Need more headroom with helmet - permanent headliner removal?

[goggles]

It seems like I need a bit more headroom in the car while wearing a helmet, and I was considering taking out the headliner to get a bit more breathing room. I've seen several threads in here about removing the headliner and some of the electrical repercussions of doing so. What I haven't found are the solutions to the problems regarding the antennas and other wiring bits that crop up when removing the headliner.

Are there any better options for getting some more headspace? Generally I am comfortable in my seating position, and eventually I may get a race seat, but as far as I can tell, there's no good way to lower myself in the car, and indeed there might be a bit more space that opens up above if I remove the headliner.

 

[Capri to ST]

It seems like I need a bit more headroom in the car while wearing a helmet, and I was considering taking out the headliner to get a bit more breathing room. I've seen several threads in here about removing the headliner and some of the electrical repercussions of doing so. What I haven't found are the solutions to the problems regarding the antennas and other wiring bits that crop up when removing the headliner.

Are there any better options for getting some more headspace? Generally I am comfortable in my seating position, and eventually I may get a race seat, but as far as I can tell, there's no good way to lower myself in the car, and indeed there might be a bit more space that opens up above if I remove the headliner.

I'm assuming you don't have the Recaros, because they can be lowered or raised with a lever along the left side where you would expect the seat back reclining lever to be.

 

[goggles]

Ah, sorry, should have provided more info.

2015 with the stock cloth seats. As far as I know, there is no way to raise or lower unless I'm missing something.

 

[goggles]

Wait, maybe I'm dumb. There's an adjustment lever that I thought scooted forward and backwards, but it seems to move diagonally, and mostly intended to raise and lower. Will see if this gives me the room I need. FFS.

 

[Capri to ST]

Wait, maybe I'm dumb. There's an adjustment lever that I thought scooted forward and backwards, but it seems to move diagonally, and mostly intended to raise and lower. Will see if this gives me the room I need. FFS.

Good luck, let us know what happens.

 

[goggles]

Welp, I am a certified dummy 😂

I had used that adjustment lever before, but I only groked it as a seat forward/backward fine adjustment lever. I didn't realize it was moving me up and down, and the position I had settled on was near the top of the adjustment.

I have no pressing need to try to remove the headliner, but I am still wondering if anyone has successfully removed it and what they did to mitigate the electric issues that may crop up.

@Capri to ST thanks for chiming in with the stupid check, it was helpful!

 

[Capri to ST]

Welp, I am a certified dummy 😂

I had used that adjustment lever before, but I only groked it as a seat forward/backward fine adjustment lever. I didn't realize it was moving me up and down, and the position I had settled on was near the top of the adjustment.

I have no pressing need to try to remove the headliner, but I am still wondering if anyone has successfully removed it and what they did to mitigate the electric issues that may crop up.

@Capri to ST thanks for chiming in with the stupid check, it was helpful!

I'm glad it was helpful.
Don't feel bad, we've all done stuff like that. I had a rattle that was driving me crazy that I was completely convinced was coming from my front passenger seat. Even though I was convinced it would probably never go back together right I was going to pay somebody to take it apart. I took the guy for a ride first to hear the noise and after about 30 seconds he pulled my garage door opener off of the sun visor.It was the clip in that that was rattling.

 

[Grsemky]

I'm glad it was helpful.
Don't feel bad, we've all done stuff like that. I had a rattle that was driving me crazy that I was completely convinced was coming from my front passenger seat. Even though I was convinced it would probably never go back together right I was going to pay somebody to take it apart. I took the guy for a ride first to hear the noise and after about 30 seconds he pulled my garage door opener off of the sun visor.It was the clip in that that was rattling.

I was getting a rattle from my passenger front, what sounded like the strut or mount moving when I come to stop... It was my lug nut key rolling forward in the glove box when I braked 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

 

[Intuit]

Removed Headliner - Interesting Side Effects...
https://www.fiestastforum.com/threads/headliner-removed-interesting-side-effects.23500/

.

 

[Intuit]

It seems like I need a bit more headroom in the car while wearing a helmet, and I was considering taking out the headliner to get a bit more breathing room. I've seen several threads in here about removing the headliner and some of the electrical repercussions of doing so. What I haven't found are the solutions to the problems regarding the antennas and other wiring bits that crop up when removing the headliner.

Are there any better options for getting some more headspace? Generally I am comfortable in my seating position, and eventually I may get a race seat, but as far as I can tell, there's no good way to lower myself in the car, and indeed there might be a bit more space that opens up above if I remove the headliner.

Separate the antennae and relevant bits from the headliner and put them back in following removal. It's just a matter of figuring the best ways to secure them without the headliner. The antennae reception might suffer if mounted too close to the metal roof??

 

[goggles]

I might go down this road if I decide to move into modified front... though that's a long way off.

 

[LostInTransit]

My issue is that I have plenty of head room, but there is a forward storage shelf at my forehead or just above. If I wear a helmet I' not able to sit comfortably in the seat so I'm not able to take the van to the track because of this and any option of removing the forehead shelf is out of the question as well as any seat adjustment. In your case removal of the liner will grant you a slightly better headroom but still not enough if you're on the track often. You'd be talking having to lower the seat as well.