[jimib]

I need help installing sail panels on my 67 GTO. On the interior body section where the sail panel fits, there’s a strip in which the panel fits up against. Is the sail panel glued onto this strip or clipped on somehow? I can’t find any clips in the Ames magazine.

I have the headliner on the bows and will start the gluing process.

[Jeff Hamlin]

You appear to be missing the TACK strip.
This is outlined in the '67 Fisher Body Manual Headliner section below;
http://thefirstgensite.com/library/6...y/FIB67S11.pdf

[jimib]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hamlin

You appear to be missing the TACK strip.
This is outlined in the '67 Fisher Body Manual Headliner section below;
http://thefirstgensite.com/library/6...y/FIB67S11.pdf

Thank you for the link Jeff. At this time, I have no clue where to find this tack strip(s) but will check other companies; appears Ames may not have this. I wonder if I could make one from Velcro.

[Jeff Hamlin]

The correct Tacking Strips for the large 2nd design sail panels like yours are a metal channel with a composite strip glued into it.

It's the composite strip that the headliner edge gets tacked/stapled to.
The metal track is screwed to the body panel this allows the headliner to be pulled and tacked.

Unfortunately no one I'm aware of offers replacements of these tracks/channels and will need to be sourced from a parts/donor car.
Velcro will not allow for a tight installation of the headliner.

[GT182]

Jim, are you installing reproduction sail panels or recovering yours?

I only ask as the reproductions are not as good due to the glue use to stick the covering to the board not being all that great. I bought a pair for my 66 and had to send them back as the edges were cut to short to wrap around and stay glued. If you do it leave a good 1" to wrap around the edges so the glue will hold better.

Then a year later I had to pull them out and reglue the fabric back on the boards. The heat softened the glue and the fabric became unstuck from the face side. They seem to be ok so far, but next time I'll take them to an upholstery shop and have them done the proper way.

[jimib]

Originally Posted by GT182

Jim, are you installing reproduction sail panels or recovering yours?

I only ask as the reproductions are not as good due to the glue use to stick the covering to the board not being all that great. I bought a pair for my 66 and had to send them back as the edges were cut to short to wrap around and stay glued. If you do it leave a good 1" to wrap around the edges so the glue will hold better.

Then a year later I had to pull them out and reglue the fabric back on the boards. The heat softened the glue and the fabric became unstuck from the face side. They seem to be ok so far, but next time I'll take them to an upholstery shop and have them done the proper way.

These sail panels are assembled reproductions from Legendary and this is the 2nd design. So if I were to somehow “staple” to the strip on the body of car, I would have to peel back the material to get to the inner cardboard-like material and latter re-glue. Seems to me, small flat head screws would work.

[Old Goat 67]

Here are some shots I made when redoing mine.

Before headliner


Headliner put in.


Inside of head;liner, new.

[jimib]

Originally Posted by Old Goat 67

Here are some shots I made when redoing mine.

Before headliner


Headliner put in.


Inside of head;liner, new.

Old Goat: Regarding your last pic with the sail panel uncovered……Is that 3M double sided tape?
Looks like you did what I’m thinking of doing. Looks like you have screws going through the sail panel and into the composite material within the metal strip that’s attached to the body.

[Old Goat 67]

Yes, 3m double sided tape, procured like that from Ames. They hold the material as it is stretched around the cardboard.

The screws are holding that tack strip above the inner cardboard panel, as it came from factory.

The two snap pins on the inside of the sail panel fit into the holes in the metal behind the inner cardboard panel. 1st and 2nd pictures.

Finished sail panel.

[jimib]

So here’s what I did, (could be completely wrong……will do it all over again if need be);
On the sail panel, I peeled back the liner (from bottom to top) from the card board-like material but left it attached where the liner folds over the top of the card board.
I sprayed 3M Adhesive over the metal strip and inner wood piece that is attached to the car body.
After the adhesive became tacky, I brought the headliner over the metal and wood bar and stuck it on the best I could.
I then took the sail panel and stapled the top section to the wood with a staple gun using ¼ inch length staples. I then “lightly” sprayed the liner back on to the card board.

I’m going to wait at least 24 hours, then start trimming the excess material, install the trim lock, then try a hair dryer or steamer to remove the wrinkles. I don’t know how well this will work. If I have to tear everything out and start over, then so be it.

[Jeff Hamlin]

Creative, but hate to say you'll likely not get the headliner tight enough without the needed tack strip.
The liner is pulled/stretched and then tacked to that strip before the sails go in.

[Old Goat 67]

Only thing I see is that you shouldn't be afraid to pull it tighter. Seems you have too many wrinkles in the headliner. Need more clips.

[jimib]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hamlin

Creative, but hate to say you'll likely not get the headliner tight enough without the needed tack strip.
The liner is pulled/stretched and then tacked to that strip before the sails go in.

So I should have “first” stretched the headliner and stapled to the metal/wooden strip? Then affixed the sail panel? I actually thought about this but wanted to get “all” material under the staples and at the same time being careful with the amount of staples I was using, as not to shatter the wood. It’s only time and money, I can do it over. (-: A lesson well-learned.

[Jeff Hamlin]

Yes you want to get the liner stretched/smoothed out and tacked before the sail.
As OG said MORE clips as well.
Might also consider getting rid of the wood and use some of the newer tacking strip.
It can be found on line or any local upholstery shop might have some.
It comes in various sizes to fits your need.
https://www.bobdrake.com/tackingstrips

[jimib]

Originally Posted by Old Goat 67

Only thing I see is that you shouldn't be afraid to pull it tighter. Seems you have too many wrinkles in the headliner. Need more clips.

That is (your pic’s) a “tight” liner Old Goat. (-:

[jimib]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hamlin

Yes you want to get the liner stretched/smoothed out and tacked before the sail.
As OG said MORE clips as well.
Might also consider getting rid of the wood and use some of the newer tacking strip.
It can be found on line or any local upholstery shop might have some.
It comes in various sizes to fits your need.
https://www.bobdrake.com/tackingstrips

Regarding the Bod Drake web site; do you know what size tacking strip I would order?

[Half-Inch Stud]

Photo with those clips brings me back...

I goofed on the 68's Headliner wrinkles to each Sail Panel, otherwise perfect. Stay with it: dry-fit the Sail Panel and retweak the Side & Rear Headliner wrap for best result.

[Old Goat 67]

Originally Posted by jimib

Regarding the Bod Drake web site; do you know what size tacking strip I would order?

Jimib,

If you do not have that tack strip anymore, it could be made very easily. You can only see the forward end in this picture, but as I remember it, it was made by using a piece of metal about 3/4" high with a 90° bend at the top of about 1/8"sticking out, then the tack strip was glued to it. It was fastened to the metal with screws on either end.


You can see in this picture where the top was pulled down to stretch it taunt, then stapled. The other staples lower down from that stip were put in just to hold down the excess material before the sail panel was snapped in place in those two holes that are exposed.



Therefore, the tack strip was only about 3/16" thick IIRC.

Charles

[Jeff Hamlin]

The good thing about the composite tack strip is you could use it without the factory metal retaining channel.
It is dense enough to be screwed onto the body as is and it holds staples very well.
May take a few extra screws but could be done.
I think 2 strips aprox 1/4" X 3/4" would work well for these.
If I make it over to the shop later I'll measure the strips off the '66 project to give you a better idea of a size.

[Old Goat 67]

Sounds like that would work.