4. Relief Cuts: Use your knife to make relief cuts in the foam where it gathers or stretches tight around curves. This allows the tension to release and the foam to lay flat.

  5. Trim the Edge: Use your knife to trim the foam neatly along the inside corner of the door jamb. This is why it was important not to glue this edge—it allows the foam to peel away easily and cleanly.

Step 3: Apply Fabric and Seam Cover

  1. Prep and Re-Glue: Mask out the section where the ceiling and C-pillar will join to get a clean edge for your seam cover. This time, when spraying the adhesive, spray all surfaces, including the flange where you previously avoided glue.

    • Tip: If using lighter fabric, allow the 3M 74 (which is orange) to dry completely to prevent the color from bleeding through.

  2. Rolled Edge: Pre-spray a piece of fabric outside the van and fold one edge over to create a clean, rolled edge for the fabric-to-fabric joint.

  3. Install C-Pillar Fabric:

    • Start at the bottom: Begin the fabric just over the bottom seam, ensuring you have enough to wrap around the pillar completely.

    • Stretch and Tack: Attach the fabric to the first plane, then stretch it vertically, tacking it in place at the top.

    • Roll the Edge: Roll the fabric tightly into the inside corner, pressing firmly with the back of your knife.

    • Trim: Trim the fabric cleanly right up to the edge where the bulb seal will attach.

  4. Install Over-Door Fabric:

    • Align the Seam: Remove the masking tape. Start with the rolled edge where your seam will meet the ceiling fabric, ensuring clean alignment.

    • Tack and Stretch: Tack one corner, then stretch the fabric down toward the other end, making sure you don't bury any rivnuts.

    • Wrap: Work one plane at a time, pressing the fabric into the corners. Trim the overlap where the two pieces meet so they are flush.

  5. Install Seam Cover:

    • Create a seam cover (a small, triangular piece of fabric with folded and pressed edges—refer to our window wrap video for the technique).

    • Mark and Glue: Use tape to mark the area to be covered. Spray glue only in the marked area.

    • Apply: Remove one piece of tape, align the cover, press it into the door jamb, and remove the second piece of tape.

    • Final Trim: Trim off any remaining fabric tag ends.

Step 4: Reinstall the Bulb Seal

The last step is to reinstall the bulb seal.

  1. Mind the Thickness: You have added thickness with the foam and fabric.

  2. Roll into Place: Gently roll the bulb seal onto the flange, being mindful to roll it onto the fabric and not start rolling the fabric back.

  3. Adjust as Needed: If you have excess bulb seal, you may need to apply back pressure down the length of the seal to slightly compress and shrink it for a tight fit.

With that, your C-pillar and sliding door wrap are complete! Thanks for reading!

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