New kid on the block and already got a problem. (Headliner) UPDATE: Problem solved

Hi all, Happy to find this forum, and looking forward to meeting fellow Galaxie fans. My first car in 1972 was a 66 Galaxie 500, 2 door hardtop. Fun car but I was really hard on it and it didn't last long. One problem with the car was one day while cruising down the road at 120 mph the headliner came down on my head. No problem, tore it out and threw it away.
2 weeks ago I bought a very nice 66 from a guy in North Carolina. Nice restoration lotsa new parts, new interior except for the headliner. While crusing down the road at 70 mph (slowing down a bit 34 years later) down comes the headliner. No problem, had a new one sent from Dearborn Classics, and installed a a local auto interior shop. The guy did a perfect job of installing it, looks absolutely wonderful. Go down the road 70 mph and the damn thing comes down again. It looks like it is filling up with air like a parachute. Talk about deja vu, WOW!!!. Anyone got any ideas? I figure someone else has had to encounter this problem before and might know the cure.

Thanks, Dave


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Restored Candy Apple Red 66 Galaxie 500, black interior, 390 z code car with 3 speed manual trans on the column, 3.00 open rear, manual steering, manual brakes, new Cragar SS with BFG TA'S, and new Flowmasters

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Dave66Galaxie on 9/25/06 1:20am ]</font>

The headliner in my '65 does the same thing. At about 65, if all the windows are open, it drops down in the middle. Seems like the rods in the headliner should attach to the roof somehow.
I'll be watching this thread.

RR

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That's really messed up. Sounds like you are doomed to having no headliner. Hopefully someone here has an idea as I hadn't heard of the problem before other than with an old headliner. Do you think the shop that installed it might have an idea for a fix?

Maybe you are getting air in it, perhaps a bad window seal. I would go back to the shop and see what they say. Keep us posted !!!
[addsig]

My '65 Galaxie is fine in the wind but...the problem I had with my 1963 Impala was the same as Dave is experiencing...with all 4 windows down on the 2 door hardtop Impala it was exactly as said...like a parachute deploying...once the back windows were rolled up the problem went away.Marla[img]/forums/images/smiles/icon_bicker.gif[/img][img]/forums/images/smiles/icon_cry.gif[/img]

Guy's..... With the windows rolled down it will cause a Vortex Rotation that will pull down on the center of the mass which is the headliner and it will sag... Maybe the interior guy left out a rod or two or didn't put it in correctly because it SHOULDN'T hang down even under those conditions....


FE
[addsig]

I've seen more than a few convertiables do the same thing, in reverse. I noticed it especially when driving thru the "hot states" during the summer (NM, AZ, TX). The person was flying down the high way with the windows UP and, I guess, the a/c blasting! They were all Amrerican cars, I don't see that with Mercedes, Porcshe or even most Corvettes?

I think its an install problem. I have no idea of how to fix it or if it was a problem when they were new? Maybe its just me...but over 70 or so, I roll up the windows and crack the vents. But to tell the truth, I don't remember that happening on my '65 Galaxie, I'm pretty sure somewhere since I've owned the car, I must have passed 70, 80 or 90 mph with the windows down, at least for a 1/4 mile or so; but that would have only been for a block or two.

Falconaround, is right. Thats why women with long hair, the wind blows it forward instead of backwards. Air flow gets tricky as you go faster.

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Of all the rest..."There are three faithful friends, an old wife, an old dog, and ready money..."-- Benjamin Franklin, 1738 --

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Beoweolf on 9/12/06 11:28pm ]</font>

I don't recall where I heard this, but I heard once that the air gets between the liner and roof by way of the sail planes. With the windows down, the car naturally fills with air then overflows out the windows. Watch your daughter's hair blow around when driving and notice how it does not go straight back (as on a bicycle).

Well, the air also fills the trunk. The trunk air needs an escape route and finds its way up the sail plane area. With enough speed (therefore, pressure), the air fills/stretches/pushes down the liner. I don't know the physical arrangement of anything other than 66s, so maybe this doesn't apply on other than 65-67.

When I replace my liner in another week or so, I'll pay close attention to closing off the sail plane air path. Unless someone figures this out before hand.

Thanks for the ideas. The windows down makes the problem worse, but the other day it did it with the windows up. I seems like what specnot posted is what is happening, that is air pressure building up in the trunk and making it's way up under the headliner by way of the rear roof pillars. The trunk seal is new and looks to fit good.
Dave
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My convertible did the bulge thing on the top when it had one. The long "loops" that hold it to the bows had come unglued so there was nothing to hold it down anymore just as the bows in a headliner.
I always worried that the next tractor trailer rig to pass me would rip the top right off! WOOSH!! Don't have that problem anymore, no top.[img]/forums/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]

Deb