Package tray, headliner, and interior pieces • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **The Toy Peddler** » 27 Jan 2010 1:19

I had the glass guy come over to day, planning on installing the front and rear glass. I already had the side glass in place but needed adusting, lubricating etc. He worked on the side glass getting it aligned but wanted me to complete the headliner, package tray and interior pieces that hold in place near the glass area. That surprised me a bit becuase I thought the glass would go in first.
I will probably get some help in putting in the headliner. I know I have to run the wiring to the dome light first. If I am going to put in the package tray, I guess I should put the speakers in place also (which I haven't purchased yet). So, this leaves me with a few questions.

1. Are there any suggestions on making the installation of the headliner go smoothly? (new aftermarket and new bows)
2. I see in the manual there are "clips" for the package tray. How do they attach and where can I get some?
3. Any suggestions on the order of the interior trim pieces I should install first?

I'm pretty excited to be moving on to the interior. I am working on the wiring as I go along and will be putting in the dash frame soon.
As always, your help is very much appreciated.
Paul

by **Jon** » 27 Jan 2010 3:20

The amount or thickness of gasket material used on the glass needs to be considered. Do a practice fit of the glass and the trim that surrounds them. (Probably need the headliner in to be 100%.) I found that excess caulking will hold back the leading bottom edge of the dash along with varying the reveal of the exterior trim.

Paint the body metal that shows through the front and rear edges so they are not too noticeable too. Say the interior and gasket are black, use the same color.

Hope this all makes sense.

by **dave-r** » 27 Jan 2010 8:53

The headliner is a frigging nightmare to get right. Start above the rear window and work forward. Pay a lot of attention to getting the sail panels right. Buy some very strong clips to hold and stretch the edges above the doors before fixing the trim in place. Take relaxation pills and make sure there are no kids in earshot. Keep some band aids handy. Don't throw anything.

You don't need clips to keep the parcel shelf in place.

It might be better to finish and test the dome light wiring first.

by **The Toy Peddler** » 27 Jan 2010 13:34

Jon,
I am going to leave the glass install to the expert. I just need hints on the interior pieces.
Dave, parcel tray? What the "bloody hell" is that! You speak funny! I must have a weird model because mine has a "package" tray. I am assuming that can just be put in place and then secured at any time after the glass is in.....correct?
I will take your advice on the headliner. I will try to get some help with that because it sounds like it might be a 2 person job.
I have aftermarket sail panels, which aren't nearly the same cut as the originals, but I think I can get them to work. I still have the round clips for them from the old ones. Should I install the rear interior trim pieces as I go and move forward? Do these secure the headliner in place?
Paul

by **dave-r** » 27 Jan 2010 13:38

Next you will be telling me you have fenders, a hood and a trunk on your car instead of wings, bonnet and boot!

And learn to spell TYRE correctly. :lol:

by **Adrian Worman** » 27 Jan 2010 14:14

I got my wife to do the headliner and she made a wonderful job. Got the tension right and tidied up all the loose eges and seams. Women seem particularly adept at upholstery and I tthink they've got more patience than we have :roll:

by **burdar** » 27 Jan 2010 16:11

Resto Rick has a really good run through on how he installs a headliner. Hope this helps.

http://www.restorick.com/tech/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7

by **dave-r** » 27 Jan 2010 16:44

Adrian Worman wrote:I got my wife to do the headliner and she made a wonderful job. Got the tension right and tidied up all the loose eges and seams. Women seem particularly adept at upholstery and I tthink they've got more patience than we have

Jesus.

I have a hard enough time getting my wife to do any housework let alone anything like that. :lol:

by **Adrian Worman** » 27 Jan 2010 17:05

Judging by the state of our house Carol does'nt do much either but I don't care if she doe's my hard work instead. In fact she's in the proces of custom fitting a trunk floor carpet, black with yellow stitching and embroidered Challenger logo and edging. Matches the 4 floor mats she's already done. :wink:

by **The Toy Peddler** » 27 Jan 2010 23:52

Adrian,
Is Carol available for outside work? I won't let my wife near my car! BTW, she not so affectionately refers to it as the "Money Pit"!
I will check out that link.
Now, ANOTHER question. I started to work on the sail panels and found 3 of the roundish clips for either side. On on top left, one on top right and one about in the middle. It looks like there might have been 1 or 2 more on each side. Is this right?
Also, the pointed edges on the bottom of the sail panel channel are for holding the headliner snug, correct?
Dave, I always wanted to use the expression "bloody hell" in a sentence and you finally gave me a chance..........wings bonnet and boot? Sounds like a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car or something. The car has the wings, the guy driving is wearing boots and the lady sitting shotgun is wearing a bonnet.

by **ianandjess** » 28 Jan 2010 4:59

i had 1 of those when i was a kid dont know what happened to it but it was cool with the wiing that fold away
cheers ian

by **dave-r** » 28 Jan 2010 9:18

I sat in the real car from the film when I was a kid. Blew the horn too. :wink:

by **The Toy Peddler** » 28 Jan 2010 14:10

Dave,
You actually call that thing a horn? I would have thought you would have some conveluted name for it like sireene or lori-honker or something to that affect!
Paul

by **dave-r** » 28 Jan 2010 14:57

Actually I seem to remember it sounded more like a large fart. :lol:

by **The Toy Peddler** » 29 Jan 2010 1:20

That link is very helpful. My sail panels are not even close to the originals. I may try to make them work. I found that my rear bow connects to the middle of the sail panel area and there are no "hooks and wires" on it. I wonder if mine is the same year as the one in the link.

by **The Toy Peddler** » 09 Feb 2010 0:36

The headliner is in! And it looks great.......o.k........I broke down and called a local interior guy over to finish the job. I just didn't trust myself to do the job it deserved. I have about 40K into this car at this point and I figured another $200 to make sure the headliner was installed properly was a good decision.