51 Starlight Coupe Headliner interior question

[lelshaddai]

As I work out the overheating problem I am also starting the interior. The seats go Friday, h door panels, which I made will be covered next week. I am having a headliner made. This is where the question comes from. I know that the headliner attaches down by the b pillar to the tack strip. I know that I will need to make the lower panels to meet the headliner. How does that all attach? Do the lower panels get tacked to the strips and the headliner glued onto the lower panels? Does the headliner just tuck under the rubber of the rear window? How does this all work?

[mapman]

There should be some metal strips around the upper door frames that the edge of the headliner and the windlace is slipped under. I bought the panels from Loga enterprizes and the positioning of the things became much clearer as they had all the holes for the ash trays etc. on them. They fit well and made it a lot easier than I had antisipated. Recovering the beer coolers was probably the most diffiicult of the whole process for me. Once the headliner was installed on the rods it was just stretch it and attach it. I had the rear windows out when I installed it but I don't think they have to be.

[TWChamp]

I've never done upholstery, but have read that the headliner goes in before the rear window, so I'm guessing the window needs to be removed.

[gjamesk]

Jim, there is tack strip along the top of the rear windows, this also runs along the front and bottom of the forward window sections. It's all hidden by the window rubbers. Not sure how well you can attach it without removing the windows but if your rubber is still flexible it may be possible. The windlace attaches to the tack strips around the doors, and then there are toothed metal strips that screw in over that the headliner is tucked under. I don't see those in your pic, I assume you have them? The rear panels come up even with the door window trim and overlap the headliner where it's attached to the tack strip. These also attach to the tack strip along the bottom of the front window section. Hope this helps.

[lelshaddai]

Garry,
I do have the teeth strips and bows. They are just not installed. Do you have a closeup pic of where the bottom panel meets the headliner at the B pillar? I know there is a tack strip there. Do you tack the headliner in the tack strip and then lay the lower panel over the headliner? How does the lower panel connect to the headliner? You cannot tack it or it would showing nails. How does the headliner cover up the windlace along the door?

[lelshaddai]

Garry, how are the lower panels attached next to the windlace at the rear of the door?

[gjamesk]

The headliner goes over the metal strip along the door and tucks under and is held by the teeth at the back of the strip. This brings the headliner even with the edge of the "bulb" in the windlace. The rear panels that Rene made for me have a heavy fabric strip the length of the forward edge, so the panel was attached to the tack strip along the rear of the doors with the backside showing, and folded to the rear and attached to the window tack strip. This way there are no fasteners showing and makes a nice finished installation. I did put a screw in at the bottom to firmly attach it. There is no attachment at the headliner overlap, although I have seen pics where a screw was used. I believe mine is as the factory did it.

[52-fan]

You are correct about the screws. The 52 Champion Starlight I owned did not have any screws showing in that rear panel.

[rockne10]

And you'll probably want to replace all the old crumbling tack strip with new urethane strips available from Restoration Specialties in Windber, PA. It's difficult to secure upholstery to tack strips that are themselves no longer secure; and those urethane strips are marvelous.

[gjamesk]

And you'll probably want to replace all the old crumbling tack strip with new urethane strips available from Restoration Specialties in Windber, PA. It's difficult to secure upholstery to tack strips that are themselves no longer secure; and those urethane strips are marvelous.

Yep. I used a combination of the plastic and the laminated cardboard strips using self tapping flat head phillips screws to hold it. The original was pretty bad and falling apart.

[JohnMSeymour]

I am also going to install a new headliner in my Starlight coupe. The previous headliner had been glued in along the rear window seal. RadioRoy has posted that he has used this method.
I dread the idea of removing the windows to install the headliner.
Maybe RadioRoy can chime in about the subject.

[lelshaddai]

Yes options would nice not to remove back windows. My rubber is still somewhat soft and can pull out.

[RadioRoy]

I did both of my starlight coupes without removing the rear windows. I still own one of those cars and the headliner is still OK after almost 40 years. Currently sick with a cold, so only hitting on a few cylinders. When I get more energy I will write up the procedure.

[lelshaddai]

That would great. Thank you.
Jim

[JohnMSeymour]

What a guy!

I did both of my starlight coupes without removing the rear windows. I still own one of those cars and the headliner is still OK after almost 40 years. Currently sick with a cold, so only hitting on a few cylinders. When I get more energy I will write up the procedure.