headliner installation instructions

-

Sedanman

67-9 Valiant specialist
Joined
Apr 3, 2009
Messages
8,536
Reaction score
593
Location
chicago Il
INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING AUTO HEADLININGS
All Cars 1937-1976 (EXCEPT 1936-1948 General Motors)
(For 1936-1948 General Motors See Separate Instructions)
SPECIAL NOTE: This Headliner has been especially designed and engineered to fit your car.

Installation is simple and
easy. For perfect installation please follow the ten steps listed below. Thousands of these especially designed
Headliners have been installed and are rendering complete satisfaction.

1. Remove dome light, sun visors and garnish moldings from windshield and quarter glass.

a. Necessary on Ford products only 1941-1964 models: Carefully remove rear window, prying molding with a brake adjustment spoon or a broad blade screwdriver. While this is not difficult, if you are not too certain of your ability to do this safely turn this part of the job over to a glazier.

2. Remove back seats and the cardboard cover on package tray. Also remove side panels if windlace is to be replaced.

3. Old Headliner has been cemented or tacked along front and back of car. Pull Headlining free at these points.
Above doors, Headliner has been pushed up behind metal “retainer strips” teeth which holds Headliner in
place. Tear Headliner free from retainer strips on each side of car. Headliner hangs from bows that slide
through cloth loops sewn to back side of Headliner, the ends of which bows are now exposed. Working from
front to back of car, remove screws from ends of bows, which screws join bows to side of car. Headliner is now
free. Remove from car.

4. Remove screws that fasten retainer strips to body above doors. Windlace is now exposed. If windlace is to
be replaced, remove old windlace, remove tacks holding it in, and tack in new windlace. Clean out behind
retainer strips, straightening any bent teeth in same and remount, screwing retainer strips firmly into place.

5. Remove bows from old Headliner and slide into loops in new Headliner in same order they are found in old
Headliner. One inch (1") of bow should be visible extending from each end of loop. If necessary, clip loop back
equally on both ends until one inch (1") of bow is visible on both ends.

6. Working from back to front of car, fasten bows with new Headliner back into car.

7. Cement or tack Headliner in center-front and center-rear of car. Center of Headiner is marked with a chalk line
on back side of Headliner.

8. Trim excess material over doors, allowing two inches on each side. Push up under retainer strips. Using dull
putty knife, or ordinary table knife, push small amount of material under retainer strip at center-sides of car.

9. Working alternately from centers toward corners, fasten Headliner into place at all points by
continuing to push under retainer strips on sides and back or cement at front and back of car.

10. Cut out for back glass and cement or tack Headliner around edges of glass frames. Trim off excess material
around all edges, replace sun visors, dome light, garnish moldings and rear seats. Job is completed.

NOTE: Headliners improve with age and if left alone will soon shrink into place. If they’re good at first, they’ll be perfect
later. Removal of any wrinkles left in cloth ‘liners may be speeded up by spraying or sprinkling plain warm water on
the ‘liner at points where wrinkles appear. Moisture and low heat will hasten the departure of wrinkles on leatherette
‘liners.
 
[ame]http://www.stockinteriors.com/acme/BowHeadliner.pdf[/ame]
 
The headliner is a son-of-a-***** to install the bows you buy from these guys aren't bent to go into the holes in the inner panels of the roof. They give you Mickey Mouse pockets that are supposed to be clipped to the top of the inner roof of the car instead of the bend in the hoops. I took mine to a upholstery shop and they looked at it and wouldn't touch it, they say they do headliners all the time and they can't afford to waste their time messing with it. So back home and doing it myself. 72 years old and too fat makes it tough. I know go on a diet. Slow go. I will get the ¥£#% in.
 
And the addendum: Have a bottle of good scotch ready to help with your attitude during installation and to celebrate when you're done.

After doing my Dart I swore I'd never do another... Until my son asked me to help with his B-body. I renewed my vow after that. It's a good feeling of accomplishment but it's a bear. Don't try to rush it and don't trim anything until you know it's fitting correctly.
 
I have a question: do you glue the front and rear edges or staple like the factory. If it is staple, what type of stapler do you use, if it is glue, what glue?
 
Cuss is written in there somewhere..... Kinda like the bird and cage video ...
 
one other thing to mention is leaving the dome light screws bolted to the support as a guide so you know where to cut a small hole to pull the wire through and secure your dome light. I figured this out the hard way.
 
Digital camera. Take lots of measurements and photos after the old headliner is out. Close up photos of visor and mirror holes and shoulder strap holes and the dome light mount and everything. Then take overall photos of each side, the front, center and rear. Take your time and if your patience runs out, walk away and take a break.
 
-
Back
Top