Headliners, conversion
The conversion headliner is designed to go over the existing one-piece headliner and convert it to a bow-hung type. There are several items included in the kit: The headliner, itself will be made from the same type of foam-backed material as the original headliner. There are three channels, three metal rods (bows) and fifteen clips. The clips slide into the channels and the metal rods snap into the clips.
The first thing you must do to prepare the vehicle for the installation of a conversion headliner is to remove the sunvisors, dome light, and coat hooks, and replace the screws from those items back into the holes they came from.
Take the channels, one at a time, and slide five clips into each one, leaving them toward the center of the channel. Then bend the ends downward to match the shape of the roof from side to side. You will have to trim the ends to the proper length. One of these channels should be positioned near the center of the roof, going side to side, but not covering the dome light. Drill a 1/8" hole through the channel and into the roof support of the car. This hole should be about ½" from the end of the channel. You will drill right through the old headliner and into the roof support. Put a ¾" screw into this hole to secure the channel to the car. Do the same at the other end of the channel while pushing upward in the center of the channel. You want to arc the channel up against the old headliner. Secure with another ¾" screw.
Now measure 15" in each direction (front and rear) from the center channel along the sides of the roof support. Make a mark there. This is where the other two channels should be located. When the locations are marked, install the other two channels in the same manner as the center channel. Don’t forget to slide the clips onto the channels before bending them. (Five each)
The conversion headliner has several listings (pockets) sewn into the backside of it that allow metal bows to be inserted through them. Insert the metal bows through them now. Spread the clips evenly along the channels and snap the bows (along with the headliner pockets) into the clips. This will support the headliner up against the roof. Spread the headliner to all sides of the car, straightening out most of the wrinkles. Using a blunted putty knife, tuck the edges of the conversion headliner between the old headliner and the headliner molding, stretching the conversion headliner slightly and removing the wrinkles as you go. It works best if you do the front and rear of the vehicle first, then the sides. Usually no glue is required. Next, locate the screws for the dome light and coat hooks, make a small slit in the conversion headliner at each screw, allowing the screw to pop through the conversion headliner, then replace the dome light and coat hooks with the original screws. Finally, locate the screws for the visors in the same manner as before. Once they are popped through the headliner, you must feel for the hole in the center of the cluster of screws, and carefully cut that out with a scissors. Now you can replace your visors. You are done. It's that easy. The entire job should take about an hour. If you need more information about conversion headliners, visit our website:
www.autoupholsterykits.com