DIY headliner installation.

[555ttg]

Hi fellow XJ-S/XJS owners. I had answered a post on the BB last week, about DIY headliners and the costs. I have just finished my 3rd install and am very pleased with the results. I guess practise makes perfect? Let me know what you think of it, it cost me about $60 in parts, and about 8 hours work spread over 2 days.
Phil
Hmmm, apparently my pictures are too big, and I don't know how to make them smaller, but if anyone is interested, email me and I will send them on

[Mr.Ian]

Looks a very neat/tidy job, that job for me is a long way off at the moment, bodywork needed first. What did you use to remove the remains of the old lining/foam from the biscuit roof panel????

[555ttg]

Believe it or not, all I used to remove the debris from the adhesive and old foam backing, was a stiff bristled brush, as found in a dust pan & brush set! It works a treat, if you're careful!
I did write a detailed description of the process elsewhere in the BB. Look up my posts, and you'll find it, it was recently, since the BBs have been up and running again.
Phil

[PaulGover]

A warning from one who learnt the hard way: take care not to short out the interior lighting circuit when changing the lining. It's quite easy to touch the bare end of the lucar connectors to the roof. In my case, as a result the car refused to start. Spent an hour in the pouring rain heaving it up a small slope back into the garage at midnight.

OK, so why wouldn't it start? Took an entire day before light dawned . Turns out the after-market immobilizer fitted to the car was, you guessed it, powered off the interior light circuit. No lights meant about 10 relays isolated the fuel pump, ignition, engine management, starter, Uncle T Cobbley and all.

[555ttg]

Hi Paul,
Wow, you had a nasty experience there, funny you should mention the shorting out. I actually shorted mine out, when changing the bulb, but it only blew the fuse, because I don't have any immobilisers fitted, so just changed the fuse and all well again.
Phil

[ng4xjs]

I've found over the years that there are a number of short-cuts and techniques that can help get the overall time of the project down considerably. For instance lots of pieces of trim don't need to be removed and neither does the rear seat.

The most time consuming item is the removal of the old adhesive and particularly if the biscuit is cardboard rather than the later fiberglass.

It is though a very rewarding job once complete and just finishes off the interior. A high temp adhesive is also a must.

Happy days
Nick