HOW TO: Recover the A-Pillars & Windshield Header with New Upholstery (Video)
#1
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This is a pretty simple job. I bought the fabric at Joanne's Fabric and Crafts, which is a national chain here in the US. It's just headliner material, which is a felt-type cloth with a thin foam backing. The light gray color I purchased matched almost perfectly. But, you can see from the video how easy it is to remove the piece with the fabric on it. I suggest you remove it, take it with you to the fabric store, and use it to find the perfect match.
IMPORTANT NOTE! If you have a pre-2003 car, please read WhiteXKR's comments in post #9.
How to re-cover the A-pillar on a Jaguar XK8 - YouTube
Now, here's a video on how to recover the header at the top of the windshield, too!
Jaguar XK8 Windshield Header Recovering - YouTube
IMPORTANT NOTE! If you have a pre-2003 car, please read WhiteXKR's comments in post #9.
How to re-cover the A-pillar on a Jaguar XK8 - YouTube
Now, here's a video on how to recover the header at the top of the windshield, too!
Jaguar XK8 Windshield Header Recovering - YouTube
Last edited by Reverend Sam; 04-22-2012 at 10:05 AM.
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#4
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#7
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I wouldn't. The old adhesive holding the fabric will come loose and your new vinyl will then be lose.
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#8
#9
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Nice one Sam...its going to be a blockbuster....nearly every XK8/R I have seen would benefit from this job.
I did mine last year, and have a few of additional pointers:
-Pre-2003 cars have do not have plastic A-pillars. They are fiberglass boards as is commonly used on headliners. They are a bit more fragile, and care needs to be taken not to fray the edges. The foam residue on these can be cleaned off with a stiff nylon brush. The older ones also have 3 attachement clips, not two, and if they have never been removed before might need a little help popping out by prying from behind with a wide paint scraper. For best adhesion, apply the adhesive to both the board and the fabric, and stretch the material very slightly as you apply it to keep it smooth.
-Many convertibles that need the A-pillars done also need the front roof header done. To drop the header, once the A-pillars are off, you need to remove the visors and visor clips, and pull the roof console straight down. One yard of material is more than enough for the A-pillars AND the header.
-Wlsheadliners.com should have the material online. You should always contact them with your make and model and color. Do not try to match the color from color samples on your computer screen. There were only two colors Jaguar used, grey or tan.
I did mine last year, and have a few of additional pointers:
-Pre-2003 cars have do not have plastic A-pillars. They are fiberglass boards as is commonly used on headliners. They are a bit more fragile, and care needs to be taken not to fray the edges. The foam residue on these can be cleaned off with a stiff nylon brush. The older ones also have 3 attachement clips, not two, and if they have never been removed before might need a little help popping out by prying from behind with a wide paint scraper. For best adhesion, apply the adhesive to both the board and the fabric, and stretch the material very slightly as you apply it to keep it smooth.
-Many convertibles that need the A-pillars done also need the front roof header done. To drop the header, once the A-pillars are off, you need to remove the visors and visor clips, and pull the roof console straight down. One yard of material is more than enough for the A-pillars AND the header.
-Wlsheadliners.com should have the material online. You should always contact them with your make and model and color. Do not try to match the color from color samples on your computer screen. There were only two colors Jaguar used, grey or tan.
Last edited by WhiteXKR; 09-30-2011 at 09:25 AM.
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Rev...If it lasts longer than 4 hours, get it in the shop right away!!
#16
#17
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#19
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Being the perfectionist that I am, I went to a couple difffernt fabric stores and didnt' like the colros of their headliner materials, one was too light, the other was to dark, another had a 'green' tone to it, so...I headed online. In a OCD frenzy, I ordered a yard of four different 'grey' headliners to match my DOVE interior. When I get them, I'll let you know the one that most closely matches the existing fabric -
From onlinefabricstore.net
From WLS Headliners
From onlinefabricstore.net
- Product ID:WEH1808
Product Name: Ox Gray Headlining Fabric Price: $12.50
From WLS Headliners
- Options: Select your headliner color: 2173 Light Gray 1 $12.75 $12.75 Headliner material 60 inch wide Code: 60_HMT
Options: Select your headliner color: 2005 Med Gray 1 $12.75 $12.75 Headliner material 60 inch wide Code: 60_HMT
Options: Select your headliner color: 1927 Lt Titanium