Overhead console mounting

[DocMel]

I have a factory overhead console that I just finished restoring;  New skin, new lenses, bulbs, wiring is ready to go.

My 71 Cuda did not come with one.  My questions are how did these mount up to the headliner and inner roof?  There seems to be a special type of "tounge in slot" type mounting, judging by whats left of some such on the backside of the console itself

Any pics or diagrams would be greatly appreciated

[JoeGrapes]

The overhead console is mounted to the formed hard headliner that only came on cars with the overhead console. Do you have a soft headliner with bows? If I remember correctly the console is held on with screws that come thru the headliner from the back side and there is a bracket that is screwed to the roof brace and then screws to the overhead dome light bracket.

[DocMel]

I have the soft liner with bows.

 I take it overhead consoles must have the hard pre formed headliner, and that was the only way they came from the factory?  (Not availalbe with soft headliner with bows?)

[ToxicWolf]

I was looking at putting one in and decided against it because of the need for the hard headliner change. When I was looking, there were no reproductions available. Not sure about now.

[JoeGrapes]

The overhead console only came with the hard headliner. I suppose you could come up with something to use it with the soft headliner if you use some imagination. Then there is the wiring harness you will need. But again if you have a wiring diagram you could make up something that will work. There is a guy that was making the hard headliner out of fiberglass. I bought one from him last year for $200. It was bare fiberglass and I covered it myself with material I got from Joanne Fabrics. I took my old material and found a pretty good match. 

[shawge]

Someone on here added the overhead to their non-SE headliner.  IIRC, he added an additional roof brace forward of the existing one to secure the overhead to.

Edit: miketyler

[tuff340GranCoupe]

I'm in Wisconsin & I have an original headliner hanging on the garage wall. It will need a little TLC but its what you need to make it correct. I also have the middle bracket that supports the center of the console & headlioner in place. The headliner is for sale as well. Shipping will be wild but I have shipped them before. PM me for more details if you want it. Asking $385. Where will you ever find one??

[DocMel]

No thanks on the headliner  Ill make my own bracket and mount it on the backsideof the roof

[chevyconvert]

The whole SE overhead console headliner option was I cool idea, but frankly the whole set-up leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to working with it.

You're making the right decision to not install the whole package.

Major PITA.