71E resto....headliner DIY

[X-Faktory]

Even after reading about others installing their headliner, I decided to give it a try. A few before and after pix....The first pic is from two weekends ago. You can easily see the remaining wrinkles from being folded up. Since then, at least twice a week, I've taken the hair drier out to the garage, heated and pulled, until now.....I'm almost ready to start gluing. The last few pix show the progress. It's not perfect yet, but hopefully, it will be by the end of the weekend.

regards,

al

[classic]

nice work, i have to do this myself in the next few months, any pointers are appreciated.

Tony

[preS]

You can easily see the remaining wrinkles from being folded up.

Just wondering / curious, is there a way to get the wrinkles out prior to installment?

Nice job and be glad you do it yourself. This way you can give it all the time (days, weeks) it needs to get it perfect.

RIchard

[Carrerax]

Looks great Al! Im getting ready to tackle the same thing in a few weeks. I have my headliner (Auto Intl ) hanging in my attic and hopefully that may help a slight bit. I look forward to your information and pictures. Your restoration is certainly an inspiration to me. I cant wait to see more pictures of your awesome car!

[Kaefer]

When I replaced my headliner a handheld clothes steamer helped tremendously in getting out the wrinkles. At each stopping point of pulling the headliner tighter I'd also use the steamer to steam the headliner, then let it sit and dry. Then repeat the process.

[X-Faktory]

nice work, i have to do this myself in the next few months, any pointers are appreciated.

Tony

Tony,

1. Make sure to take the headliner out of the bag, unfold it and hang it up...to let the wrinkles smooth out some, prior to installation. I also heated it up with a hairdryer.
2. Buy 100 or so, medium size clips.
3. Make sure that the support bows are in the right order. (you'll have to search for that one...I forget what the order is.)
4.I installed the bows, starting at the front and working my way back...except for number 3, they all went in easy...3 was a beeeyatch. Others have reported that they had a difficult time keeping the bows upright, but there are grooves, above the bow mounting holes, that mine rested in and were firmly held in place. I used new end rubber pieces on the bows...that may make a difference.
5.I stretched and clipped the front edge 1st, then the back, then the sides., leave it overnight.
6. Use a hairdryer to heat up the wrinkles....
7. repeat 5 and 6, then repeat again...then repeat again............

[X-Faktory]

Just wondering / curious, is there a way to get the wrinkles out prior to installment?

Nice job and be glad you do it yourself. This way you can give it all the time (days, weeks) it needs to get it perfect.

RIchard

Richard,

I don't know if this will work, but next time I'm going to steam iron the wrinkles out, prior to installing. I think that if you cover the headliner with a towel, perhaps wet, you'll minimize the chances of burning it. I have some trimmed off pieces that I'm going to practice this on.

[X-Faktory]

Looks great Al! Im getting ready to tackle the same thing in a few weeks. I have my headliner (Auto Intl ) hanging in my attic and hopefully that may help a slight bit. I look forward to your information and pictures. Your restoration is certainly an inspiration to me. I cant wait to see more pictures of your awesome car!

Thanks for the kind words. Do not hesitate to do this yourself. It's time consuming and fussy work, but not terribly difficult. As you know I'm really trying to keep this as much a DIY project as I can. I'm encouraged by the way this part of the project is turning out. I'm also in the process of refurbing my door pockets. I'm starting on the fixed pockets. so far I've steam ironed the drivers side into shape and applied new, black mouse fur to the interior of the pocket. I've located a very close match to the vinyl, so all of that will be replaced, as well...more on that later.

regards,

al

[X-Faktory]

When I replaced my headliner a handheld clothes steamer helped tremendously in getting out the wrinkles. At each stopping point of pulling the headliner tighter I'd also use the steamer to steam the headliner, then let it sit and dry. Then repeat the process.

I looked high and low for our travel steamer.......aaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhhh!!
I ended up using my wifes, industrial strength hair dryer. Works great...you can see the wrinkles relax...pull, clip...wait....pull, heat....wait.

regards,
al