Headlining renewal

[RogerM]

Can anyone share their experience of renewing the headlining in a Series 2 FHC (not 2+2) in a road running car. It was last replaced incorrectly in 1996 and is now drooping badly in several places. The curtain cloths have also been fitted incorrectly and need replacing.
OR does anyone know of a company in the North Wiltshire area that could do the job.

[Gfhug]

Roger, please look at the topics listed below. Also a search for “headlining” will bring forward other experiences which should answer a lot of your questions. As for whether you’ll do it yourself is for you to decide.
Swallows Jaguar in Somerset might be able to do the work. No experience of them, only seen their name in magazines.

Geoff

[RogerM]

Geoff
Everything on the Forum seems to be about restorations with the windscreen out. I am interested to find out about removing the old foam from the roof of a car that is fully trimmed with all windows and doors fitted., and then fitting the new lining.
Thanks
Roger

[Gfhug]

Looking at Yves’ (polse7317) write up in the topics below. I would think a variation on his method would be a good approach. Your main problem is pushing the headlining into place and I would have thought something like large, heavy duty balloons pushing against a piece of hardboard with bubble wrap on it could do the job. The rear quarter lights are easy enough to remove. As always lots of photos to remind yourself where and which orientation for each part.
The forward windscreen header panel and rear reinforcing panel will have to be removed as well as the inner cantrails to allow all to be done neatly (are you planning on new material or re-use the old?).
But if you follow the guidance of what others have done, albeit without the windscreen fitted then you’ll stand a good chance of doing it. Removing seats is easy and should give you a fairly clear work area.
As before, do you want to do the work yourself or pay someone for lots of man-hours?

Best I can suggest from looking at how others have tackled the job.

Geoff

[mgcjag]

Hi Roger...the windscreen does not need to be removed......a trimmer will do it in a couple of hour if its just the main area that needs doing.....a friend drove to BAS...they done it while he waited....but have a look here..Steve
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10125&p=80133&hilit ... ing#p80133

[Gfhug]

Steve, if BAS can do it so quickly then that’s where I’d go. Very good people.

Geoff

[Series1 Stu]

Hi Roger

I agree that BAS are excellent and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

However, if your side curtains are to be replaced then you will have to strip a fair amount of parts from the car before you can start to remove and replace them.

You will need to remove the quarterlights and then the seals from the channels in order to access the screws that hold the cantrail covers. You may also need to remove the passenger grab handle too. Also, the finisher trim around the rear hatch may need to be partially removed.

Remove the sun visors, rear view mirror and the windscreen header rail, which will probably need to be re-trimmed to match the new fabric. That's a tricky job in itself if you haven't done that sort of thing before.

Removing the old fabric is a messy job because you will create a lot of dust and it will get in your eyes.

The replacement fabric (West of England cloth, IIRC), is nice to work with but also creates dust as you cut it - bad news when you're laid on your back looking up at what you're doing.

I got my fabric from BAS as part of a full trim kit and the headlining material came with the foam backing already attached. The curtain material came with rubber tubing stitched into it and it's an interesting job getting it into place.

It's very satisfying when the job is done but be prepared to put in a good few hours doing it.

Good luck.

Regards