Headliner Panel Installation

[jopizz]

I just finished replacing the headliner in my '60 SR but I'm having trouble installing the center headliner panel. I removed the two corner track pieces but it doesn't want to slide very easily into the bottom track without catching the vinyl. Does anyone have any tips to make it go smoother.

Thanks,

John

[YellowRose]

Headliner Panel Installation

Hi John,

I just fired off an email to one person who can probably answer your question, Rockin Kev. He is often on the road, but hopefully, he will come on and answer your question if he can. He knows a lot about Golde Tops, and should know how to fix the problem you are having.

[Rockin Kev]

John,
First i would like to know if you have fitted back the thin plastic retainer that holds the headliner in place AROUND the sunroof opening in your roof?
The centre panel should be glued to a thin metal bracket that fits all around the inside sliding! panel and then held in place by 4 small cross headed screws.
PART of the sliding panel slides on that plastic retainer....before i go into more depth check this first!

Kev.
ON the road in his SEMI!! lol

[YellowRose]

Headliner Panel Installation

Thanks, Kev, for the quick reply! That is pretty cool, answering a post while tooling around England in your semi! Hopefully, your response will put John on the right track. Kev probably knows more about Golde Tops than many people around.

[jopizz]

Kev,

I don't have any plastic piece that goes around the opening. The original headliner was gone when I got the car. I did see Paul Wilson's original sunroof and I didn't see one on his either. It looks like the material is just wrapped around the edges and tucked under the tracks. Do you have a picture of what it looks like.

I have the headliner material glued to the thin metal frame. I'm not sure about the 4 screws you mentioned. It has 6 push clips across the front. I didn't see the screws mentioned on the removal and installation instructions either.

John

[YellowRose]

Headliner Panel Installation

Kev emailed me and sent this pic clearly showing the plastic retainer. He also sent me this link to a web page that Alexander created some years ago. First the link, then the pic.

http://www.squarebirds.org/1960ThunderbirdGallery/FrameSet.htm

[jopizz]

Thanks for sending those pictures along. Is that all one piece or made up of multiple pieces. I can probably make up something similar at least along the sides. Regardless, I don't think that's what's preventing me from getting the center panel in place.

[Rockin Kev]

John,
The retainer is one part, the joint for the seal is just in front of the interior light.
If you dont think its this then you need to adjust the height collars like we talked about before.
Kev.

[jopizz]

Kev,

I think we're getting a little off the subject here. The problem I'm having is installing the center panel into place per the instructions. It says to remove the corner track pieces and slide it over the front of the roof and into the bottom track. I tried that but it seems that you have to bend the panel excessively to do it. I was wondering if there was a better way or something I'm missing.

John

[Coral]

Hey John, do you have any schematics to look at?

[jopizz]

Schematics? I'm not sure what you mean.

[Coral]

Schematics? I'm not sure what you mean.

Schematics are blueprints: here is a brief excerpt of William Wonders Restoration guide for 1958-1960
a MUST buy...read through to page 54 and 55.... hope this helps!

http://books.google.com/books?id=bmy...page&q&f=false

[jopizz]

Thanks for the excerpt. I finally managed to get the panel in place with a lot of trial and error and a few choice words thrown in.

[YellowRose]

Headliner Panel Installation

John, congratulations on getting the headliner panel installed and working right! Glad to hear that!

[Coral]

Thanks for the excerpt. I finally managed to get the panel in place with a lot of trial and error and a few choice words thrown in.

Great! Funny how language helps, huh