Headliner how-to. Tech or upholstery voodoo??

There will be 7 posts. Please hold your response 'til I'm finished.

step 1

Remove the old headliner/bows. (Mini how-to-- Making you own headliner? Put some reference marks on the old 'liner, take it apart and use the pieces as a pattern to cut out a new headliner, sew it up, done. Need to order a new headliner? I use Alexander Co. 800-421-9510.) When removing the bows, make sure to mark them somehow so you know the correct order to re-install them. Now you're ready to install the new headliner. Almost. Better insulate the
roof first unless you live someplace perfect like Hawaii. If you have a 50's or older car, now's the time for new windlace. You can probably figure out how to do that on your own. Oh yeah, you might want to replace any tackstrip now too. Alright, NOW you're ready for the new headliner.

 

step 2

Slide the bows into the new headliner, and put the bows back into their holes/ slots in the car. Easy so far. Before I continue, a word about glue- Get some good contact cement, none of that 3M spray junk. You should be able to get a quart of glue at your local upholstery supply.

 

step 3

Stretch the center of the headliner towards the back and glue it down. Center as in about 6 inches right above the middle of the back window. Now stretch the front center and glue it down. This is a good time to lay down inside the car, stare up at the headliner and say to yuorself, "What the hell am I doing? This looks like shit- it's never gonna work. Why do I keep torturing myself like this? Maybe I should just take it to a professional." Unfortunately for me, I'm the so-called "professional" and this isn't my car, so I must continue.

 

step 4

I like to work from back to front in most cases. See all those wrinkles?- you gotta get rid of those. Don't expect the wrinkles to disappear after sitting in the sun for a few days or weeks, just fix 'em now. Test-stretch the vinyl (without glueing or fastening anywhere else) to determine how to get the wrinkles out. Stretch forwards, backwards, sideways- whatever makes the wrinkles go away. You can heat up the vinyl a bit with a heat gun or hairdryer to help stretch the wrinkles out, but
be careful with it. AFTER you figure out what needs to be done, apply the glue, stretch and fasten the headliner. Again, I like to work from back to front. When you think you've got it right, get a shop light in the car with you. Check out the headliner with the light hitting it from all angles. I learned the hard way that wrinkles show up differently in different lighting conditions.

 

step 5

Once you've got it perfect, trim the edges. You'll notice that even now I haven't cut the stitching where the headliner panels are sewn together. That's so I can still peel back the headliner if I have to without the seams unravelling. Don't cut those until you're absolutely certain that the headliner is in it's final resting place. Go around and staple the headliner wherever there's tackstrip- a little extra insurance.

 

step 6

Install the garnish moldings/trim and you're done! Or in my case, install the custom side panels. Did I mention that this is a custom made headliner in a chopped car?

 

step 7

That's it! Good luck, and let me know if you need any further help.

 

Who do VooDoo like you do...?

Perfect timing..., I'm helping a friend put one in this weekend...!

Mark

 

sexual chocolate, baby!!


awesome work, me likey

 

I dig those side panels. I had something very similar in mind for my car... a purple 52 Chevy, no less

 

TECH WEEK WINNER!!!!

Fatlucky's rules!

You just saved me a bunch of dough!!!!
I was gonna take my shoebox to this asshole in Austin named Sean to re-do my interior, but now I can do it myself and save a bunch of loot!

Awesome!
HC

 

2 problems;1.how do you install windlace? 2.what is tack strip?

 

<font color="green">

Tack strip is the areas around the perimeter that look like wood or wadding or whatever you may have, the stuff that your old upholstery is stapled into.

I know what windlacing is but would also like the PRO version on installing it.

SEAN, You are some kind of upholstery GOD aren't you!

I guarrantee if I try that by myself I am gonna put my fist through something before it's over with.

So, what do you do if you have no headliner to start with? (SORRY, just reread the first part and saw the order info.)

That's BEATIFUL work by the way.

Got a CHUBBY over here.

RASHY </font>

 

No point in posting any more tech, just give him the plate now, tech week is over.

 

Yorg-
1. you staple the windlace to the tackstrip.
2. tackstrip is what you staple the windlace to.
That answer your questions?
(I'll post real answers later- I gotta get some stuff finished before my customer shows up.)

 

[ QUOTE ]

1. you staple the windlace to the tackstrip.
2. tackstrip is what you staple the windlace to.

[/ QUOTE ] would it help if i read Catch-22 again?

 

[ QUOTE ]
Need to order a new headliner? I use Alexander Co. 800-421-9510.)

[/ QUOTE ]

Do they already have the sewn in sections for the bows?

GREAT TECH POST!

 

Thanks for the info. Too bad I needed it 2 months ago. Oh well thanks anyway.

 

i was thinking about making some windlace for my car and then ordering a headliner and doing it myself..the only expensive part i think i'm looking at is the piping i want there to be where the bows go..so far i've made some new kick panels and i've painted the stock panels the color i want..it's not that hard once you get started on it..just remember the same thing most of us know about metal work..there are no mistakes..just more work at fixing it and getting it rite
Creepy

 

lucky,

were you able to use the original bows? if not, how do you make them? someday i'd like to install a headliner in clarence. that's a panel truck which never had a headliner. i'm thinking if you showed us how to make the bows and how to figure out the dimensions &amp; pattern for the headliner i might be able to do this.

TIA...

 

Chris W- I originally started this how-to to help you. But you finished your headliner before I had a chance to post this stuff. Sorry.

Atch- On that car I used the original bows, but they needed a little modification to work right. It would probably be pretty easy to bend some round rod into the right shape to make bows for your panel. And making a pattern for the headliner isn't exactly rocket science (but it's way easier to order one if you can.) I don't have any pics though. Next time I do one I'll grab the camera. There are kits to retrofit bow style headliners into newer cars. That might work for ya.
I'll figure that out tomorrow and get some windlace resources for those that need it.

 

Man, thanks for posting that! Fatluckys, is the Burberry (sp) you used on the '64 Impala seats?

 

lucky, thanx for the response and i'll be standing by for further info.

 

Lucky-

Can you elaborate a bit on the glueing process? Do you put the contact cement on the fabric and roof, let them dry a bit, and then stick them together?

My '50 plymouth has a series of tin "healiner holder" strips that mount around the doors on the sides, that have a whole bunch of shark teeth shaped holes punched in them. The headliner tucks up behind these strips, and the teeth grab the fabric. Wondering how tough it is going to be to get the wrinkles out with this system, since once you've tucked the fabric into the teeth, your done. There is no way to get the fabric back out to try again if it's fucked up... The rear window has the same little teeth, but they are in the window jamb itself, where it looks like I could easily use the glue.

Great post, as always. Thanks

Pete

 

Ok- tackstrip and windlace-

You can buy replacement tackstrip by the yard- it's a hard rubber/soft plastic type stuff. I find that it doesn't really hold the staples. I prefer to cut strips of black panelboard (the stuff that is no good for making panels. )and glue 'em together the thickness that I need. Not only does this hold staples better, but I can make funky shaped tackstrip if I need to. The tackstrip is usually held in with metal tabs or screws. Easy. This picture shows some of the funky shaped tackstrip I had to make for a 49 Merc. It's kinda hard to see so I put a cheesy outline around it.

 

Windlace is pretty simple too. Anyplace that sells pre-sewn headliners can sell you ready made windlace by the yard. Or if you want to make your own...

Make another trip to the upholstery supply- you're gonna need some rubber windlace core. Then cut a 3-3.5" strip of fabric/vinyl, wrap it around the windlace core and glue it together. Most people stitch it together, but I like to glue. It's hard to get the stitch close enough to the windlace for it to have a nice tight round shape. Then if you do get the stitching close enough, it's always showing someplace when you install the windlace. Plus, the less sewing for you guys at home the better, right? Anyway, here's a bad photo of the end of the windlace in the Merc (just in case you're like me, and you can't figure anything out without a picture.)

 

[ QUOTE ]
Can you elaborate a bit on the glueing process? Do you put the contact cement on the fabric and roof, let them dry a bit, and then stick them together?

My '50 plymouth has a series of tin "healiner holder" strips that mount around the doors on the sides, that have a whole bunch of shark teeth shaped holes punched in them. The headliner tucks up behind these strips, and the teeth grab the fabric. Wondering how tough it is going to be to get the wrinkles out with this system, since once you've tucked the fabric into the teeth, your done. There is no way to get the fabric back out to try again if it's fucked up... The rear window has the same little teeth, but they are in the window jamb itself, where it looks like I could easily use the glue.


[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, that's how contact cement works.

I forgot about headliners with the shark teeth strips...
Basically, that's why you should test-stretch everything before you actually commit to it. If you tuck the material gently into the strips, you should be able to tug it out if you need to. Fabric headliners are easier to install with the shark teeth strips. I have a 50 Dodge and a 49 Ply in my backyard- I'll take a look at them tomorrow.

atch- I looked into the headliner conversion thing, looks pretty cheesy.

 

ok,in my car i've finally put in all the door and rear panels and made some kick panels..now i just need some windlace and a headliner..one question about the car you were workin on in the pics...the guy didnt want his dome light in it?
Creepy

 

luckys,

i've studied this post several times. could you please elaborate a bit on the pieces between the top (where the bows are) and the garnish mouldings?

and maybe something about how you'd terminate at a door where there never was a headliner or any windlace previously.

tia.

 

Sean,

This is nice post. It just really made me never want to do a headliner.