[boostmaster]

I'm finally getting around to doing the headliner on this car. I have consulted my restoration guide book; I have viewed the limited offerings on youtube; and tried to look at all the DIY write ups for these cars. I figured GTO's and A bodies would all be the same but there are a few small issues I am not certain about.

Issue 1: It seems the little teeth on front and rear do not really want to grab anything. The headliner material I sourced (from PUI) is THICK and does not want to catch. I do have binder clips and the correct plastic holder for when it is finally glued where I want it. Just curious if anyone had a special trick to get these teeth to catch (I even purchased the fancy tool- that did nothing for me)

Issue 2. There is a straight metal bar that mounts in the top third of the rear sail panel. I think it pins the upper part of the headliner and acts as a "guide" for the ear muff panel (also sourced from PUI). The panel I have is pre-covered but there are no fasteners and it feels like I am missing something that might sandwich in between the sail panel and the ear muff panel. (maybe an insulation pad?) I did source some clips that I think might work but I am not sure yet. I don't want to glue it if it is not necessary.

Issue 3. Wind lace around the post and rear window. Not sure how it goes. I do not recall these pieces. Can't really find decent pics. Anyone have an idea?

Issue 4. I think I may have asked about this before but cannot recall. On the front "A" Pillar there is no cover to hide the terminated end of the headliner. I think there are supposed to be some small metal pieces that act as the cover - kine "L" shaped? Am I remembering this correctly? If so, I probably need to source a set as I cannot find them if I do have them.

All thoughts, ideas, etc. welcomed!

[Jeff Hamlin]

Over all the installation is about the same as HT.
Sounds like you may need to tweak/clean the F&R retainer "Teeth"
possibly too flat from prior use and/or gummed up with adhesive.

Yes, there is a "Tack" strip on the sails to staple the headliner onto and the Finishing panels cover it.
It consist of a retaining channel with a hardboard tack strip within it.

The A-Pillar does use a Finish trim to cover the top.

The rear window plastic wind-lace snaps onto the pinch weld, and the center pc clips over them.

The SC shown has moved on but I hope this helps some.

[boostmaster]

There's no "tack" strips anywhere. Maybe I am missing something???

[Jeff Hamlin]

Yes, you are missing the Tack Strips.

[boostmaster]

Those are the tack strips? Weird. I do have them and I was thinking that they pinch the material underneath the strip once it's bolted down. There does not seem to be anything to "tack" the material to on these strips unless I am not understanding.

Is the cardboard piece that is pinched under the metal strip what I need? (If so, I wonder if someone makes this or if it's something I can cobble together?) I have some pre-covered ear muffs but not this cardboard. Also my earmuffs have no way to affix them to the sail panel. I seem to recall that the originals had some sort of mounting clip.

[Jeff Hamlin]

The brown insulation pad is "pinched" under the tack strip.

If you look closer at the "Tack Strip" you can see that it consists of a metal track/retainer and a hardboard insert.
The headliner was tacked to this hardboard strip.

Also notice how some of the staples even penetrated the metal,
just shows how quickly they were slamming these cars together.

[boostmaster]

ok. I think I understand. I am missing the hardboard insert. I looked around and cannot seem to find something comparable so I guess I will have to come up with a work around.

[Jeff Hamlin]

These New Composite Strips come in various widths;

https://bobdrake.com/search?type=product&q=tach+strip

[boostmaster]

Hmm. I must be really slow because I've seen the "tack strips" you mention in some other posts but I cannot figure out how they work. Does that rubber glue to the metal bar? (underneath or on top in the groove?) Not sure I understand how the headliner would be stapled to it.

Then there's the ear muffs. Mine are pre-covered and flat. Do they simply get glued in or do they snap in with some sort of fixture?

Sorry for all the questions but I can't find anything in my books or online for a better reference.

[Jeff Hamlin]

Yes, the tacking strip is bonded into the channel.
The headliner is pulled downward and tacked to the hardboard strip.

The Finishing "Sail" panels should have pre-set provisions to insert clips.
The clips used are the same clips used on the Door Card panels.

There are two holes within the inner roof sail to push in the plastic receivers/retainers for the clips to snap into.

[boostmaster]

Here's what I have: The tack strip has some hard rubberized stuff on it. Looks like something may have been glued to it at one time.

I purchased a set of plugs and clips on Amazon but the plugs do not fit the holes and the doors seem to have kept their plugs and even a few clips!
Maybe I need a different set?

So I purchased some of the rubber tack strip (from the previous post)- I would glue it to the metal strip? And pull the headliner over it and staple it? I saw someone pull the headliner down and glue it to the metal of the body and pinch it with the metal tack strip so that's how I thought it was to go. Either way seems kind convoluted for a fast moving assembly line...


Now, if I understand correctly, once I sort out the tack strip situation, the extra material on the earmuffs (pics in next post) will be glued to the car and the two rounded areas of cardboard on the earmuffs will accept a clip and the center will "plug" into the plastic inserts. But the earmuffs will not be removable unless you un-glue them. Is this correct?



BTW, thanks again for sticking with me on this. It's really frustrating when there is no frame of reference to work from. Maybe this will help someone else in the future.

[boostmaster]

The ear muffs:

[Jeff Hamlin]

Nothing should be adhered to the body.
The Finishing Panel material wraps the backer/board.
In theory, the panel is removable if you ever need to "adjust" the headliner.
But I can tell you once those clips snap in they don't release too easily.

You could either wrap it over the board on all sides or just the top & bottom,
Then tuck the front and rear portions over the pinch-weld and use the Wind Lace to hold it in place.
I wrapped mine completely.

The clips and cups you have there look close to correct,
Ames has them in the Door Section but I don't know if they differ from what you have.
You may have to enlarge the holes slightly so the cups sit flush.

The Hardboard or Composite tacking strip does need to be bonded to the metal channel.

Using adhesive on the tack strip isn't a bad thing just be sure the product will not bleed through.
However, I would still "Tack" it as the adhesive will be under tension and could pull loose over time.

[boostmaster]

Thanks for the clarification. I think I have a better understanding. I guess my confusion was with the staples. Not sure what staple gun I'd need to drive a staple through the headliner, the rubber or cardboard and then the metal- unless the staple is not suppose to go through the metal. Seems like the glue would come loose after a while and with no mechanical bond, the headliner would simply let go.

Learning more as I go along!