1957 Fleetwood 60Special headliner questions

[gary griffin]

My car is getting a new headliner installed soon but the previous owner had removed the old one and the chrome trim is in a bundle in my garage. I am going to polish all of it but would really appreciate  a picture of how it goes back together!  The upper portions of the seat upholstery is sunburned and will be replaced also. Car still had factory plastic seat covers on and is pristine except the headliner and the sun rot. I suspect a previous owner was a smoker.

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

Gary,

If you have access to the car you can line up the screw holes in the piece with the body mounting holes to determine location. The chrome edge on the rigid panel that meets the headliner may fit on either side. Test fit any overlapping parts to determine which side to install first. I would try polishing the pieces by hand with something like Mother’s before trying a buffing wheel. This will prevent removing the bright finish.

If your headliner has longitudinal pleats â€" front to back â€" you may want to give the upholsterer the  shop manual. The listing wires supporting the headliner are different and need to be installed in specific location and sequence. If you don’t have the shop manual I can send you copies of the section. However the illustrations and font are really tiny.

HTH

[gary griffin]

Thanks for the advice Ralph.  Car is in a shop but I will be there tomorrow and review what I do have.  The headliner had been removed prior to me owning the car.  I have studied the manual and it is confusing me even more. I am not sure I have everything?? No wires but maybe they are in the car? I think a previous owner was a smoker and the guy I purchased it from was in the process of installing  a headliner and sold the car instead.  Hopefully I have everything?? More to learn every day.