Convertible Headliner install help
 

Gents;

I keep on saving the necessary funds to install a new top on my XJS but unfortunately other things keep on coming up. Current top is not torn or have holes, but it has slight fraying on some edges and looks a bit discolored.....I can live with this a little bit longer, but what is really intolerable is that the headliner foam is falling apart and it looks like some of the cables are loose.

As a stop-gap measure, I am thinking I can try and replace the headliner and cables myself. If I start paying someone to do it, it defeats the entire purpose. The headliner is 160 on eBay and I am sure those cables can be had cheaply.

Let me say, that years ago I tried replacing the headliner myself. It was a mess, but I rushed and lost patience. I ended up taking the car to a trim shop.

So is it possible I can do my own headliner and fix the cables easily myself? Anyone tried either one of these? It would probably hold me over this year at the least. It has to look good but not be perfect. Maybe the cables are not worth it until a full new top goes in? Can the current cables be adjusted ?

any advice welcome

I believe up to '93 that entailed taking the complete top off. Later cars the headlining is separate from the top an should be an "easier" task.

Thanks for your reply and the attachment. Problem is that it’s currently so messed up, that I think it’s become detached from places etc. basically, when I take the old headliner out, I won’t be able to figure out how the new one should go back in.

As I mentioned, it need not be 100 percent concours, as this would be a 160 dollar cure to hold me over from spending the close to 2000 it will take to get everything professionally done right now. I can’t really take the top down as the headliner foam falls apart into dust if I move it...........I wish I had the skills to do the outer top myself, but if past experience is any indicator, that would turn out horribly.

Mark,

I appreciate that you want the interior looking smart but I think it would be so much easier to do the whole thing in one go, particularly if you're talking about replacing cables etc. You'll probably need new straps and cables so it seems a really false economy to try and do cables and headliner now and then have to strip everything again next year to do the top.

I'm surprised at the estimate of $2000 to have it all done. Tops are about £400, headliner £160. My trimmer in the UK will probably charge £400 labour to strip old, fit new cables, hood and headliner. I'm getting it all done later this year.

Good luck whatever you decide,

Paul

Hi Paul-

The top sells for close to 400 dollars here, the headliner 160, perhaps 200 in parts and the rest would be labor. Total would certainly be above 1500.00- up to 2,000 unless I find a trimmer who charges a very low cost for his labor, (that is 1,186 sterling at the very low end).....so if I am able to do the headliner and the big rear cable myself at 160 dollars for the headliner and 30 for the cable, that’s only 200 dollars (160 sterling) at the most......it’s certainly worth doing to have foam dust falling anytime I open or close the top , and it’s 10x less in immediate cost.

If anyone knows a lower cost upholstery/trim guy in Houston, by all means let me know, but everyone here wants 800 dollars plus just for labor.

Ordered the headliner today. I can no longer have foam falling on me, breathing it in, etc.

this time I am going to try and take a different approach, because last time was awful.

I am going to remove the existing headliner first and then vacuum the car and get rid of all that garbage while I wait for the new one to get in.

Hopefully it works out this time

I did my 1990.

I'd be interested in seeing/knowing the differences between the 90 and 93/94 and up.

If they were subtle, I think I remember enough from the job that I could walk you thru it. It's not so bad - definitely take the seats out so you can stand and have easy access to everything on both the removal and the install.

What are the differences between the two?

Also, renovo is a GREAT produce for restoring tops. Can't say enough about the product.
https://www.renovointernational.com/...op-reviver.php

Hi Spikegaga, just out of interest can you let me know the part # and vendor that you bought the interior headlining from. I have a late 95 2+2 convertible and my headline is also shedding bits. I looked on line recently and could not find one so I would be very grateful for any info that you may have.

Regards,

gmacaz

eBay. 160 dollars. Not sure of the part, but just search for XJS convertible headliner

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...dc2725ee97.png

Many thanks, i looked at the normal suppliers and couldn't see anything. I will check this out. Like you the bits falling inside the car are annoying to say the least.

Thanks again,
gmacaz

Its really bad. This is my 2nd attempt at the headliner. First one I lost focus and patience and it came out looking like a child’s project. To top that op the car was repainted and the shop had the top down washing the car and it got wet.....it’s just gross. I wanted to get an entire new canvass top, just too have everything look perfect, but as I mentioned above that’s too expensive right now, my current top is in what most people call “in very good condition” , and spending 160 on improving the interior and driving experience of the car is a no brainer.

If I give myself one day to remove the old one and one day to install the new one, I should be OK

For any guys out there wanting to replace their crumbling headliners. You will need:

5 old big bedsheets to protect your interior. I used one and my car will probably have to be vacuumed for a year

Face mask

eye protection


This was so so so gross. The interior of my XJS is now gross. The exterior of my XJS, Etype and X type (mind you the X type was outside several feet away from the garage) all look like a pollen apocalypse hit. My grandmother asked why I had been climbing trees when I walked into my house. My hair is orange. My beard is orange. My clothes are all orange.

Good news is it’s out. Bad news is that some of the padding has collapsed:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...eed6f40bb.jpeg
Situation pre removal
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...37a6710cb.jpeg
Failed attempt at protecting the interior with one sheet
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...bc0428ec6.jpeg
The grossness begins
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...18b82d1b2.jpeg
More ugliness
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...e4830ef39.jpeg
Orange man
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...aaef59967.jpeg
Orange man

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...d19a708d6.jpeg
The aftermath

So good that this thing is out, now I can clean and detail the interior from this garbage tomorrow while I wait for this thing to come in the mail on Thursday....:but some of the inside padding is broken and dropping. I know what the “correct” way to fix it is, but replacing the headliner is just a cheap (160 dollar) way to improve the interior until I have the entire top professionally replaced. Can anyone please help me and let me know what the best way to fix it is? Is there a special glue to secure it? It’s like some horse hair composition material. It’s all droopy and broken right on the middle. I am thinking just cutting and removing the pieces hanging will be my only choice at this point

also, I do wish someone sold a precut Foamless vinyl headliner for these cars. The though of putting foam in there again makes me sick

Thanks
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...ec80cfa4f.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...6adee6533.jpeg

I am leaning towards removing the horsehair pad altogether instead of trying to patch it up. It’s already falling apart, so whatever function it serves, I am sure it’s not doing it too well.

Yes! Remove it...

There are other products you can use for insulation.

coconut mattress in the bag.

Current situation; all padding removed. Nothing left but the canvas top. I would like to replace with some foam that I can easily attach to the top to put between the headliner and the canvas top. Something I can buy at Home Depot

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...d1f5c9375.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...142794e61.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...739a92a46.jpeg

Ended up using some Insulation as padding and it’s secured with some fabric glue.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...2ab276852.jpeg

Now the headliner will be coming in today and I am thinking of just securing in with some extra heavy duty Velcro glued to the bows and sown to the headliner

Remember, for me this project is just a meant to hold me over until I have the top plus headliner professionally redone (2k around here), so I am trying unorthodox methods. So far I have the headliner and insulation invested, which is about 180, plus whatever the Velcro costs if I go that route.

From where you are (if the top is still good and can be restored) installing the new liner properly is a pretty straightforward thing... Just say'n

I went ahead and used the Velcro and it’s working so far. This way I can make adjustments as needed. I will use the bow closest to the windshield only