removing front cant rail

[mat grant]

Hi all,

I've got to the stage of stripping out the interior to redo the headlining and the cant rails. I've got all the pieces out except the front cant rail, it is held in by the rear view mirror mount. Does anyone know how to get this out without breaking it? The Eclat manual doesn't say, and the Excel manual says 'remove the mirror mount'. I've unclipped the sides, undone the blinds - just the mirror mount to go. The mirror is off, only the plastic surround that the ball of the mirror stalk clips into is left. I don't want to break it. It's the sort of thing that once you've broken it off will be really obvious!

It's kind of a milestone that the work that makes the interior dirty is at an end - the glassfibre round the rear seat has been done, the running of the wiring into the cabin has been done. So I can clean out the interior and get all the foam off the inside of the roof.

Any help or sugestions appreciated!

Cheers, Mat.

[andydclements]

The mirror has a screw in the "base" or "mount", it is covered by a plastic trim piece that looks to be part of the mirror arm.

Prise that out of the way (normally fingers will do it, else a screwdriver blade between it and the cant rail.

Have you also removed the self tapping screws hidden by the sun visors?

[mat grant]

Thanks Andy - that was quick reply!

errm no I haven't removed any self tappers from the front cant rail, I have removed the 4 machine screws from the sun visors, but no self tapping screws. Will be out to the garage tomorrow and see if I can get it off.

Cheers, Mat.

[andydclements]

By machine screws (I normally take those to be similar to a bolt but threaded all the way from tip to head) do you mean the pins that act as the hinges for the visors?

Actually just noticed, it isn't clear if it's an Excel or an Eclat you're working on. I've answered for the Excel.

It may be that there are machine screws holding the cant rail up where all mine have been self tappers into wooden blocks secured to the roof. The screws are normally close to the line that the hinge pins of the visors make with each other, that way they are hidden away nicely.

[mat grant]

Hi, sorry should have made it clear - it's a 1979 S1 Eclat - I've got an excel manual as well because a lot of the car is now from an excel(!) As the Elite / Eclat manual had no information I looked in the Excel one in case it was similar.

Cheers, Mat.

[andydclements]

I thought the mirror was on the top of the dash on the Eclat/ Elite.

[Dunc]

only on top of the dash on the elite....

it's on the roof on the eclat.

D

[mat grant]

Hi guys,

I got it off, applying pressure from a screwdriver - feels like it's going to snap off, but then the part detaches into two pieces, a cover part revealing two screws - job done.

soon I'll be off to get some headlining - I've seen a photo of an eclat/elite with black headlining - does anyone know if this is original or were they all white healining and cant rails?

Cheers, Mat

[Steve Cook]

Mat,

I'm doing the same, how is the headlining attached at the rear screen on the Eclats? My old headlining appears to go up against the glass, is it a window out job?

Regards

Steve

[directordanw]

Hello Mat,

At some point I'm going to have to replace my headlining - in an Elite - got the cant rails but no fabric. While yours is off I'd really appreciate some pics to show how it all goes together, how the fabric attaches etc. In fact this goes out to all the users, any reference gratefully received.

Dan

[Steve Cook]

Sorry Dan, a day too late! I took all mine out and stripped the fabric off today>

Steve

[esprit s2]

Someone had written up a "how to replace the headlining" article a while ago. Think it may have been on the old Elite/Eclat website but I thought it was transferred to here.

Just found...

Pics have disappeared though.

Edited April 13, 2012 by esprit s2

[mat grant]

Work on my car is on hold while I move house - new house has a double garage, so I'll be able to continue then, when I put the interior back in I'll post up if I have any tips.

Cheers, Mat.

[Guest saraphee]

A Double garage - there's posh Mat