Headliner clips near rear window

[jclayc]

I have a 63 ragtop and I’m putting in a headliner. Watching Chris Vallone’s video, it looks like all the clips that are vertical along the sides of the rear window are all able to be “opened” to eventually clip the headliner into. But on mine, like every 4th clip seems to be spot welded to the body.

It doesn’t seem to be like that on the passenger side. Maybe some work was done on the drivers rear roof corner and someone decided to tack every 4th one down?

Do you think having every 4th clip closed will impact my install?

[Schnitzelfuss]

As I close in on painting time I’m prepping the little things that can bite new paint, including prying the headliner clip tabs out and away from the body to accept a new headliner someday. Similar issue the OP found with my ‘66 sedan but in my case, every other clip is flattened to the body and appears to have never been used. All other clips show clear evidence of being used to secure the headliner. But heck if I know. Is this a concern? I don’t want to pry them out just to have to push them back against the body.
PS I hope this question generates more replies than the OP.

[jinx758]

Just by looking at the design the flat part is supposed to stay following the contour of the roofline, flat against & metal to metal - possibly even spot welded. The flanges/clips are what holds the padding &/or liner in place.

Just an observation/guess but makes sense in my pea-sized brain.

Good luck ... jinx
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It's not unlike the same difference ...

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38mm EGAS Carburetor

[aquifer]

This may or may not be helpful, but in the late 90's I restored my 67, and I replaced the headliner at the time. I don't remember my car having tabs in the same place as your picture, but there were headliner tabs like that in several places.

What I do recall is that the old headliner was much more durable than the new one I got at the time (probably TMI, but I don't remember). There are rigid pieces that clip behind those tabs, and the new pieces were very flimsy plastic compared to the original ones.

I guess what I'm saying is that the old liner probably had rigid enough pieces that every other tab was sufficient. I would bet that the new ones will be more flimsy, and if you don't use all the tabs, it might try to bow out a little bit in those places.

That's just speculation, and maybe there are good quality replacements available now, but it might be something to keep in mind.
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Parts needed:
Front & rear NOS or used OEM door panels for a '67 in the original Gazelle color (dark tan/light brown).
Also looking for used white headliner pieces, both perforated and non-perforated.

[pastellgreen]

The difference between the op headliner and the one from aquifer is that a 1963 with ragtop has a three-piece headliner and the 67 has a one piece, therefore not these clips.

[aquifer]

[Schnitzelfuss]

Thanks all!