Our replacement headliners are vacuum formed in ABS plastic and are pre-covered with fabric and a 1/8" of foam backing. You can choose from several factory colors. You can purchase extra fabric to cover old sail panels or sun visors if needed. An unfinished ABS plastic headliner can also be purchased and it can be "painted to match" if desired as well.
Our headliners are shipped via common carrier such as UPS.The headliner will be shipped in "one" piece in a large box folded in half and must be removed from the box upon receiving.Lay the headliner so it is flat for a few days prior to installing.
EXTRA CUTOUTS
If your car has a over head console or dual map lights then extra cutouts are required.If your car has either a factory overhead console (use area of template marked "A") and/or front dual map lights (use area of template marked "B"). A quick look at the console will help identify what cutouts you will need. If cutouts are not needed go to Note 2. If cutouts are needed to the following steps 3, 4, and 5: 3. Identify the end of the headliner that has the two triangular sun visor mount holes in it. Lay the template in the trough side (uncovered side) of this end of the headliner. The template is marked front and back. The back of the template should line up with the forward edge of the dome light cutout and the front edge should line up with the front edge of the headliner that will be against the windshield.
A.Mark the appropriate cutouts on the headliner.
B.Using a cutting tool such as a safety knife carefully cut the marked plastic out. If headliner has been pre-covered try to only cut through the plastic from this side leaving material intact. Then cut the fabric out from the other side. This will allow the cutout to be done without disturbing the bond of the headlining material to the headliner around the cutout.
Note 2: IMPORTANT- Many "T" Tops leak at least slightly. In many cases this is what caused the factory headliner to fail. The factory composite headliner board was attached to the car in the "T" Top area for stability. This replacement headliner does not attach to the car in the "T" Top area. The removal and replacement of the headliner does not require removal or in any way tampering with the plate in the center of the "T" Top area. Leaving this area intact prevents the chance of creating new or larger leaks. The factory headliner being composite board would absorb small leaks. Therefore it is recommended that prior to installing the headliner a thin layer of headlining fabric or sponge like material (material from old headliner could be used) should be glued in the trough side of the headliner to help absorb any preexisting leaks.
Tools required:
- Philips screwdriver
- Thin blade screwdriver
- Needle Nose Pliers or Vise Grips
- Sharp safety knife or razor blade
Headliner Removal
1. Start by removing the sun visors with a philips head screw driver. ( If you purchased a set of new sun visors you will need to reuse the sun visor support brackets.)
2. Remove the Speaker Covers ( Sail Panels ) by removing the coat hook with a philips head screw driver. With the hook removed lift upwards and out to remove the cover.
3. Remove the "pillar" moldings. Start and the rear molding behind the window on the quarter panel. It is held in placed by 1 philips head screw and 1 christmas tree retainer. Next remove the front windshield piller molding. It is held in place with the same christmas tree retainers. The number of retainers depends on weather you have T-Tops or a hardtop. The hard top moldings are harder to remove. Take you time. Start at the back and work your way to the front. Use just enough pressure to remove the retainers. to much pressure will break the molding. BECARFUL! If the retianers pull away out of the molding and remain in the body don;t worry. Just ake a pliers and pull them out of the body. Remember they will not to be reused!
4. Remove the rear headliner trim panel. It is held in place by 4 philips head screws.
5. Remove the seat belt anchor trim covers by gently pulling on them with your hands. They are held in placed by small tabs on the back side. These tabs will break if you are not careful. You can use a small flat screw driver to remove them as well. Again, be CAREFUL!
6. Remove the dome light. Start by carefully squeezing the dome light lens to remove it from the base. Remove the bulb. CAUTIONthe bulb may be hot and may burn your skin! There are 2 washer like retaining clips that hold the base to the roof supports. These need to be removed with a pair of needle nose pliers. Carefully pull the washers down being sure not to squeeze the washers to much. These washer will need to be reused to mount the dome light base. Once the retainers are removed disconnect the wiring and remove the dome light.
7. The headliner is now secured to the roof by 3 clips in the front by the windshield. Shift the headliner toward the passanger side to release the clips. You can now remove the headliner from the car.
Installing the Headliner
8. You are now ready to install the new headliner. It is best if you lay the headliner out so it is flat prior to installing the headliner. It helps to do this a few days prior to installing the headliner. You could also set the headliner out in the sun prior to installing it as well.
9. Take a sharp razor blade or utility knife and remove the uneeded fabric covering the sun visor mounts, dome light and seat belt holes.
10. Fit the headliner into the car. Start by threading the seat belts through the cut outs in the headliner. Now thread the electrical wiring for the dome light through the dome light hole in the headliner. This is where a friend comes in handy to help hold the headliner up. You could also use a string to help support the headliner as mentioned early.
11. Replace the sun visors by lining up the sun visor mount holes in the headliner with the support holes in the roof. . DO NOT tighten the screws up yet.
12. Reconnect the wires for the dome light if needed. Align the dome light base over the retaining studs and then push the retaining washers onto the studs to hold the dome light base. The dome light should now help support the headliner. Install the bulb and cover.
13. Replace the rear headliner trim panel.
14. Tighten the sun visors bracket screws.
15. Replace the "Pillar Moldings" being sure that the "Christmas" tree shaped clips are in the right location and they are aligned with the hole in the body before pushing them in.
16. Replace the seatblet anchor trim covers by locating them correctly before pushing it into the roof seat belt retractor. The tabs on the trim cover must be aligned correctly or the tabs on the trim cover will break. BECAREFUL!
