Headliner question, number of rods?

[stugilmour]

I am in the process of ordering the Lodestar headliner kit from Susan Miller. She needs me to confirm whether I have four or five rod attachment.

I have four seams in the existing Lodestar headliner. Feeling through the material, each seam appears to have a rod behind it that is inserted into a sewn tube behind the seam. The seams appear to line up with small Phillips head screws located within the door sealing area. Are these the screws that secure the rod clamps? Does the rain gutter trim have to be removed as well to change the headliner and adjust the rod locations?

I appear to have a fifth rod mid-way between the rear window and the rearmost seam, as shown in the first photo below with a curved line drawn on top for emphasis. It does not fit correctly, as it bulges the existing headliner downwards and looks completely out of place. This rod is located approximately at the front of the courtesy light, and does not line up with a seam in the Lodestar material nor with a visible screw, except perhaps in the rain gutter trim.

So, should I order the four rod or five rod headliner kit? I am reluctant to rip the headliner out because I have not had the car inspected yet and I think it possible that the original configuration has been mucked with on my car. I do not know if the headliner is original to the car, but looking at the general condition I expect it is.

I anticipate it will take quite a while to complete installation of the new headliner, but want to order the required material ASAP.

Any help appreciated.

[stugilmour]

From the current topic regarding fuel tanks and breathers, it just occurred to me that my "extra" rod might be the fuel breather hoses protruding down. Does this sound reasonable?

thx

[Elanintheforest]

Hi Stu
If you have 4 seams you have 4 rods. I guess your assumption is right that you can see the tank hoses...they sit at the back, just about where the 5th rod is located...when you have a 5th rod!
Mark

[kcrossle]

Are the hoses simply held in place by the headliner? Or is there something more substantial?

Thanks, Keith

[rdssdi]

My +2 vent hoses were secured with string and held along the rear window opening. The string was wound many times around the two vent hoses with the ends of either side of two windings tied through small holes in the fiberglass under the rubber seal.

Bob

[stugilmour]

Thanks for the tip on mounting. I ordered up the four rod headliner.