Hardtop Headliners

[Jim]

Hi marcus,if its not glued to the sheet metal strip I'd take it all loose and start over from the center out I'm  worried about wrinkles and tearing where cut .jim

[Aussie Skylark]

Hi Jim, Walt and Other Readers,
Thanks for the advice, the material was easy to pull away from the incorrect glued surface. I can now see how and where the headliner glues to, and folds around the sheet metal clip.  I used the two short rear plastic trim pieces to test how the trim clips in with the liner in place. This headliner can be salvaged, however I'm going to replace it. The guy who installed it was off his A game on the day, he was a little generous with the heat gun and has scorched it in two places. The are small but noticeable, so I've decided to get another one. At least I can practice on this one. Since opening my interior from storage, I have realized I'm missing the sail sections so I need to get them made anyway. One way to ensure the color matches.
Does the headliner glue to the bracket on the C pillar, then the sail panel glue the headliner in the same location as the bracket?
Thanks
Marcus

[Aussie Skylark]

Few more photos of liner in correct position, and test run trim clips.
Marcus

[Loren At 65GS]

Marcus,
 First off, a heat gun is way too much heat unless it has multiple heat settings. In your first post above this reply, there is a metal with cardboard piece that is screwed to the sail panel. This is used to staple the headliner material in place. I see it there, but it has some black finish on it.
 A bit below that, there are two, approximately 1/4" holes, about 6 inches apart. Those holes are for trim clips that are mounted to the back side of the sail panel board that has a piece of the panel cardboard glued onto the backside of the sail panel board. I hope that makes sense. Unfortunately, I am in Florida till May and everything is back in Nebraska or I would be posting pictures to help with the description.
 The headliner material on the sail panel wraps around the forward edge and the back edge of the roof metal. The forward edge is glued and covered by the wind lace. This is the quarter window area I'm referring to. The back, rear window, is held with glue and covered with the plastic trim. There are molded plastic corners for the top and bottom of the rear windscreen trim. Those pieces are available along with the three plastic pieces. Unfortunately, these are only available in black, so you will have to paint them blue to go with the interior.
 Oh, at the bottom of the sail panel, DO NOT wrap the material around to the back side. It lays out over the metal of the package tray metal and is covered by the package tray board. Being that your Skylark is a hardtop, the package tray board used is the woven style.
  Also, there should be two plastic pieces used on the package tray board. Those are also available, but not cheap. I see that OPGI has these pieces available.

  Loren
 

[Loren At 65GS]

Forgot to mention that there are lamps mounted in the sail panels.



  Loren

[Jim]

Patience is the key I sometimes  took a couple of days to really stretch the headliner right

[Loren At 65GS]

Very nice job, Jim.   
Thanks for posting the pics here. Those show the lamps that are in the sail panels.

  Loren

[Clatter]

I have two original cars here, one intact and one being disassembled, so hit me up if you need any specific pics.

Legendary admitted that their headliners weren't 100% accurate, if that matters to you.

SMS Auto Fabrics, you never really know how long they will take,
But their tier grain vinyl was spot on.

If you don't have the lamps for the rear sail panels,
The ones they sell new online aren't correct.
Theirs are ribbed and the originals smooth.

Again, let meknow if you need any pics.

[Aussie Skylark]

Hi Fellas,

Thanks for the help with my headliner questions, hopefully my replacement will be here soon. One thing we have plenty of here and that's warm sunshine, my new headliner will be spread in the sun to warm up and become flexible prior to installation.

Jim, thanks for photos and advice, very welcome from my end

Clatter, thanks for advice and offer of photos, I'm lucky here no one knows what a Buick Skylark is, so internal lights don't really matter if they are flat or ribbed

Loren, I have found the metal and cardboard piece that holds the sail in position. Not sure how the new sails will arrive, if they will have the backing and trim clips or not? when you say "staple the headliner to the metal trim" do you mean a staple is driven through the headliner into the metal trim or is headliner clamped in place by the trim screwed to the sail panel? 

Looking closely at my old sail trim I can see the different shapes the sail material has around its perimeter depending on how its finished (wind lace or plastic trim). I have a new woven package tray that may need some trimming to fit properly, I also have new plastic trim for the rear windscreen however the lower corners don't seem quite right, something to worry about another day...

Thanks again for help and support

Marcus

[Aussie Skylark]

old sail panel

[Loren At 65GS]

Loren, I have found the metal and cardboard piece that holds the sail in position. Not sure how the new sails will arrive, if they will have the backing and trim clips or not? when you say "staple the headliner to the metal trim" do you mean a staple is driven through the headliner into the metal trim or is headliner clamped in place by the trim screwed to the sail panel? 

Thanks again for help and support

Marcus
[/quote]

 Hi Marcus,
 The piece I'm referring is a "C" shaped metal piece that has a cardboard sandwiched into it. You have a picture of it in post 31 and asked if that is where the headliner is "glued". That is where the headliner is stapled. I think the cardboard is not obvious to you because it has been painted black.

  Loren

[Aussie Skylark]

Hi Fellas,

Loren, you are the Guru and correct once again.

Haven't had much time for the Skylark lately, but did sit in it and look at the C pilar over the weekend thinking what cardboard...? recalling your words cardboard sandwiched into it. So, I pressed my fingernail into the paint and Ureka! I found the long-lost cardboard. Now I wait for a new headliner and sail.

Thanks again

Marcus

[Loren At 65GS]

 You found it! 

 I have the benefit of having installed a few headliners over the years. lol

  Loren