How to get a good finish on C pillar headlining?

[jedwards1123]

Gentlemen,
I have the headlining in and I am pretty pleased with the results. Its all lovely and tight and wrinkle free. However i cannot find any reference or advice on how to finish off the C Pillar headlining that tucks under the rear parcel shelf upholstery.
It appears to need to be tucked under, but how to you tension it so it is all lovely and smooth?

Any advice really appreciated.

[Uwon]

On my '86 donor car there is a 8" bar that runs across horizontally along the parcel shelf base. It goes through a sleeve down into the headlining. In your case, you would have to glue the bottom edge of the lining to a metal bar then roll it up to get the tension. I can take a pick for you tonight if you want.
Cheers,
Johan

[Daves911L]

Don't know about later cars, but early ones have a strip (8" sounds about right, and about 3/4" wide) of thin pressboard there. Headliner is stapled to it (glue would be better) and three little sheet metal tabs on the package shelf hold it down. Probably lots of ways it could be done but the point is to hold the end of it down on the package shelf without gluing it to the C pillar.

[tirwin]

On my '83 there was a metal tab with one end cut at a sharp angle. You pull the headliner tight over the tab and then pierce the vinyl to hold it tight. Not sure what years that would apply to.

[wayner]

Are you talking about around the 1/4 window?

Did you remove the window to install the headliner? I think you have to.

When I did mine I used contact cement, let it air dry to tacky, then stretched it over that curve (you get one shot if the cement has set up properly. I used a small wooden roller as I went to make sure there were no creases or folds.

[Uwon]

Hi Jeff,
Here are some pics from my crashed '86. My '78 build has the same tabs on the parcel shelf which I guess you don't have. You could screw in a couple of hose brackets to mimic the tabs and hand sew/glue the sock for the rod, bTW, the rod measures 9" plus the small L-bend.






Wayner's method above may be a good alternative.
Good luck.
Johan

[jedwards1123]

Many thanks,
As my car is Slate Grey, and I am working in my garage with poor lighting, perhaps I do have small metal tabs for this purpose, but never saw them for what they are.

Many thanks for the great advice. I'm sure I can work it out form here.

Jeff

[sc_rufctr]

Jeff

My 78 has the tabs but it didn't have the rod shown above. As others have posted the headliner is just hooked under the tabs.