Headlining rail question

[Johnwindwood]

Guys

We have a trimmed headlining kit awaiting us at Lotusbits. The plan was to use the acrylic sheet idea for the main roof sections. However, we noticed from the parts book that there should be a removable rail running across the car at the back just above the rear window. Ours doesn't have one, but my Wife had a look and says that it seems there are holes for fixing clips.

However, I just phoned Lotusbits to ask if they had one, and they tell me that my car shouldn't have one and that the material glues straight to the roof, tucking up by the rear window. This rather puts paid to the acrylic sheet idea, doesn't it ? I'm also not sure how I'm going to glue it neatly........

Question-anyone with a 1984/5 car-does yours have the clip on rail right at the back, running across the car?

[Johnwindwood]

Hmm....had a close look at the car. It has holes drilled in the body, four pairs of two. (There were four two-screw clips to hold the rear rail.)
There is also no evidence of glue on the rear body moulding where the rail cover would fit. I'm pretty sure our car SHOULD have the moulding.
Back on the phone then......

[amarshall]

That rail was discontinued for 85MY. You shouldn't have it.

I'd recommend some double sided tape and cut the cloth slightly too long so you can tuck it round into the gap that faces the window.

See my thread here about using removable panels for the roof lining for some more hints.

[Johnwindwood]

That's what Mike says Angus, but there is literally NO glue residue on that rail at all, which there would be surely if it had been directly glued?
I'm just confused, because the car was in such a state it's difficult to know what it should and shouldn't have !

Double sided tape? You mean under the headliner or to hold the removable panels? Was planning to use sheet acrylic.

[amarshall]

Along the rear rail to support the fabric just before it wraps round into the slot. It's easier to apply than glue.

[bash]

Done a couple of these now so Ive got it off to a tee, perhaps I should offer a service to you all, but, to answer the question the big flat panels can be a pain to do but you dont need the panel method. Take the front seats out. Mask off the rear window first with tape, cut your material oversize by at least 3" all around. Use the high temperature spray adhesive from wollies as it doesnt come off again when its hot and is easy to work. Get a workbench set up at the side of the car, a wallpaper table is ideal and get another pair of hands if possible. You need to stick the big bit up first, spray all the roof in a cobweb design twice, one at right angles to the other including a good covering on the forward face of the rear rail, dont try and do the bit directly next to the window. Spray all your material the same as the roof and then wait a couple of minites for it to be almost touch dry. This is where the other pair of hands comes in, if any of the material touches any other bit of material not only will it really really stick but it will leave a mark even if you get it separated... a new bit will be required in other words. Drape half of the material ( one side of the car ) over your arms and pass it in to the other person inside the car at the opposite side who will take it off you in a similar fashion. Get inside yourself and stick the centre of the material on front to rear. It helps if you put a mark on the centreline of the roof front and rear and the same with the material but dont use a big black mark because you will see it through light coloured material. gently, with the back of a clean hand work the material onto the big bit of the roof without any creases. When thats on stick it to the front edge of the rear rail and then the flat part of the rear rail. Get some very sharp sissors and a spreader similar to whats used for spreading filler. What you need to do is to have about 6 to 8 mm of material to stick into the gap between the header rail and the window plus what is needed to wrap around the fibreglass roof, get this wrong and its start again. Cut the material and push it into the gap with the edge of the spreader, it seems to be easier to do this starting at one end. The glue thats already on the material will stop it falling out of the gap. Then trim the rest of the excess material off around the roof. This all needs to be done in one go straight after each other so get organised before you attempt it.
Thats easy enough int it, have you done the sun visors yet cos thats really fun.

Bash