Best way to remove headliner?

[Fastback50]

First of all, thanks to all on this forum that have answered my MANY questions in this last month.  It really is appreciated, and nice to see other fellow car enthusiasts.  Just let me know if I wear out my welcome lol.

 

 

I searched the forums and didn't find anything about how to go about removing my headliner.  I'm going to do it, as it's holding the last of the mouse odor in it, and it's unsalvageable in my opinion anyway.  Can I just go at it with a razor knife?  I know that I should probably save the cross members that I can feel in there, but other than that is there any other method or things that I should know about to save?  Thanks.

 

Joe

[ptwothree]

Box cutter worked for me....just be careful of any wiring that might be lurking around up there.

[_shel_ny]

Mark the cross bars in order of the position from which they are removed. I do not believe that they are all the same.

[casper50]

if you get a new one made it's cheaper if you have the old one for a pattern.  Don't destroy it.  Take it out carefully.

[chopt50wgn]

like Shel said..............as you remove the "stays" which are the metal rods, make sure you number them from front to back or vice versa. Use a piece of tape and as you take them out number them with a magic marker too so it doesn't fade. If you take it somewhere or do it yourself, you will be glad you marked the stays.

  FYI............go to SMS fabrics website. They have headliners for lots of old Mopars. I had one made for my 50 Ply. wagon and it fit perfectly. But I did have the guy who did my interior put it in.

[Plymouthy Adams]

each rib is stamped with letters..do use a piece of tape when removing them but put the correct cross letter on the tape when taken down then record that "order of arrangement by letter" to your build sheet/records for as you clean them to go back as the letter will be easier to keep track of than a piece of tape as you handle them during cleaning and reinstall

Edited May 16, 2016 by Plymouthy Adams

[Eneto-55]

If it is not in tatters, and if you are thinking of making your own, or having a local shop make one, I would remove it as carefully as possible, to use as a pattern.

 

I replaced the headliner in another car myself once, and when I took mine out of the P15 I kept it in one piece for quite a while, intending to make alignment markings for each panel, but later forgot and took out the seams w/o doing that.  My experience with the first one was that it is difficult to properly align the separate panels, and then you can have wrinkles, or some panels which will not reach in spots.  The material in the other car was less forgiving, so maybe that would not be as serious of a problem here.

[James65]

Recently replaced the headliner in my d24.  I used a pre-made from e-bay.   I spray painted the 4 supports each with a different color (on one side only) where they met the support groments.  Was my first headliner install & went well. Having a second pair of hands is a great help.

[Dodgeb4ya]

Recently replaced the headliner in my d24.  I used a pre-made from e-bay.   I spray painted the 4 supports each with a different color (on one side only) where they met the support groments.  Was my first headliner install & went well. Having a second pair of hands is a great help.

Nice wrinkle free install!!!