fbekholden.com

Have just purchased a new headlining to fit into my EK sedan. Is this a job that can be done by myself or is it best left to the experts? Does anyone know roughly what it would cost to get it done professionally? I am good with most of the mechanical side but dont have much experience with trim. I am willing to give just about anything a go but you dont get many second chances with vinyl and glue. Can the job be done with out removing the front and rear windscreens? Any advice greatly appreciated.

Headliners are one of those "its easy when you know how " type of jobs.
I put one in a ute once and almost got it right, you have to know how much tension to put into the material so it doesnt crease when the screens go back in.
I have also bought one off ebay recently and it is a job best left for the trimmers I reckon. I am pretty sure the screens need to come out to install them too.

Blacky you are right, the screens need to come out. I'm going to tackle mine in the next couple of weeks. I'll see how I go, if I'm successful I'll post a basic guide and some pics....

Thanks for the input guys. Look forward to hearing how the installation of the headlining goes Devilrod. I have read somewhere that if you spray the headlining with a light mist of water and let it dry for an few days that it shrinks the canvas and pulls the wrinkles out. Has anyone heard of this or better still tried it?

Was a while ago now Devilrod but did you get your head lining in ok - doing mine after chrissie & wanting if you had any problems/tips for a 1st timer

G'day Kermitek.

Heres a link to the forum on mine hoodlining, which I rectified the second time, it is actually easy to fit when you know how.
Yes the front and rear screens have to come out as well. Make sure the roof hoops go into the same place as the ones on the original and the C pillar seam is around 2inches lower than the top corner. Make sure you use a good contact adhesive for securing on the outer areas.
http://www.fbekholden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1413.
I hope this helps you.

Regards John

sorry forgot to mention mine is a ute - but guess the same principals apply

I fitted the headlining to my wife's FE Ute a few months ago, not too hard to do and I am not a trimmer by trade (yet).
The way I did it was to -
1. Get the bows (wires) into position and clip in the smaller retaining wires.

2. Get a tonne (well maybe half) of pegs or bulldog clips. I spent about $15 at "Cheap as Chips".

3. Clamp the centre of the headlining to the front screen opening, then carefully adjust the tension towards the rear and clamp the rear in the centre only.

4. Working evenly side to side (front and rear) make your way around the window openings and adjusting the tension as you go. Keep it reasonably tight because the summer heat will sag it.

5. Loosely push the headlining into the windlace grooves and check the fit of the headlining.

6. After any adjustments, remove a few of the bulldog clips at a time and glue the headlining around the window openings. If you only do about 10-20cms at a time you should be able to maintain the fit you got in the dry run.
about contact adhesive
- Use a good quality contact adhesive, not that shtit in a spray can either, UDA and Daley's have outlets in most states or maybe Clark Rubber would have smaller tubes of the gear.
- Put it on both sides and wait 5 to 10 mins for a good tack before sticking it down.
- Use a small 1cm wide paint brush to put the stuff on.

7. Fit up the windlacing.

HTH

Blue Ute actually doing it tonight. But I'm getting a trimmer to help

We started to do it, but I wasn't too happy with how it was going and opted for the offer of help....