Hi Tim,
Below is a random pile of info I've collected from this group over the
years. My intention is to do my headliner myself, but I haven't been
able to yet find the right material.
I have two 63 Polara 500's. One drives good (mostly) and just needs a
headliner. The other is a long term project. But I guess the 63
Polara 500 headliner was a little special and rare. It's kind of a
puffy / foamy lined white material with exposed bows. It deteriorates
over time and falls away from a hard cardboard backing board that it
was glued to. I've taken samples to experts like Legendary and spoken
to other experts on the phone. They all think I'm crazy and say it
must have been third party installed. But I'm not buying it since
both cars have the same thing.
Anyway, good luck and I hope the stuff below helps.
- Jim
Jim Altemose, Long Island, NY
'63 Polara 500 (Max Wedge)
'63 Polara 500 (383)
'65 Belvedere I (Street Wedge)
'71 Bronco
http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/howto/mopp_0608_mopar_car_headliner_replacement/index.html http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/howto/mopp_0210_how_to_replace_your_headliner_on_your_dodge_dart/index.html http://www.hotrod.com/howto/76318_headliner_installation/index.html http://www.restorick.com/tech/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5 the headliner material is folded over the lip that follows the
roofline down the rear windows and glued and clipped till dry then the
chrome that holds the rubber above the glass is reinstalled and that
also helps hold it i found this to be the hardest part to get to look
correct take your time and keep adjusting before you cement it!
Quote - “I'm not sure if my calling them sail panels is correct.”
Close enough for me Steve! That “dark stiff fiberboard” that the
lights were attached to if not broken away, would have the same shape
of the entire sail panel (C pillar) area. The board material was the
backing used with some ¼ inch or so of insulation on it much like the
other insulation pads throughout the car - under the dash and kick
panels etc. As per your description and my memory, I believe as you
said, the insulation side of the “board” was against the C pillar with
some adhesive and the light base / socket mounted on top of the board
helping to hold it in place. Then the headliner material covered all
that with the lens and bezel to finish it off. I believe Joe B.
answered the attachment of the liner itself nicely, thanks.
While on the insulation thing, there was also a sheet of maybe 3 / 8
inch thick non-backed insulation cemented to the underside of the
roof. I don’t know if this or the C pillar insulation is available or
not. But I will need it (or something) in the future. Does anyone else
know? Joe?
if i remember correctly they just press in to holes on the sides no
clips i just did mine a few months back and there were no clips
involved 2 small sprinds holding the rearmost bow from going forward,
and the bows is all there is,its quite a job to get the headliner
tight start at the front and work towards the back go from side to
side and keep pulling on the extra bow pockets attached to the
headliner using them as ropes to pull the slack out youll need to cut
them away from the headliner a few inches in from the end of the
hoops it took me 3 headliners in 3 different cars before i got mine
looking professionally installed theres a few little tricks that i
picked up watching someone who new how to do it, the sail panels are a
bi!%H and youll need about 25 small clips to keep clipping and
adjusting fom side to side from front all the way to the back when you
finally get it tight then you cement the edges and then reclip till
your glue dries good luck
Hi Steve,
Regarding your two questions for the headliner bows, yes, the bows
were touching the insulation pad to the inside of the roof helping to
hold the pad in place. As to the mounting location of the last
rear-most bow, this bow should have a unique clip at each end. It is
metal and rolled to a tubular shape and bent midway to nearly 90
degree with a black oxide finish. The bow rod slips into the open end
while the other (90) end is bent rounded to close. This end fits into
a (3/8”?) hole (the only hole) located in the 16” long recessed area
of the ‘C’ pillar (roof side frame) that runs at an angle following
the rear quarter window opening. Then of coarse the two spring wires
attach to the bow and above the rear window frame. This time I’m gonna
take a picture of this arrangement before I disassemble it again!
All set?
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