Headliner install

[nivvy]

anyone here ever put one in??? I got a new headliner from year one and the padding... doesnt look like it would be to hard??? anyone here ever try... I have a 72 Challenger 4 Bow setup...

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Just from reading here, I know some have tried, and some have glady paid a shop to do it. It doesn't sound like it's a day at the beach. 


  Mike

[nivvy]

Well I have a local guy who just went out on his own is doing a custom interior for me! he's recovering back seat my 2 front seats to match the backseat and the headliner for only $350....

I attached a picture of my front seats I am choosing a smoke colored interior just in case I ever have the car painted a different color I wont have to worry about changing interior color...kinda like blue jeans...they go with anything!

I just wanna try the headliner myself and if I go wrong he can fix it!

[rusty dodge]

I did it , never did it before. It was time consuming but turned out good. I used a headliner made by SMS auto interiors , mostly because of the color I needed. Alot use that headliner everone sells which I dont know who makes, but the difference is that mine came rolled up with no creases, the cheaper one that you get for like 80 bucks comes in a box folded.

How you get those fold creases out of it when installing it, I dont know, but bet it involves using a steamer. So I would say if you get a good one without creases it should go in easy, like mine did.

I was getting quotes to do it of 300.00. All prep work was already done at that price, that was only to put it up and attaching it, I did all the trim and panels.

[70challengerrt]

I done several. Not that hard. The hardest is the chargers but cuda and challengers are pretty easy. replace your bows in the new headliner the way they came out of the old one. Then the sleaves that the bow are in will be to long, cut them back so about an 1" of bow is out of each side. Next hang the headliner in place. Start in the center and hook the front and back on the strips with the teeth. Work your way to the sides. when you get to the sides pull the wrinkles and clamp it with a several clamps. I use the little 2" spring clamps from home depot. when it looks good start glueing the sides in place, I use the glue from year one but Im sure it can be bought at local stores. Also save the little clips from the original (they help till the glue is dry). If you have small wrinkles when it is dry use a spray bottle with water and lightly mist it and use a hair dryer to dry it this will shrink it a little but be carfull not to heat it to much. If you need any other help let me know there is a nice article about it some where if I find it I will post it.
Todd

[70challengerrt]

Here's a pic of one clamped.

[500Stroker]

I did one last month and I said it when done and I'll say it again.  NEVER AGAIN.  It's a lot easier than it looks especially with the glass in. If the glass was out it would have been much easier. I had a quote to just install the headliner for 250 since I was taking the old out painting and insulating the ceiling and painting all the trim myself.  After I had everything out I thought well this looks easy I'll do it myself and save the $$.

The trick to getting all the wrinkles and packing creases out is a portable clothes steamer.  The job really can't be done properly without it. I picked mine up at Kmart for 38.00.  I filled the car up with steam to make the liner softer and more pliable to stretch easier.  After the job was done I ran the steamer directly on the creases to remove them. I did wind up with small wrinkles on the sail panels but it's still an improvement over the old one.   I also used small clamps as mentioned in another post.

[70challengerrt]

For the wrinkles thats a good idea (the steamer). So farI just set them out in the sun if it warm or if its not or its a white healiner I will put it in my oven (low temp and it has to be electric) for a while to get it soft and plyable. The same way that seat covers are done to get them soft.

[miketyler]

I did mine and it came out great. Bought it from Legendary and it was folded up in a box. I didnt need any steam at all. Just place your bows in the new liner, hang it, then fasten at the back and pull taught at the front and clamp (dont hook yet). Then start working the sides. I worked from the rear and came forward. It was fairly easy. What REALLY helped? A $12 dual temp heat gun from Harbor Freight.  A blow dryer may work but it would have to be a high watt one and will take you longer. You have to be careful with the heat gun but move it around in a circular motion and keep it moving. It is nothing short of amazing how much these will draw up.   

There's been lots of previous discussion on these before. I used Resto Ricks method and had aposted alionk to it also.

MRT