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I finally got around to finishing the headliner project that I started over a year ago. The original headliner board had been wet so many times that it came out in 4 pieces. These were used for a template to cut a new "flat" headliner backing from 1 piece of 1/8" masonite. The material is $3.74/yd automotive vinyl from Walmart and matches the rest of the interior perfectly. Once the lights are back in, and I find some plastic trim, this one will be finished.
Regards,
--
Will Dallas, www.willdallas.us, www.willdallas.org, www.willdallas.com 86 245 DL 222K miles, 93 940 260K miles, 88 765 GLE 152K miles
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Looks good. I spent about twice as much, and probably a lot more time and effort, to reuse the original headliner board, which I was able to get out in one piece. It did not appear to have ever gotten wet (surprising, considering my car has a roof rack) I almost think the flat panel looks better than the complex contour of the original.
How are you going to mount the front dome light?
My car (88 745 GLE) is also silver with a red interior, and I like the contrast of the light gray fabric against the red. Continuing that theme, I also have gray carpet mats on the floor. Breaks up the monotony a bit. However, your vinyl looks more durable and easier to clean, both useful pluses if you load the wagon up with stuff a lot.
I noticed that all the hard plastic edge trim on your back seat back rests is intact. That is very rare. Every other one I've seen has been shattered. Be careful when putting the seat down. Make sure the front seats are far enough forward that the back seat folds down easily.
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You have a good eye! The front dome light is problematic since I don't have any idea how the original was hung. The previous owner ran a self tapping screw up into the sunroof pan which almost cut the lower sunroof panel in two pieces. My thought is to use the plastic license plate holders into the masonite and use a short screw into those. Just before I install the dome light, a shot of Liquid Nail will secure the headliner board to the roof pan and give some additional support.
This car only has 161,000 miles on it. It was a "Lemon" with many previous owners and was wholesaled twice before being given to the Kidney Foundation who junked it. That is why the interior looks good, although the seats got wet in the front with the sunroof open for a few months before I found it. The upper trim is very brittle and I will replace that as soon as I can find a donor station wagon.
Regards,
--
Will Dallas, www.willdallas.us, www.willdallas.org, www.willdallas.com 86 245 DL 222K miles, 93 940 260K miles, 88 765 GLE 152K miles
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The 740/760 dome light mounts to a raised hump in the original headliner board, with a couple of white plastic clips. It is a flimsy, poorly engineered design that is easily damaged. I would recommend looking at another car for a better understanding of how it works. Be VERY careful if you take the light out of its place to see the details of it.
Perhaps a better idea would be to use a 240 dome light instead. This is very similar, if not identical to, the rear dome light of a 7 series wagon, and is much simpler to install. A rectangular hole of the proper dimensions in your new masonite backer board might be all that is needed. Of course, this is a simple single light with 3 position on-off-on with door open switch and no time delay or secondary map/spot lights. The 240 light is fairly shallow, but clearance for the sunroof may still be a problem. If so, look for one out of some other car that is completely surface mounted. Did you plug that hole in the sunroof pan? You will want to, to prevent water leaks.
All the hard plastic interior trim seems to be very brittle on these cars. Note that on 87 and back the pieces around the edges of the headliner are usually black plastic, covered in thin vinyl (that usually peels off) of whatever other color the interior may be, but on 89 and later these parts are molded in colored plastic that seems to be sturdier than the early type. 88 was the transition year, and can have either type. You will find that red interiors are difficult to find, especially wagons. Tan/yellow is the most common, followed by black, then blue, then red and gray, which are the rarest.
My 88 has a similar history to your car. I paid $425 for it at a local wholesale auction, it having been donated to Purple Heart. It had just 108K miles, and plenty of problems (mysterious vibrations, OD not working (AW70), bad steering rack, etc, etc.) It took me quite a while to get it all sorted out, in the process being converted to M46 OD and 3.31 rear axle (from a 4.10) but it has been totally reliable now for over a year and 20K+ miles, and it gets 28-31 miles per gallon with the tall gearing.
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I appreciate the tip on the dome light. The next one in will be something other than the original, and I think a couple of aircraft type map lights in the sunroof motor housing would be a nice touch.
Leakage will not be a problem with this sunroof since I installed a replacement with a new condition seal from an '87 745 last night. It is my intention never to open the darned thing again. As a matter of fact, the car is going to MAACO to have the top painted with the sunroof closed as an extra seal. I had thought of welding it in place then filling and finishing, but did not want to spend the time since the 944 is waiting for a restoration.
Regards,
--
Will Dallas, www.willdallas.us, www.willdallas.org, www.willdallas.com 86 245 DL 222K miles, 93 940 260K miles, 88 765 GLE 152K miles
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Not too shabby!
With the absence of head wells over the back seat, how tall of a person can sit there?
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The sunroof pan is only about 2 1/4" deep so a tall sloucher still fits pretty well. I used a 42" piece of 2x4" pine shaped to match the roof contour and fastened the board to it in 4 places. The board is fastened to the roof rails with 1/4" plastic license plate holders and #8 screws.
Regards,
--
Will Dallas, www.willdallas.us, www.willdallas.org, www.willdallas.com 86 245 DL 222K miles, 93 940 260K miles, 88 765 GLE 152K miles
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Looks nice.
Do you think it would work for a sedan? (it'd have to bend plenty)
and
Did you see any in leather-like tan?
Cheers,
Will
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1990 740 Turbo, on its way to stock specs, maybe beyond
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The Wal-Mart I stopped in did have a light tan material so it probably is available. Whether you can fit this into a sedan or not is beyond me. They should be the same as the wagon. Bending is not an option I would consider.
Regards,
--
Will Dallas, www.willdallas.us, www.willdallas.org, www.willdallas.com 86 245 DL 222K miles, 93 940 260K miles, 88 765 GLE 152K miles
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