removing cab headlining

[gringo]

mk1 transit twin wheeler campervan
i want to remove the headlining in the cab as i need to have a look at why the lining balloons in to the cab while driving.
are there any tricks i need to know for removing as i dont want to damage the lining ??
thank you

[dumper]

If I remember correctly it’s suspended on two spring steel rods across the van the lining has tubes sewn into it that the rods pass through the front and sides are trapped in by the windscreen and door seal rubbers the rear had some kind of gripping rail standard Ford fitting of the day.

[mk2 transit crew]

I believe the mk1 and mk2 are potentially held in differently potentially. my mk2 was held behind the windscreen, mine has 4 rods due to being a crewcab. all the other three sides were held in a track with teeth like a carpet gripper in theory. it would be very difficult if not impossible to remove and refit on a mk2 due to these gripper teeth.

if you were to attempt to remove without damage on a mk2 you would need to remove the lining from the edges first, once that's done you can lift it out of the carriers the rods secure into.

as mine is a crew cab i sourced the correct material headlining and made a new one on the sewing machine. its not difficult in theory if you split the original into its individual pieces, its harder to fit then it is to make. i stuck mine up to the windscreen and trimmed it level with the rubber, there's no need for it to tuck behind the screen as modern glues hold it fine.

if fitting a new one and you have these teeth rails as i said earlier i would suggest something like a plastic wall paper scraper to push the material into the gripper rail. the trick to get it to hold and not tear is to double and triple fold the material where you are pushing it in. especially if you have a perforated head lining as they tear easy. i was about to give up until i worked out how to do it without damage.

i did find this company (classicmotorcarpets) that lists they make a mk1/2 headlining but ended up making my own. hope this helps.