Has anybody had much luck installing the headliner themselves? And if so, what is your secret?

I've been following the MustangMonthly directions from the FAQ section pretty closely, but I'm still not sure how I can pull the sides tight enough to get the wrinkles out without pulling it down too far between the bows. I've got the front end glued on using sprayadhesive and clothes pins, but I'm alittle unsure of starting with the sides and have no idea how I can get nice neat corners.

Also where can I find a brush-on adhesive suitable for headliners?

 

I used to work in the shop next door to an upholsterer. They use steam for everything to stretch the fabric into place. The adhesive should be available from NPD, although I've never looked.

 

When I did mine I did the front first, then back so it was nice and tight in teh middle. Then i did the sides. You have to cut little slits on the curved parts so that it can contour to the edge without wrinkling. Other than that I don't know what to tell ya, you can use a blow drier to heat it up to get wrinkles out (or heat gun but blow driers are safer IMO). Just don't heat it up tooo much! but that'd be hard to do.

 

David,

I assume you got your car out of the shop. Where are the pics???

BTW, NPD does sell a nice adhesive for the job. I didn't use a hair dryer, instead setting it in the sun and then going for it. If it is installed tightly, any wrinkles from being folded in the box will go away.

Good luck!
Jeff

 

Sorry to mislead you Jeff, but no still in the shop [:@] My car came with no headliner when I got it so I put one in (without removing the windsheilds) and it came out pretty decent considering my sail panels were trashed and I've never done it before. It has since come out, but was good practice for only 30 bucks. Believe me when I get it out of the shop there will definitely be a new thread! still a month away if they go by their schedule but doesn't seem very likely...

 

I used trim adhesive from 3m got it @ pepboys.
I hung the liner thru th bows 1st then started in the center of the front and rear glass.
Use a bunch of the small orange spring clips from Home depot.
1 in the center front and rear then ! in the center left and right windows.
Work from your center points out. Switch from side to side front to back you'll se it working. take your time stretch it out use the clips.
Gothand hit it dead on the sun for an hour or so works great but if thats not an option heat gun works better than a hair dryer.
Be careful with the heat stay way back or you'll get shiny spots or burn thru.
The wrinkles will stretch out in a lil bit but a sag wont.
Dont trim anything unless you have to.
I left mine long let it sit for a day then trimmed it up and put on the windlace.
Looked great for years.
Good luck.

 

Thanks for the tips. I'll get a heat gun and maybe a heat lamp to carefully warm things up before I stretch and glue the back and sides.

 

Is it absolutely necessary to remove the windshields to replace a headliner?

 

I had my glass out, it was much easier. I also used 3M. Had to do it twice since I was dumb enough to put it before painting the car and then had to take it back out again.
Here's a link to some pics of the first time...
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2842869/2

 

used contact cement from Home Despot ) much cheaper) 2 old putty knifes,,1 wide and 1 narrow and a butter knife ( all nice and dull as to not cut liner) split some fiber glass home insulation in 2 and used that on the roof to take up slack