Hard Top Headlining

[NickA]

Finally gotten around (five years :?) after having the Stag resprayed to deciding it's about time I sorted the hardtop headlining out. It's covered in overspray and five years worth of dust where the cover didn't quite err cover.

Should have done it in the summer but never got around to it so now it's on the dining room table, old lining part way off and my new lining bought cheap of flea bay in the bin with the old lining. What a waste of money; it's a thin material, wrong pattern and poorly stitched together.

A quick search here seems to suggest Aldridge sell a quality product. My first replacement headlining was from Paddocks in 1999 and IIRC was a good match for the OEM one I replaced. I think Paddocks headlinings are sources from Aldridges?

I was at the point of ordering a clip kit to fit the side and front trims but the price just didn't cut it. A quick google found these boys http://www.bresco.com/ a full set of clips including rivets for less than one supplier wanted for just the clips! Bargain.

Pic so far:

[jleyton]

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Hi Nick,

I did just what you're doing earlier this year - even down to the hardtop being the same colour !

You're right about Paddocks selling Aldridges' headlining. I got mine from Paddocks as it was a bit cheaper and the quality was first class - except for one problem where they'd stitched the 'C' pillar covers in the wrong place.(Easily sorted)

I'd never done the job before but I reckon it's turned out ok. I've written up some notes for a couple of people who were also going to replace headlining which I could send to you if you want?

Good luck - I reckon it's a pretty rewarding task

Cheers

Julian

[alan230752]

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jleyton wrote:

Hi Nick,

I did just what you're doing earlier this year - even down to the hardtop being the same colour !

You're right about Paddocks selling Aldridges' headlining. I got mine from Paddocks as it was a bit cheaper and the quality was first class - except for one problem where they'd stitched the 'C' pillar covers in the wrong place.(Easily sorted)

I'd never done the job before but I reckon it's turned out ok. I've written up some notes for a couple of people who were also going to replace headlining which I could send to you if you want?

Good luck - I reckon it's a pretty rewarding task

Cheers

Julian

I sold my hard top because the headlining was ****e
brought another with good intact lining and all complete
cost of nett price £45
after selling hardtop
buying replacement and painting

steering pumps are easier:P


alan

[jleyton]

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alan230752 wrote:

I sold my hard top because the headlining was ****e
brought another with good intact lining and all complete
cost of nett price £45
after selling hardtop
buying replacement and painting

steering pumps are easier:P


alan

Ah yes Alan, but you missed out on the satisfaction of seeing it all come together and being really proud of the job you'd done - Just like you were with your steering pump.

I must admit to being slightly apprehensive when I first started stripping my hardtop but as I started rebuilding it I really began to enjoy myself - must admit though, your solution turned out a lot less expensive :shock:

Cheers

Julian

[alan230752]

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Know what you mean.half the fun of owning a stag is the satisfaction of restoring parts and generally working on them.
but don't fix it if it ain't broke though
alan

[davidhelencole]

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I'm about to do this job.A copy of your notes would be very welcome.



Regards



Dave

[NickA]

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Parts List so far:

Headlining kit inc cardboard bits http://www.aldridge.co.uk/

Rivets, metals clips and plastic clips for front,side & rear trims (kit) http://www.bresco.com/ (they also sell on fleaBay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=350419668608

Clips to hold front finishers (the black plastic bits) http://www.leacymg.co.uk/ My parts catalgue has these wrongly as 622249 which are the clips on the end of the metal rails. Part No should be GHF1083. Anyone with an original headlining still fitted confirm to my pedantic side that these should be white rather that black?

[AlanD]

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completed mine with the help of Julian. his notes are good so is his advice. i put my lining in the dryer on low heat to warm it up swmbo thought i had lost the plot, really pleased with the end result too. i also injected Bilt Hambler wax, a bit messy as it runs out of every crevace and hole, recomend to be done out side i put mine on a old quilt on the dinning room floor to work on, and used pegs to hold it into place till it dried out, thanks for the tip Julian works really well. just one thing i noticed with the cardboard from Aldridge's, it was about an inch too short accross the back of the hardtop :?i now have a small gap either end.

its on now and looks great just need the snow to disapear so i can test driver her

[NickA]

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AlanD wrote:

I completed mine with the help of Julian. his notes are good so is his advice.

+ 1

AlanD wrote:

i put my lining in the dryer on low heat to warm it up  swmbo thought i had lost the plot, really pleased with the end result too.

I was thinking airing cupboard for an hour or two just to get it nice and stretchy; I'd be frightened it'd melt in the tumbler

[jleyton]

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Thanks for your kind comments Alan and Nick,

Dave, if you can PM me your email address Ican send you some pictures as well as my notes.

Cheers, fellow headliners :dude:

Julian

[AlanD]

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it was a mad idea i know putting it in the dryer :shock: but it was on the cool program thats why Lynne thought i had lost the plot it did work well and it was only for a couple of mins with me watching it :shock: you should have seen her face when i asked her for her pegs :shock:

[jleyton]

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alan230752 wrote:

but don't fix it if it ain't broke though
alan

Yep, you're right - but mine certainly was broke - the headlining was in as good condition as the hardtop :shock:

Cheers

Julian

[NickA]

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jleyton wrote:

alan230752 wrote:

but don't fix it  if it ain't broke though
alan

Yep, you're right - but mine certainly was broke - the  headlining was in as good condition as the hardtop :shock:

Cheers

Julian

Did you seriously repair that? :shock: I'd have be straight onto fleaBay if my hardtop was half as bad. I'll like to see some pics of the fabrication. IMHO the Hardtop has to be one of the hardest part of the Stag to repair if it's rotten.

[jleyton]

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No, I have to admit that one was too far gone, but the second hand one I bought to replace it with, which looked pretty good at first, turned out to be far from good :shock:

Ironically, this rusty green one had a better headlining than the one inmy replacement hard top :?

Cheers

Julian

[Duncan Skye]

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Dear Julian,

Replacing the headlining on my hardtop is a task I'm going to have to get round to when my current restoration is complete. Could I ask for a copy of your notes as well please?

With best wishes,

Duncan, Skye