Installing new headliner in 1967 Coupe

[Richard S.]

Does anyone have any helpful hints for installing a new headliner my 1967 coupe? I purchased from Corvette America and it seems to be too large to fit properly. I need some suggestions on how to proceed from anyone who as experienced the same.

[Stephen L.]

Re: Installing new headliner in 1967 Coupe

Measure the new one against the old to see if it is indeed larger. Remember, the headliner is held "up" by the fact that it is arc. I assume you have removed all the trim pieces around the edge.....

[Steven B.]

Re: Installing new headliner in 1967 Coupe

I ran into the same issue when researching for a replacement a little over a year ago. It seems as though some headliners are indeed a tad larger that the stock headliner. I wound up getting a replacement from Al Knoch. I know that some do not feel that all of the parts produced by Knoch interiors have the best fitment. I took a chance and mine fit perfectly and was a comparable price.
As to the headliner, after the trim pieces have been removed as Stephen mentioned, the liner is actually held in place initially by four small sheet metal tabs welded to the cage above the doors. The idea is that the tabs hold the headliner in position while the trim pieces are replaced and then the trim actually holds the headliner on all sides. The remedy I ran into on other threads was that if the headliner was indeed larger that the distance from side to side between the metal tabs, the general procedure was to make some small relief cuts at the point where the tabs would be located on the side of the headliner. There should be something in the archives that will show how others have done this. If you can get the headliner to stay in place while replacing the trim pieces, the rest is easy. I don't know if you could bow the top of the headliner enough to get it to slip over the tabs. That would be something to try first.
My headliner material separated from the fiber board backing and drooped across the compartment. I wonder how many have been replaced after 46+ years. If I had a '66', it would not have been an issue as I believe the '67' was the first year of the padded headliner (to the best of my knowledge).
Good luck,

Steve

[Bill M.]

Re: Installing new headliner in 1967 Coupe

I replaced my 67 headliner a few years ago. the most difficult job i have ever done on a vette. i cant even imagine what it must have been like doing that all day long. I used an Al Knock only advise i have is be patient have a few extra screws and do it during cool weather. ( i sweat out about 5 lbs of water)