MTFCA Forum

Are the top ribs supposed to be curved top and bottom or just the top side on a 26 coupe? My top wood kit has them curved top and bottom side.Seems to me that is going be a pain to get the headliner in. thanks

Gary: they are uniform cross-section, curved pieces. There's another post on the same topic going on now, you might find that useful.

Here's an older post that should answer your question: viewtopic.php?t=12178&p=91980&hilit=door+sag

Headliner is attached at the edges only and runs straight across. It is not attached to the ribs, so, does not follow the curvature of the ribs, though, as my photo shows, the top of the body at the rear (and front) has a curvature from right to left with the peak in the center, that gives the headliner a curvature that follows the curvature of the ceiling, somewhat, without being attached to the ribs. When I did my upholstery, the roof was already in so I was unable to attach the headliner to the main roof frame as recommended. Luckily, there was 3/4” of wood showing below the ribs and above the body top all the way around the rim, which I nailed the headliner to as close to the ribs as possible after stretching it tight. The “Carter’s Cut and Cover” kit provided no covering for the headliner nails going in the side of the frame, so I went to the hardware store and got a long piece of 3/4” PVC quarter round and, with a heat gun, formed the quarter round around the back corners, then nailed the quarter round to the roof frame with the excess headliner material hanging down behind the quarter round. When the quarter round was nailed in place into the side of the main frame over the headliner nails, I wrapped the excess headliner material hanging down behind the quarter round up and over the quarter round and stuffed it in the tight joint between the top of the quarter round and the headliner that was tight against the headliner. Not perfect, but sufficient. Jim Patrick

The headliner is fastened to each rib so it will follow the curvature of the rib. There should be a cloth strip sewn to the back side of the headliner that gets fastened to the side of the ribs. Apply contact cement to the side of the rib and the cloth strip and it will hold in place so your hands are free to hammer in the tacks.

Thanks Gary