Headlining dropping

[biggles]

Biggles is in fine fettle at the moment and just won "Best in Show" at our local car show/fete, but I've got a problem with the headlining.

Above the rear windscreen, the fabric has come out and is now hanging down. I can persuade it behind the rubber window surround but it just comes out again. It's been like this since the respray when the rear window came out.



How should it be attached - is it glued in place or should there be some clips?

Simon

[vue from the north]

hi, there are 3/4 long rods that hold the roof lining up to the roof that run across the car door to door, one each screen end & two in middle i think from memory, if you google search morris minor owners club ( how to fit a headlining ) same car floorpan basically ,theres a step by step guide to how its done,

[canuck]

Aug 27, 2022 17:15:20 GMT biggles said:

Biggles is in fine fettle at the moment and just won "Best in Show" at our local car show/fete, but I've got a problem with the headlining.

Above the rear windscreen, the fabric has come out and is now hanging down. I can persuade it behind the rubber window surround but it just comes out again. 
How should it be attached - is it glued in place or should there be some clips?

Hello Simon,
Congrats on Biggles 'best in show'. Must be difficult to remain humble, no?   

So, my George is also suffering the 'droop'. 



This  headliner simply tucks in behind the windscreen seal and is held in place. In my case, a OE headliner,  and OE seal are a bad combo. My rear seal has morphed to igneous rock hardness and doesn't grip the headlining as it should.  It goes without saying I am search of a new rear windscreen seal.  

In your case I suspect that your 'new' rear screen seal may not be as wide as the OE one



 hence doesn't grip the headliner as it could? 

There is also a tie cord at each end of this headlining. 



Perhaps take a look and see if tightening these will cause the rear edge to become more taught?  
Other than that I suspect a wider screen seal is the ultimate solution.

Bruce

[biggles]

Thanks both, will have a look tomorrow.

[canuck]

Simon,
Where did you source your seal? can you post a photo showing the inside width? 

Thanks
Bruce

[vue from the north]

if its the rear screen seal club spares sell them i believe

[biggles]

Hi again,

Ok this is not getting any better as I managed to tear a bit of the headlining whilst investigating.

It looks like all of the tensioning bars are good and tight. I took some more of the headlining out today to have a look and managed to rip it slightly when I came up against a clip (see picture below).



So, the question is, will there be clips like this all the way along?

If so, then is the headlining fitted and clipped with the rear glass removed? I've never taken the glass out, obviously, but I can make it a winter task if that's what's required.

regards
Simon

[tonyhosk]

Hi Simon

Yes, the headlining is clipped in several places around the rear window surround and also by a couple of piping-like tails - see photos.

tony

[biggles]

Thanks.

I'll take another look.

Simon

[canuck]

Hello Tony,
Thanks for the photos,  quite telling indeed.

So;
are these clips only visible when the rubber seal seal is removed?
are these clips only on the vertical pillar?

TIA

Bruce

[tonyhosk]

Hi Bruce

Yes, the clips are only on the back of the C post, just finishing around the lower curve of the rear screen aperture - see photo.

as you can see from the other photo, things have moved on. Having finished the weldathon and panel fabrication of the bottom foot or so of the entire car as well as most of the floor and inner front wings, I have now spent weeks filling, rubbing down, priming, guide coating, repeat, repeat etc etc and then found a very experienced local painter who kindly agree to accept my prep work and has now painted the shell and boot - we will leave the doors and all front panels until I've rebuilt the car.

tony

Attachments:

[canuck]

Bravo Tony, that car looks dynamite! well done you. 

How about your rear screen seal? have you sourced one yet?

B

[tonyhosk]

Yes, I got one from the Riley Club Spares. I also managed to get a new headlining on eBay made by a company called Newton Commercial who are well known in the UK for remanufacturing interior panels and upholstery for a variety of classics. Lots to do before I attempt fitting it though. I also sourced some new clips for securing the headlining to add to the few I managed to remove in one piece, but I can't recall where I got these - probably eBay again. I suppose I should do a trial fit of the seal without the glass check it.

So far I've refitted the rear axle and suspension and am just finishing the front at present. I'm a bit stuck with having to leave the lower rear wishbone arms attached to the refitted torsion bars some 7 1/16 inches below the horizontal between the inner end outer lower pins - as per the workshop manual instructions for an unloaded bar. If I use a jack to push up the lower wishbone arm I lift the front of the car off the axle stands - there are no doors, front wings, front panel, bonnet or engine/gearbox in place yet so insufficient weight to keep the front on the stands. There is always something!!

I reckon after fitting the new loom and the brake and fuel lines that I'll refit the engine/gearbox to provide the 'ballast' I need to get the lower suspension arm lifted up to attach to the outer swivel pin, then leave it like that until I eventually fit the front wings. I can then measure the distance between the top of the wheel arch to the ground and adjust the torsion bar settings as needed. I presume I would have to dismantle the suspension again to adjust the torsion bars as the manual says it cannot be altered on the adjustment screw with the bar under tension with the weight of the car. Scary stuff!

Tony

[ozriley]

That black paintwork looks fantastic Tony. Is that Two-Pack or acrylic?

Scott

[tonyhosk]

Hi Scott

Many thanks. It is two pack, base and then clear coats. It does look really good, but there are days and days of my priming, guide coating, blocking and then repeating the process once or twice before this really experienced painter worked his magic. I did contemplate painting it myself but never done it before and could never get the garage dust free etc - very glad now I didn't try! After all my welding and panel repair/replacement (again first time so slow and quite a few repeat efforts) I have painted the underside, inner wings and interior with Rustbuster's Epoxy 123 two pack - really good stuff they developed for North Sea oil rigs!!

tony