[Masaki]

69’ Lemans
Car needs a full resto, I’ve been looking at interior bits to purchase. How would I even properly install the headliner??? Never done this before. I did the package tray myself and the sail panels were a breeze. But where would I even get started??? ALSO… does anyone have black perforated sun visors for a 69 lemans??? AND does anyone have a good rear view mirror. Mine is all cracked and water logged


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[carcrazy]

I think if you use the search function there was a headliner thread that was very detailed. There are also several videos on Youtube. Check with our host...they may have the parts you are looking for.

[bdk1976]

I used a heat gun, contact cement, binder clips, and a lot of patience. Mark bow locations when removing if possible. Installation is reverse of removal. It's a PITA but far from rocket science.

[HWYSTR455]

Headliner install to a point is a matter of preference to a degree, some just slap it up there and call it a day, even professional shops.

One thing that drives me crazy is when the headliner looks like a circus tent with all the waves from bow to bow, and the edges don't follow the contour of the roof. Looks like crap and you lose headspace. And I see $100k+ cars roll across auction blocks from respected resto shops that are like this.

So, just to say, you are probably going to do a better job even if it takes you a couple tries.

*Key tips are to mark the holes the rods come out of and number the rods.

*Removal, use a razor or knife and cut the headliner out without removing the rods.

*When you are cutting the headliner out, note where the pockets are trimmed on the ends. If you trim the pockets at the same location during install, it will look like the one that came out, for the most part. The location of where they are cut controls the 'draping' of the headliner (circus tent or straight across with no headroom).

*Cut the pockets as close to the end of the rod as possible to keep the headliner tight to the roof line. You can trim long at first, and while you are at the pull/glue stage, you can trim little by little to creep up on it.

*Start in the front, and move to the rear. The rods have an 'L' bend on the ends, lean the rods forward to start with. As you pull rearward, it give you room for the 'pull'.

*Go section by section, and leave a little 'tilt' to the rods since you MIGHT need a little pull room at the end.

*Remember that the belt clips and coat hooks need a tad of slack so they don't pucker. The closer to the roof line the headliner is, the less chance/room there is for a pucker.

*You might find moving the rod to a hole closer to the roof is better for you, don't be afraid to try another hole. You can do a test-pull on a section before gluing and see.

*It's best to have the rear glass and windshield out when doing a headliner. If the glass is old, it's scratched and hazy anyway, so replace the glass. Windshields are really only good for 8-10 years with even moderate driving.

*You can get some wrinkles out by heating with a hairdryer or heat gun if careful, but not much. Get it as close as you can to having to rely on heating. Heat large areas, since you are trying to 'relax' the material over the area.

*Don't get tricked into using some off-brand or what someone tells you is the 'best', use 3M 77, or if you've done it before, 80 or 90 spray adhesives. 80 and 90 'grab' and dry faster, so you have less time to position/pull/tighten.

*If you screw up, don't fret over it, just start over, and if need be, buy another headliner.


Here's a couple of pics that show circus tent and straight across, and one that is 'good-better'.

My brain-dump for the morning!


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[kingbuzzo]

I'm eye-balling one of the solid one-piece types for my T/A - do they make those for the Lemans or only the factory bow-type?

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by kingbuzzo

I'm eye-balling one of the solid one-piece types for my T/A - do they make those for the Lemans or only the factory bow-type?

I am converting my 71 bird to a 1-piece headliner, will post on my build thread and the headliner thread on progress, should be starting that in a week or two.

No, no there's not an 'out-of-box' 1 -piece solution for the A bodies, wish there was! I've seen custom work to do this, but nothing of a solution that one can purchase. Or not that I've found.

You could do your own, grab a piece of board stock, crease, roll, trim, mock it up along the way, but that's not an easy process. Board stock and/or aluminum sheet is difficult to package and ship, expensive too. The only 'affordable' strategy to provide any type of 'kit' would be to do it in plastic, where you can roll it and ship it. But that requires a mold.

Then, after that, because the side moldings are unique to the one-piece, you would have to make those too. The regular 'window lace' channel stuff just won't work to hold a 1-piece up. It's just a very stiff, thin channel of reinforced vinyl.

The big 3 A-bodies, even if you focus on the 68-72 models, vary enough from make to make, you would have to do multiple offerings. There's no one-fits-all approach. Further complicating any mass-prod offering.

I would def love to see someone engineer that out and make it work. Even of someone tried, it would have to be focused on the MOST popular model of A-body, I.E., Chevelle. And if that did take off, it would be years later for other offerings to be released.

Nope, if you want a 1-piece, you're stuck fabricating it, plain and simple.

I know Kindig has done it in his shop though...multiple times...


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[HWYSTR455]

Along those lines of though, maybe, just MAYBE, you could use the 73 colonnade body style side trim, mod it, but that stuff is hard to find as well.

But it's a thought...

EDIT: the body style runs 73-77, trim pics can be found like attached pic

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[HWYSTR455]

Here's a pic of the 73 GTO side trim. You would really only need the side rails and corner pieces.

Those side pieces are basically shoulder belt retainers, and are butt-ugly.

You might be able to mod the 'bird one, not sure.


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