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Old 04-07-2021, 01:09 PM
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Default Conversion to 73/74 One Piece Headliner Help

My plan is to use the late-73 and 74 one piece cardboard/ABS headliner in my project, originality is not a concern. I prefer the one piece, which provides more headroom, sounds & heat baffling, and, it's easier to install.

Headliner board Question: There is one made without the retractor cutouts, correct? I don't believe 73 had the retractors, hoping there are aftermarket ones available?

Side molding Question: The late-73-81 side molding is the same across those years, correct? Are the reproduction ones any good? Fit & quality? Best source?

Sail panel Question: It appears the aftermarket ones have no cutouts, which is actually what I want, can anyone speak to the quality, and best source?

Front & rear molding Question: The late-73-81 molding is all the same, correct? Are they available aftermarket? Quality, source?

I had installed an OE carboard one that had the retractor cutouts which I patched, and prefer to replace it, since I'm changing to a black interior. I have all the pieces which I believe was salvaged out of a 79 t/a, but unsure (it was in the 80s that I did that). Since they were dyed, I don't want to have to strip and redye, so would prefer purchasing all the pieces as repops.

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  #2  
Old 04-07-2021, 09:03 PM
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I got mine from Ames and after a phone call was given a special part number from PUI for it. Mine came in Burgundy all glued together for later '73 cars, No cut out.
They Do require some working to get them to fit well, and it came semi rolled up.
"Front & rear molding Question: The late-73-81 molding is all the same, correct? Are they available aftermarket? Quality, source?"
What molding? surely not the back window as it stayed small through 1974.

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Old 04-08-2021, 08:59 AM
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Yeah, it appears to me that the front & rear molding are hard metal pieces, strips that screw into place. Pretty sure that was used in 79-81, but not sure where the cutoff is.

Not sure how the 'welting' type would secure the hard headliner, but figured I'd ask to know for sure.

I have some of the front and rear metal retainer strips, but they are camel, and would be repop if I didn't have to go through the trouble of stripping and were of acceptable quality.

The side molding too, fairly certain '76-up are the ABS long 'Y' pieces, and use the christmas-tree type retainers. Just not sure how it was done in 73 & 74.


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Old 04-08-2021, 09:00 AM
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You wouldn't happen to recall what that part number was would you?

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1971 Trans Am 463, 315cfm E-head Sniper XFlow EFI, TKO600 extreme, 9", GW suspension, Baer brakes, pro tour car
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Theme Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zKAS...ature=youtu.be
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Old 04-08-2021, 09:16 AM
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All these are good questions...I have been looking to change mine on my '71 to the hard headliner for reasons HwyStr stated...

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Old 04-08-2021, 09:27 AM
78w72 78w72 is offline
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i bought the 73 ABS headliner with no cut outs for my 72 firebird & plan to install it with the later 75-81 trim pieces. i can get the part # if you still need it. i ordered mine from summit as they had the best price & its just drop shipped from PUI.

yes the side trim panels are the same for 73-81, ive never used the repros but have had a couple pairs, they seems to be of good quality but cant comment on the fit. i;d try & find some nice originals in the color you need but im sure the repros will work fine.

the rear trims are not the same, obviously due to the change in the rear window in 75. & 75-81 front/rear are all metal, never used plastic in those locations. im not sure if the 73 front used the welting style trim but if they changed to the cardboard style headliner then they should be the metal style. on my 72 i need to carefully drill new holes to make the later style metal trim work right & cut the ends of the later rear trim to fit. the front/rear metal trims are so cheap & easy to find i would use those over repros, & they are easy to paint since they are metal. you can use repros for the other plastic parts if you want to avoid the color change but for black, its pretty easy to paint (it's not a dye) the headliner trim pieces & they will last since they are in a mostly no touch area.

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Old 04-08-2021, 09:54 AM
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So here's pics of the ones I had in my 71 before I removed like 2 weeks ago. I'm pretty sure they are from a 79, but can't say for sure. But I think the difference is, when the back window changed, is the sail panels. They just reach up higher and make up for the difference of the rear cross molding.

There is no welding around the back glass that I recall, the sail panel go right up to the sides on the glass. With welting, and standard bow headliner, I vaguely recall the side welting would go under the ends of the sail panels, and with the hard headliner, the ends of the sail panels go under the plastic side rails.

There are no end caps either, the sail panel screws into the cross piece of the body at the back of the rear glass.

I would be interested in the part number, yes, please.


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1970 GTO Judge Tribute Pro-Tour Project 535 IA2
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Theme Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zKAS...ature=youtu.be
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Old 04-08-2021, 10:01 AM
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Actually, the 'tab' on the sail planel slides INTO the plastic side rails, as in these pics...


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1970 GTO Judge Tribute Pro-Tour Project 535 IA2
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=760624
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https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...ght=procharger
Theme Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zKAS...ature=youtu.be
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Old 04-08-2021, 10:03 AM
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good point on the sial panel to rear trim piece... i havent test fit my trim pieces back there yet but would be nice if the rear trim piece didnt require cutting to fit. i plan to start test fitting in a few weeks so i will find out whats what.

also the plastic side trims attach different than the earlier metal ones, the early trims use a smaller metal clip & the later use the plastic "christmas tree" style, im not sure on the spacing of them but if you had them on your 71 they must be the same.

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Old 04-08-2021, 10:06 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HWYSTR455 View Post
Actually, the 'tab' on the sail planel slides INTO the plastic side rails, as in these pics...


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yes the ends of the side panels slide into the sail panel tabs, thats easy enough, im just hoping the later metal rear trim meets up to the sail panel without the need to cut the metal trim.

will get you the part# in a bit...

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Old 04-08-2021, 10:07 AM
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Well, mine are the xmas tree type side rails, I just drilled holes in the roof inner structure to accomodate them, which is non-destructive, can always go back to bow type headliner after.

Maybe the clip ones would hug the roof line better? If so, I would certainly get repops.

Anyone have a pic of the late-73-74 side rail attaching areas?

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1970 GTO Judge Tribute Pro-Tour Project 535 IA2
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=760624
1971 Trans Am 463, 315cfm E-head Sniper XFlow EFI, TKO600 extreme, 9", GW suspension, Baer brakes, pro tour car
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Theme Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zKAS...ature=youtu.be
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Old 04-08-2021, 10:22 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HWYSTR455 View Post
Well, mine are the xmas tree type side rails, I just drilled holes in the roof inner structure to accomodate them, which is non-destructive, can always go back to bow type headliner after.

Maybe the clip ones would hug the roof line better? If so, I would certainly get repops.

Anyone have a pic of the late-73-74 side rail attaching areas?

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yes, i planned to drill holes for the plastic style retainers since they didnt seem to fit the slots in the roof quite right.

just to clarify, the metal clips side trims i mentioned are what the factory used on the early style metal side trims, they dont offer that metal clip retainer for the later plastic side trims, those all use the xmas tree type retainers... & the early metal style side trims are different shape/design to meet the early A-pillar trims used on the early bow style headliner.

part # for the headliner is 73FHC70. please update this thread when you install it.

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Old 04-08-2021, 10:34 AM
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The A-pillar trim piece changed over the years?

I realize the attachment is diff, but the early style side rails and the clips are available repop, I've seen them listed. Unless I read the description worng.

Thank you for the part number, and yes, I will update when I install.

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1970 GTO Judge Tribute Pro-Tour Project 535 IA2
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1971 Trans Am 463, 315cfm E-head Sniper XFlow EFI, TKO600 extreme, 9", GW suspension, Baer brakes, pro tour car
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Old 04-08-2021, 10:40 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HWYSTR455 View Post
The A-pillar trim piece changed over the years?

I realize the attachment is diff, but the early style side rails and the clips are available repop, I've seen them listed. Unless I read the description worng.

Thank you for the part number, and yes, I will update when I install.

.
yes the "early" A-pillars are different, at least for 70-72, maybe 73 they started using the later style that doesnt have the "Y" section as part of the A-pillar pieces needed for the earlier side trims & front welting headliner trim. for my 72 i had to change to the later A-pillar trims to work with the later side/front trims.

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Old 04-08-2021, 10:43 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 78w72 View Post
yes the "early" A-pillars are different, at least for 70-72, maybe 73 they started using the later style that doesnt have the "Y" section as part of the A-pillar pieces needed for the earlier side trims & front welting headliner trim. for my 72 i had to change to the later A-pillar trims to work with the later side/front trims.
Ahhh, now that makes sense! So guess it's pointless to try to use the 73-late & early-74 type side rails.

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1970 GTO Judge Tribute Pro-Tour Project 535 IA2
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Theme Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zKAS...ature=youtu.be
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Old 04-08-2021, 10:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HWYSTR455 View Post
Ahhh, now that makes sense! So guess it's pointless to try to use the 73-late & early-74 type side rails.

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honestly i cant confirm the 73-early 74 side rails... if those years used the one piece headliner that should mean they used the later metal front trim & plastic side rails. would need to research that to be sure or ask other members with 73-early 74 what side trims are used. i had a 74 parts car T/A a few years ago & saved the sail panels to use in my 72 but cant remember what the side panels were like.

i will post some pics of the early (70-72) A-pillars & side trims from my 72 later today to show what i meant about them being different... im sure it will be fine using the later side trims you showed above & the later A pillar trims to match.

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Old 04-08-2021, 11:02 AM
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Awesome, thank you!


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1970 GTO Judge Tribute Pro-Tour Project 535 IA2
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=760624
1971 Trans Am 463, 315cfm E-head Sniper XFlow EFI, TKO600 extreme, 9", GW suspension, Baer brakes, pro tour car
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...ght=procharger
Theme Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zKAS...ature=youtu.be
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Old 04-08-2021, 11:24 AM
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'73 uses a metal clip in side molding, and the plastic abs part ( shoulder strap holder) slides on to the metal part in one location only on each side.

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Old 04-08-2021, 11:39 AM
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Anyone have a pic of that molding and clips?

Ames has them and the clips listed, but the pics are very poor.

# FA477B - Side Retainers

# FA477C - Side Retainer metal clips

They also list the 73-81 Side Retainers (Y version), but they have a note that 'quality is very poor, use as last resort'.

# FA477D

Anyone have first hand knowledge on these?


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1970 GTO Judge Tribute Pro-Tour Project 535 IA2
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=760624
1971 Trans Am 463, 315cfm E-head Sniper XFlow EFI, TKO600 extreme, 9", GW suspension, Baer brakes, pro tour car
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...ght=procharger
Theme Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zKAS...ature=youtu.be
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Old 04-08-2021, 03:47 PM
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heres a pic just to show the differences between the A-pillar trims for 70-72 vs later ones. im not sure what 73 used since formulabruce said they use a metal side trim, but if the 73 side trim is like the later plastic ones they should have the "Y" pieces on the side trim as opposed to the 70-72 styles that have the Y as part of the A-pillar trim pieces. i forgot i sold my 72 metal side pieces after i decided not to use them.

unless theres a real benefit to using the 73 metal side trims i think the later plastic ones would be perfectly fine & save some $$. what seatbelts are you using hwystr455? if youre keeping the original 73 belts then maybe the metal side trims are a benefit??
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