1958 356a sunroof headliner

[Etienne Kerkhoffs]

Bill, in your second post, you have attached a picture of a sunroof headliner. When you look closely, you'll notice a seam in the middle. That's the seam that holds the muslin to the headliner.

[Bill Wridge]

Bill,
I have this pic of the frame and another piece, not sure if this is the 'V Piece' that is mentioned here.
Also other pics of the latching mechanism, etc. if you want them. The headliner has a muslim
cloth (hope that is politically correct) glued to the backside and it wraps around the center bar in the frame.
Gary

Hey Gary
I have a big roll of headliner material that I plan on using unless the shapes are too complicated then I will get a headliner kit. Do you have a kit? if so are there lots of seams or is it pretty much straight forward?
Thanks
Bill

[Tom Tate]

Bill,
The only seam on a sunroof headliner is the one between each side window and the rear window. It can be seen on page 63 of Neil's Book (the A Coupe -Documented Details) It is roughly a straight line connecting the two windows about midway in the back glass. There is stitching showing on the panel that covers the sliding panel because that fastens the piece that is held in place by the metal strip that has been pictured above. Tough to describe but I think the photos will help. KTF

[Bill Wridge]

Bill,
The only seam on a sunroof headliner is the one between each side window and the rear window. It can be seen on page 63 of Neil's Book (the A Coupe -Documented Details) It is roughly a straight line connecting the two windows about midway in the back glass. There is stitching showing on the panel that covers the sliding panel because that fastens the piece that is held in place by the metal strip that has been pictured above. Tough to describe but I think the photos will help. KTF

I think that may be the only book I do not have, haven't even heard of it. I will have to check it out on Amazon.. I got the idea for the sunroof sliding panel itself but it is the rest of the headliner in the car I am trying to figure out now. I just went and took a picture and I see that the X-bar with all the narrow vertical [actually sort of key hole shaped] slots in it is probably where the seam is to hold up the headliner. Now just a couple questions. How is the headliner attached to this X-bar? I presume that a piece of fabric is sewn to the headliner and then somehow attached to the slots. The second question is where the headliner is attached to the roof just aft of the sunroof. I presume it is wrapped around the bar with all the wavy lines aft of the sunroof and glued on the back.
Thanks
Bill
PS------OK I just ordered the book from Amazon....Thanks

[Jim Karaba]

The headliner does not attach to that bar with the verticle slots. I will take some pics today and post them. I just did a manual sunroof headliner.

[Jim Karaba]

Here are some pics

[Jim Karaba]

a few more

[Tom Tate]

Great job in that headliner Jim but the photos raise more questions. Is that a T6 rear window defroster piece I see and is that a vent window on the door I see? It looks like a manual sunroof but is it a T5 maybe?

[Bill Wridge]

Great job in that headliner Jim but the photos raise more questions. Is that a T6 rear window defroster piece I see and is that a vent window on the door I see? It looks like a manual sunroof but is it a T5 maybe?

No vent window on my 1958 356a Sunroof Coupe either. Jim...Could you take 1 more picture of the rear part of the headliner to show the seam back there? By my trials The headliner already touches the bar with the slots and I cant see a need for the supporting seam there. NICE JOB JIM! I also see that there is a seam between the back window and the side window.

I was looking for the front rubber seal in my collection of weatherstripping I purchased in about 1970 (58 pieces) for the car and out of all that I guess I missed getting the forward seal. I can't even tell what most of the rubber is for anymore. The below link has lots of info on the sunroof seals that blends in with this topic

http://porsche356registry.org/356talk/t ... nroof+seal

[Jim Karaba]

Tom
yes you got me. That is a 64 SC with a manual sunroof grafted in. I grafted that in about 10 years ago and we just refreshed the car so I put a new headliner in.

Bill
There is no seam at all in the upper portion of the headliner. It glues to the sunroof opening and is stretched to the rear and side window openings and glued. The only sewn seam is that verticle seam on each side between the rear window and side window. Not to say don't do it, but I cant see trying to make the headliner when a new one already sewn up is only 114.00 at Stoddards.

[Bill Wridge]

Tom
yes you got me. That is a 64 SC with a manual sunroof grafted in. I grafted that in about 10 years ago and we just refreshed the car so I put a new headliner in.

Bill
There is no seam at all in the upper portion of the headliner. It glues to the sunroof opening and is stretched to the rear and side window openings and glued. The only sewn seam is that verticle seam on each side between the rear window and side window. Not to say don't do it, but I cant see trying to make the headliner when a new one already sewn up is only 114.00 at Stoddards.

Thanks again Jim
I was going to order the headliner from Stoddard then I found my old roll of headliner and just decided to try it that way first. Maybe it will just be a practice session. Well I built my sunroof frame all over again and things are looking better.You have been a great help.
Bill

[Bill Wridge]

Here are some pics

Jim
Is that a custom box built in the Parcel area. Maybe I see a CD player or ?? there?

Holey Moley !! Upon closer inspection-----Is that an air conditioner in the box?

[Jim Karaba]

Man you guys are figuring out all my secrets. Yes that is an air conditioner. It still allows the rear seats to be folded up as well. My first version was when I built the pre-a in my avitar. I wanted it to be disguised as a piece of luggage sitting behind the seat. When driving I would put the seat back down and have access to the air vents. I also installed speakers for a hidden audio system. We wanted something similar in this car just minus the speakers. This car has a hidden radio/xm satelite radio in the glove box.

[Etienne Kerkhoffs]

Some pictures of my headliner job that I did a few weeks ago.

[Bill Wridge]

[quote="Etienne Kerkhoffs"]Some pictures of my headliner job that I did a few weeks ago.

Your 1st picture P7211824.JPG....What is this showing? is this muslin or headliner material to cover the bars before installing the headliner?

Great pictures!!! Helps a lot.
Bill