So here is my headliner install. No, perhaps not the best way, or the right way, may not even be Jaguar approved but its the way that worked for me. I thought I'd provide some pictures and comments for anyone else looking to try their hand at a headliner install. This method wont win you any points at a show, but it does get a headliner up and I'm not building a show car anyway. If you have any questions, let me know.






In the beginning, there was a roof with nasty old underlay. I actually removed this by sticking my shop vac against the roof and running it back and forth - it was that rotten.




The tar backing took a lot more work. What I found to work best was a medium-flex putty knife, elbow grease and a few blisters. Sharpening the putty knife every so often helps. Be aware that even though the roof metal is thick, you want to be careful an avoid making dents or lines in the roof - scrape with aggressive care.




Next, up went some Dynamat.

 

More pictures.... ( can't seem to do more than 1 at a time now)

This is the headliner hanging from the bows. Remember that the bows install in a particular place front to back, they wont work if you get them out of order, so label prior to removal.

 

There is some debate on where to start, but I always start in the middle, stretch and adjust each side equally, and work my way forward. Then I work my way from the middle back. Expect to repeat the "Staple, adjust, stretch remove staple, re-staple" cycle a few times - I probably removed most of the staples you see in place here as I adjusted.

 

One of the more tricky parts - installing the rear interior lights. Takes guts and a sharp probe to cut holes in your nice new headliner. I found a sharp probe was the best way to locate the screw holes. I used a little spray adhesive on the vertical pieces, may not be required if you remove the window (like you're supposed to)




I installed the lower part of the headliner ( just above the back seat) as a separate piece, you can't tell with the package shelf installed. If you remove the rear window, this is probably not necessary.

 

Note the extra piece of wood trim (its actually plastic fiber board but SHHHH! don't tell anyone). I can;t take credit for this idea, someone else did it first. I tapped the metal support just above the window then used this trim piece to help secure the headliner. I also wrapped wire all the way around the rubber seal, keeping the headliner snug. Neither is required of course if you take out the window.




Getting close. You'll note some wrinkles and pooched areas near the end of the seams. I believe with some water and heat I can shrink the wrinkles out and what will remain of the pooched areas is largely hidden by wood trim. It actually looks worse in the picture than in person.

 

View from the other side - Nope, didn't take the front window out either. The headliner tucks up under the seal very nicely and with some doubling of the extra material, along with the wood trim, its held tight. Removing the windows is the proper way, but I wasn't feeling lucky and glass is a bit fragile.

 

Treozen,
Thanks for sharing. Installation looks very nice!
Lin

 

Thanks! Looking good

 

Good article, and well done ! When I did mine in the 80s, I had a bare shell, so didn't need the extra trim piece. Actually removing and replacing windshield glass is not too hard, provided you know what to do !


Incidentally, whilst Jaguar used staple guns after WW2, the headlinings were originally tacked into place. The trimmers used magnetic tack hammers, and the tack supply was held in the mouth !! Need I say these guys were on piece-work. The strips you stapled the headlining to, are still called tacking strips. On the old wooden frame car bodies the tacks went straight into the body frame. Only steel-bodied cars needed the tacking strips. I think the Mark 2 was the last Jaguar with a sewed headlining using listing sticks, (these go through the loops), and staples. The later cars used a moulded "biscuit" with the headlining glued on to it.

 

My 51 Bentley still had tacks in it when I removed the headliner and panels.
I'm sure Roll Royce was slow to change over to staples...

I restored the wooden bows (rebuilt them) for a guys "Locomobile".
The rag top was tacked right into the wooden bows.
I don't remember the year, but it had a straight "8" in it.

 

The old sewn-together headlinings with their listing sticks and tacks/staples were very labour intensive, and so we got the biscuit and glue system. Yet the old linings never flopped down, unlike the current method !

 

In a previous existence, I was in control of the Ford Halewood trim department. We made the headlinings amongst other things. If the operators had trouble fitting the headliners, it was of course the fault of the headlining!

 

[QUOTE=Fraser Mitchell;1492281]Good article, and well done ! When I did mine in the 80s, I had a bare shell, so didn't need the extra trim piece. Actually removing and replacing windshield glass is not too hard, provided you know what to do !

As much as I've worked on cars, I've never removed any glass and usually I'm up for a challenge but in reading about the Mk2 windshield removal process, it sounded like a classic Jaguar process where in order to remove the windshield, you need to deflate the left rear tire and put the transmission in neutral. That being the case, I decided to avoid project scope-creep and see if there was a easier ( if less accurate) way. I'm not sure I actually needed the extra trim piece once I decided to use the locking wire, but figured it didn't hurt.

 

Great posting. Thanks for sharing your experience and technique. I'm sure many of us are going to benefit from your experience.

 

yes, I have a question:

When can you do my car?

 

And mine too, I've taken the glass out ready for you.

 

Thanks so much for sharing your experience and photos. As you can see, there are many of us who will have to go through the same process and appreciate all the help and guidance we can get. Great Job!

 

Jose, TilleyJon: I'll be over as soon as I get mine done, and all the other project cars I have, so ....um...might be a while ;-)

Tedwone - Sure thing, I think its really important to share - especially with cars that are less common. I've lost count the number of times I've relied on a forum post for help or an answer, so I try post back for others to use ( or scorn, flame, poke-fun at...lolol)