66 Barracuda headliner install problem

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Ohio66Cuda

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I've tried several times to install my new headliner in my 66. I bought the headliner from Legendary and believe its of high quality. I was very careful in taking the bows out of the old headliner and putting them in the new one in the correct order. The problem I'm having is getting the bows to seat in the pockets. I started at the back and worked toward the front. The first three bows seated fine. Now the fourth bow will seat but it slanted back and the front most bow is seated but is slanted way to the back. As a result there is a lot of puckering in the front area and I can't seem to get the bows pulled to the proper location. Is there something I'm doing wrong?
 
I do believe you start at the front. But never installed on a Barracuda before.
 
I'll assume you have 2 small tension wires on the rear most bow. This head liner must be installed from back to front.
I had a similar problem but... mine was a 67 notch back. The box ( PUI brand ) was marked correctly 67 notch back but the dang thing didn't fit. Waaaay wrong at the same place as yours. Bows 5,4,3 landed correctly. 2 and 1 just wrong. I decided it must have been 67 fast back piece in the wrong box. I called PUI, they said replacement in 2 weeks. I was in a push to get glasses reinstalled so I called Legendary, they said approx' 2 weeks. I called Year One, had another head liner here in 2 days. It fit absolutely perfect.
PUI did send me another about 2 weeks later. I resold it without ever opening that box.
So now I'm wondering could a simple screw up in panel/section order at the sewing machine be the cause? who knows? I can only suggest you call Legendary . Good luck.
 
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I have installed headliners in the early Barracudas and it sounds like the manufacturer sewed tne wrong panel in the third position from the front.
Take a picture from both sides and the front and show the manufacturer. Call them to discuss the problem.
 
I was told you install from the middle and work your way forward center and and back center, then corners? Get them all installed and then pull it tight fore and aft over the dragons teeth. Whatever, I just know my fingers hurt for a week after that. You can use a hairdryer on low hear to relax the wrinkles IF the stuff responds to heat, test a piece of scrap. It may just make it sag more.
 
Seeing as I will be installing my new Headliner for my 66' B-cuda shortly... Thank you all for the info.
Are any of you running the insulation you can buy on Ebay for (or any insulation for that matter) above your headliner?
I wonder if it helps or is it Mice nesting material?
Joe
 
Syleng1 said:
Seeing as I will be installing my new Headliner for my 66' B-cuda shortly... Thank you all for the info.
Are any of you running the insulation you can buy on Ebay for (or any insulation for that matter) above your headliner?
I wonder if it helps or is it Mice nesting material?
Joe
Click to expand...
Both. I haven't had any mouse problems. I've reused the OEM insulation. I don't know what ebay offers or what others have used there. I do know that no insulation is a bad plan. The cabin temp would be like the trunk or worse. The condensation that runs back down to the roof rails and other low edges ( stains show on light colored head liners ) would only be much worse.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I checked the position of the bows compared to the seam dimensions and something is definitely off. The headliner is about 3/4" to 1" too short. Back to Legendary for a return...
I did get the insulation from Legendry also and installed it. It can become mouse nesting material. The whole reason I'm redoing the headliner is the one I installed 20 or so years ago was a nesting area for mice. I could see holes in the headliner and stains where they died and met their maker (yech). If you have a mouse problem you should take care of that. There is all kinds of damage they can do once they get in your car.
 
Removed all my carpeting due to a mouse living in luxury, after lifting the rear cargo steel panel there was a nest that appears to have been there a loooooong time all the headliner material was located there. Now all nice and clean deodorized new carpet installed. Headliner is next for me waiting on the delivery............I would imagine I will have to remove the glass front and rear
 
You don't need to remove the rear glass at all, I never have in a Barracuda. The wires hold the now in place and so will the adhesive that you will put there. The front is optional. I have done it both ways, but it is much easier to install with the windshield out, but can be done with it in with the right tools.
 
I ordered new window seals, thinking just to make the headliner installation easier and inspect the frames of the glass as well.
 
Capt46 said:
Removed all my carpeting due to a mouse living in luxury, after lifting the rear cargo steel panel there was a nest that appears to have been there a loooooong time all the headliner material was located there. Now all nice and clean deodorized new carpet installed. Headliner is next for me waiting on the delivery............I would imagine I will have to remove the glass front and rear
Click to expand...


On my car which is all apart on the rotisserie- there are teeth like items that held my headliner in place front and rear. I am heading to the shop now so I can check the rear window for sure but the front still has them.
I believe in order to do the job 100% (which i have observed over time I believe you are that type Capt46 .lol!) you need the gasket removed to make that happen.
PM me is you want some pictures of mine with the gasket removed and I will get them for you.
Joe
 
I'm having the same problem as post #1. Does anyone know the proper lengths and positions of each rod for a '65 Barracuda? I painted mine, so no longer have the color coding. Thank you.
 
I can probably help with the '66 version. I assume they're the same as a '65, but, not positive. You need a measurement straight from end to end or following the curve?
 
Good question. They may or may not be "bent, warped, or twisted". With that in mind, it might be worth a try to measure along the curve. What do you think?
 
I see back in December 2020 member swing69 had some similar problems/questions. Unfortunately there is no follow-up to find what the solution was for him (so sad when the threads end without a happy ending and frustrating for someone with a like question or problem).

Headliner challenges....darnit!
 
IMG_20220122_115133720.jpg
I don't know if this will help but I've attached info on the headliner from my 66 Plymouth shop manual. Without seeing the color codes on the listing wires it will be tough to figure out the correct order of placement. I did my best at installation without removing the front and back windows but I wasn't satisfied with the result (several wrinkles). I could get enough tension from side to side but not front to back.
 
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