DIY headliner

[Moparwilks]

I was considering making a headliner replacement my off season project for this late fall/winter. I’ve seen decent ones for around $140. That’s fine, I’d just like to know what I’m getting myself into before I take the plunge. 72 4 door hard top if that make a difference or not. Reuse the bows, that’s about the only thing I’m sure of at this point. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Weather to give me courage or run to a professional.

 

[Polara_500]

Have you ever run a sewing machine? Do you have someone to show you how if not? You can self teach, but it would be easier otherwise. Not really all that hard as long as the old one's intact enough to use as a pattern. Hey, if I can do it anybody can.

 

[traintech55]

It is hard to say, there were so many different body styles, and each head liner went in a different way. Just remember, the interior was assembled in layers, with many different fasteners. Take a ton of pictures, before and after you remove a part, then put the retainers for each piece in a small baggie, and tape it to the part, this way you will not loose anything. After you get it all apart you will be able to look at your pictures to reassemble it. Good luck.

 

[Big_John]

Assuming you mean to install an already sewn headliner, it can be done. Not an easy job though... I farmed mine out rather than trying to do it myself after talking to friends about it.

 

[CBODY67]

It seems that convertible tops and "closed car" headliners are two things which people who have tried them once, won't do again themselves.

If you're going to start with the bare fabric and go from there, then you'll need a BIG work table with the sewing machine on one side. Then you'll need to measure the distance between the bows, lay the fabric out, note how big "the pockets for the bows" are, measure twice (etc.), and then sew the wires' pockets. Installation is, I believe, in somebody's service manual? There is an art to it, from what I understand.

Would be much easier (and better) to buy somebody's kit already sewn, ready for installation!

Just some thoughts,
CBODY67

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Keep the order of the bows correct. Before pictures with reference points on where the bow lines up with the dome light the rest will line up off of them.
Start in the center front and back. Fold it up around the jagged teeth on the front windshield and then the rear. Double check to make sure corners are lined up evenly in the roof.
You will have to slit the bow loops a bit to allow the bows to get into their hangers. Once you get it lined up, start hooking the front then the rear keeping it taught without distorting it and then the rear and last the sides with the clips and contact cement.

 

[Moparwilks]

Oh man! The glass has to come out? I’m definitely gonna have to save up for a professional. I got a quote from an interior guy a couple years ago for $600. I guess that’s not too bad if he’s pulling the glass out as well.

 

[GJS]

I did a VW headliner when I was kid. Came out great but pulling windows on a VW bug is considerably different than on our cars. I'm going to have the windows out of my 67 anyway to fix some issues in the rear channels so I'll likely do it myself but if my car was otherwise complete, I'd def be going to a pro.