[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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