Hi folks
The fibreglass backing for the headliner crumbled on removal and was was totally destroyed,so I could not get an overall size L x W although I did managed to get the corner radius.If anyone has the measurements I would be most grateful as I need to make a new backing.

Best Wishes Dan Gardner

 

Hi Dan I have an S Type but the head lining for my 1967 car is the same as that in the 420. I did not take measurements when I had the head lining out of the car (no need) but I have just made some basic measurements of the head lining in the car. These are plus or minus 5cm I would think as the sides tuck under the fixing strips so difficult to see where the edges are to get an accurate reading.
Length from front to back 150cm or 59 inches. Side to side is 107 cm or 42 inches. Here are a couple of photos which might help when making one. It has a large concave curve which might be hard to get right without a mould. Once made the only way to get it in or out of the car is through either the front or rear window aperture. It will not bend around and come out of the doors.

 

Hi Cass
Thanks for the info and the excellent photos it will save me a lot of time pulling it in and out,my front and rear screens are out so access is good,I have got some 3mm marine ply which seems to curve OK.The fiber glass corners are the only ones intact so I have the radius curve,many thanks.

Best Wishes Dan Gardner

 

I am not sure that 3 mm ply would work as you need a compound curve one that curves both front to rear and side to side and it needs to retain this curve when in the car. Unless you steam the ply board I don't think you could replicate the curve and keep it without some force being applied to it. The original header was made from a fibre mat with a very light coating of resin on the inside curve which the headliner was glued to. The side nearest to the roof was still a loose fibre material which is the orange coloured side You can see this in the photos of the board still in the car. If I was making one I would make if out of fibre glass by taking a mould from the roof line. If you have any knowledge of using fibre glass it would help but cover the top of the roof (outside) with something like clingfilm then lay a layer of fibre glass matting over the top and resin it. The clingfilm will stop the resin sticking to the top of the roof and this will give you the shape for the inside of the roof line. Cut it to shape using your curved corners and finally cover it with the lambs wool liner.

 

I don't know much about GRP, fibre board and the like, so I don't know what's involved, but I believe that one of the providers of the equivalent headliner board for series XJ cars uses a material that can be bent enough to pass through a door without breaking. It avoids the difficulty of taking a screen out. They usually advertise on UK ebay.

 

I wonder what that material is? While my car is still the original system where anti drumming pads & foam backed Union Cloth is glued direct to the dome.

 

there are always alternatives.

example: I have seen a small Volkswagen sedan built in the 2000's that has a roof dome very similar to the Jaguar small saloons.

A trip to the salvage yard might uncover a number of headliner pads with similar shapes.

For those of us who do not want to remove front and rear wundshields, you can al always slice the pad in two then join the two halves inside the dome.