Has anyone ever installed a headliner in a 70-72 Skylark? I see you can buy them assembled at Y.O., AL.
Al, It's not the easist thing to do, but can be done at home. I've both '68/'69 and '70-'72. Followed the article in Guide to Musclecar magazine. When removing the headliner make sure to keep the bows in the same order that the came off in. The glue the factory used is rather nasty and the old headliner will most likely rip as it is removed. After getting all of the edges pulled away from the metal tacking strips you will be able to see the bows. Each bow has 3 possible holes that it can mount into, take a maker and circle which hole the bow ends are currently located in. This will help in the reassembly process. Each bow is held in place by plastic clips. After 30+ years they are quite brittle and may break. If Year One sells replacements, get 'em now. Will save on the aggrivation later. Try to pull the whole headlinder down as a complete assembly. Reinstall Put the new headliner out in the sun to warm it and make it easier to work with. Transfer the bows from the old headliner to the new one. Starting in the MIDDLE, work the bow into the retaining clips and adjust the part as needed. Next, install the 2 screws that hold the dome light in place (Easier to find the screw heads than the holes (make small cut with razor blade to expose the heads after the headliner is in). Then work towards the front installing the bows, then towards the rear. Use the glue that YO sells to attach the edges, cut the headliner about 1/4 inch long to tuck it around the tacking strip. It's easier to do this with the windshiels and back window out of the car, but can be done with them in. This is most of how to do it, just work slow and done cut anything until the whole thing is installed. I've found that using those little black office clips will hold the material nicely when doing the inital fitting. Jim
I think the only thing that Jim did not say was that when installing the headliner on the sides and on the front and rear glass area's there is a tool specific for the job, It is refered to as a stuffing tool. It can be bought at any Interior suppy house.
Al, Here is a link for headliner installation. http://www.iola.com/71nova/headliner.html I know it is a Nova not a Skylark. I used 8 Dozen of the little office clips (not 6). Make sure you have the clips in place holding the headliner the way you want it before you start to glue. I am not saying to follow the link, but use it as an example. Good Luck, Jerseysky66
headliner After installing headliners for 24 years here are a couple of tips. Get the headliner super warm before install. Try to get all of the wrinkles out before install. Use a heat gut for final strech in. Keep the bows in the proper sequence.Install center bow which is a small wire type thing first. Don't forget to put dome lite wire in place before you put all the bows up. Stretch from center to rear and center to front of car. Make sure you have the wrinkles gone from back to back before you start to pull all sideways wrinlkes out.Be sure and do not cut the bow listing thread until headliner is glued in place. If you cut it, the thread will unravel and you will have a headliner with no seam for one panel. Good Luck. Ken :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:
headliner After installing headliners for 24 years here are a couple of tips. Get the headliner super warm before install. Try to get all of the wrinkles out before install. Use a heat gut for final strech in. Keep the bows in the proper sequence.Install center bow which is a small wire type thing first. Don't forget to put dome lite wire in place before you put all the bows up. Stretch from center to rear or front of car. Make sure you have the wrinkles gone from back to back before you start to pull all sideways wrinlkes out.Be sure and do not cut the bow listing thread until headliner is glued in place. If you cut it, the thread will unravel and you will have a headliner with no seam for one panel. Good Luck. Ken :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:
Gee !!! you guys are a wealth of information!!! :TU: I understand the procedure and see how the trim comes off of the front glass and the side, does the inside trim just pull off like the front glass? AL.
headliner Al: There are only 4 pieces of trim that will need to come off. Windshield trim, backlite trim and 2 side pieces that run from the top corner of the winshield to the bottom of the curve near the back side glass. Did you install new sail panels?The side trim will hold the front side of the sail panel by pinching it in the side trim same as the headliner.Ken
Ken, the headliner in the car is in over all condition since it only 5 years old. Its just I noticed a small hole around the sunvisor area, and don't really know how it happened so its comming out. I just hope I don't need to pull any glass out of the car because this is the first GS I've owned that doesn't leak. AL
headliner It is easier if the glass is out but not mandatory. Hole in sunvisor area is probably from last install guy cutting the hole too big, or maybe water got into that area and is eating a hole? I wish you were closer to my shop,we could of had the headliner installed by now. Need any more help,give me a hollar. Also be careful of the little plastic corner pieces at the package tray and the lower backlite.Ken :Brow: :Brow: :Brow:
Ken, Thanks!!! I talked to the owner of a upholstery that has done most of my work and he said he would charge me $250.00 to install mine. I thought that was a bit much but I'll see what you guys think, AL.
My guy only charged me $150 last year - he's never done other work for me. I gotta give the p to that price.
And I did call around town to get 3 or 4 quotes. His was the best price. He did a great job too; gave me some "insider" tips on how to re-cover my armrests; gave me a jar of super-duper glue to do the armrests. Roseville CA is not too far away from you, is it? :grin:
