Headlining - Resto Show NEC 2022

Body parts, seats, dash, headlining, windows and stuff!

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rbgosling
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Headlining - Resto Show NEC 2022

Post by rbgosling »

Better late than never! Here's some pics from when I did the headlining on Lilith at the Resto show at the NEC back in March.

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In my rush to finish, I never got any photos of the finished article!! Besides, it STILL isn't, actually, finished... I've now at least got my wife Heather to re-cover the sun visors, although I still haven't fitted them, and the C-pillar trims are still waiting for me to finish them off...

I'll try and get some photos of it as it stands posted soon!
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)

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Re: Headlining - Resto Show NEC 2022

Post by dukeashton »

Looks like a very thorugh and great job!

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pistolpete
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Re: Headlining - Resto Show NEC 2022

Post by pistolpete »

Looks a very satisfying job. can you get spare or replacement rubber seals for your sunroof, as you would have had to finish around that area

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rbgosling
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Re: Headlining - Resto Show NEC 2022

Post by rbgosling »

I didn’t need to disturb the sunroof mechanism at all, only the internal trim. That said, the sunroof is whistling at speed so I need to do something about the seal anyway.
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)

Lozza74
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Re: Headlining - Resto Show NEC 2022

Post by Lozza74 »

From the look of those pictures there does not appear to be any metal foil left on the roof around the sunroof.
I was reading up on DAB / FM car aerials the other day and learnt that this foil is probably fitted to provide a 'ground plane' that acts to significantly improve radio reception.

How is the quality of your radio reception?

Ive just replaced my headlining, and after the foil came off with the old headlining ended up putting foil lined Dynomat on the roof, but that was just luck as I didnt appreciate the role the foil played at that time.

Richard

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rbgosling
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Re: Headlining - Resto Show NEC 2022

Post by rbgosling »

Hi Richard,

Yeah, the foil came off as I tried to clean the surface up ready for the new lining. Radio reception remains as good as it ever was in my rural corner of Northamptonshire, so I don't think it's made any difference.
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)

Zaphod
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Re: Headlining - Resto Show NEC 2022

Post by Zaphod »

Does anyone know where I can get a suitable pieces of backing board for the large sections of headlining? It needs to be over 101cm wide (apparently ideal is 105cm) the widest I can find seems to be 1M..
Of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most...

1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel

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rbgosling
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Re: Headlining - Resto Show NEC 2022

Post by rbgosling »

Zaphod wrote:
Tue Sep 13, 2022 16:09
Does anyone know where I can get a suitable pieces of backing board for the large sections of headlining? It needs to be over 101cm wide (apparently ideal is 105cm) the widest I can find seems to be 1M..
The factory approach is to glue the headlining directly to the fibreglass roof. Some people have used a backing board instead, I wouldn't do that personally as my height means I cannot afford to lose a millimeter of headroom!
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)

Zaphod
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Re: Headlining - Resto Show NEC 2022

Post by Zaphod »

The surface quality of my roof underside after previous owners efforts with various glues leaves me no options! and headroom is not an issue for me!
Of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most...

1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel

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Hawaiis0
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Re: Headlining - Resto Show NEC 2022

Post by Hawaiis0 »

Zaphod wrote:
Tue Sep 13, 2022 16:09
Does anyone know where I can get a suitable pieces of backing board for the large sections of headlining? It needs to be over 101cm wide (apparently ideal is 105cm) the widest I can find seems to be 1M..
Go to a scrapyard and look for the lining panel off a van or mpv
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!

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Re: Headlining - Resto Show NEC 2022

Post by Zaphod »

Hawaiis0 wrote:
Wed Sep 14, 2022 17:10
Zaphod wrote:
Tue Sep 13, 2022 16:09
Does anyone know where I can get a suitable pieces of backing board for the large sections of headlining? It needs to be over 101cm wide (apparently ideal is 105cm) the widest I can find seems to be 1M..
Go to a scrapyard and look for the lining panel off a van or mpv
Are there any local? Challows empty!
Of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most...

1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel

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Hawaiis0
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Re: Headlining - Resto Show NEC 2022

Post by Hawaiis0 »

Zaphod wrote:
Wed Sep 14, 2022 17:16


Are there any local? Challows empty!
Claridges - Carterton

https://www.claridgemotorsalvage.com
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!

Zaphod
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Re: Headlining - Resto Show NEC 2022

Post by Zaphod »

Is this one piece or three? as I those I have seen seem to be one section along the front and one each side, but this looks like one piece? (I don't have the original!)
Image
Of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most...

1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel

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Re: Headlining - Resto Show NEC 2022

Post by MetBlue »

Original was three pieces, but can be done on retrim in one piece.
Watch out though, the unwrapped template has the side pieces splayed out considerably more than you'd think. They don't run perpendicular to the front on the cut shape. - hope that makes some sense.
Tony
What goes together.... Must come apart.

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Re: Headlining - Resto Show NEC 2022

Post by Alan_M »

As Tony says if doing in one piece the two legs will splay out quite a bit when lying flat.
I would suggest making a paper template in 3 pieces and using these to cut three separate pieces or tape together the three pieces while still on the header rail to get the shape needed.

On the original the three pieces are stitched together. What some do is use three pieces, but double back the material at ehe joins to make neat edges that butt together.

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