T-Top Inner Liner
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 699
Likes: 3
From: Millersville, MD
T-Top Inner Liner
I had a problem with my passenger side T-Top Latch and decided to remove the inner liner to get a better look. It was very hard removing the inner liner and after removing it it was obvious this was the first time it has ever been removed. There was glue in between all the black round T-Top Fastners. Half of the fastners that were attached to the inner liner came off. And most of the fastners have this really hard 30 yr old glue still on them. Before I move forward with trying to clean them up and hopefully repair the damage, does it make more sense to just buy new fastners and inner liners? The inner liners are way expensive at $200 a piece. Anyone have any idea how to reattach the metal piece to the inner liners? What is the inner liner made of? I actually did the drivers side to... 
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
If the 'liner' is in good shape, why would you need to replace it? Just be careful with it, as they become pretty brittle after 30+ years. {Getting it to snap back together completely without cracking it is a challenge.}
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 699
Likes: 3
From: Millersville, MD
I would rather not replace them. I just need some idea's on how to proceed. I guess clean up the glue off the fasteners and try to re-attach the fasteners on the liner. Are the screws on each side of the liner used?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
Yes. There is one Philips-head pan screw on each side which positions the liner properly, before you pop down the Velcro 'thingies'. There are other screws which hold the top assembly together. You really need an A.I.M. for your year car in order to work on them correctly.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,371
Likes: 223
From: Beecher Illinois
I've been doing some odds and ends on a friend's 78 over this winter. One repair was one of the T-top liners. The metal clips had come off and someone had globbed glue on em to try to reattach them. The liner didn't fit tight to the top with all the glue and the glue didn't hold anyway.
I removed the clip brackets, ground off the glue AND the crimped metal teeth that originally attached them to the liner, and, since I'm in construction, simply used drywall construction adhesive to reattach them. The brackets fit nice and flat after grinding the surface flat. Figured that adhesive is compatible with the cardboard interior finish of the panel. Clamped em up for about 3 days. Not too tight or the cardboard will dent. If it does dent a little, it should return to normal after a while.
Will probably never chance removing them ever again, tho!
I removed the clip brackets, ground off the glue AND the crimped metal teeth that originally attached them to the liner, and, since I'm in construction, simply used drywall construction adhesive to reattach them. The brackets fit nice and flat after grinding the surface flat. Figured that adhesive is compatible with the cardboard interior finish of the panel. Clamped em up for about 3 days. Not too tight or the cardboard will dent. If it does dent a little, it should return to normal after a while.
Will probably never chance removing them ever again, tho!
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,891
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
When I bought my '80, one of the headliners was in the back of the car, the other barely attached. Both had the vinyl pealing away and were very damaged around the latches. I removed the vinyl covering from both and tried to recover one in black vinyl. I couldn't get the compound curves to stay glued down, otherwise it looked excellent. So, I decided to pursue another route.
I mixed up a batch of fiberglass resin and using a foam brush, I coated the entire cardboard headliner. The resin really soaked into it like a sponge. I can't remember, but I think I did 2 thin coats. Then I hand sanded them smooth. Now the headliners are extremely rigid. I've used fiberglass to rebuild the water damaged edges and painted them with the interior dye I used for all the other plastic panels. I've still not attached them, because I haven't figured out how. I've not put too much effort into that part though.
I mixed up a batch of fiberglass resin and using a foam brush, I coated the entire cardboard headliner. The resin really soaked into it like a sponge. I can't remember, but I think I did 2 thin coats. Then I hand sanded them smooth. Now the headliners are extremely rigid. I've used fiberglass to rebuild the water damaged edges and painted them with the interior dye I used for all the other plastic panels. I've still not attached them, because I haven't figured out how. I've not put too much effort into that part though.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 699
Likes: 3
From: Millersville, MD
I've been doing some odds and ends on a friend's 78 over this winter. One repair was one of the T-top liners. The metal clips had come off and someone had globbed glue on em to try to reattach them. The liner didn't fit tight to the top with all the glue and the glue didn't hold anyway.
I removed the clip brackets, ground off the glue AND the crimped metal teeth that originally attached them to the liner, and, since I'm in construction, simply used drywall construction adhesive to reattach them. The brackets fit nice and flat after grinding the surface flat. Figured that adhesive is compatible with the cardboard interior finish of the panel. Clamped em up for about 3 days. Not too tight or the cardboard will dent. If it does dent a little, it should return to normal after a while.
Will probably never chance removing them ever again, tho!
I removed the clip brackets, ground off the glue AND the crimped metal teeth that originally attached them to the liner, and, since I'm in construction, simply used drywall construction adhesive to reattach them. The brackets fit nice and flat after grinding the surface flat. Figured that adhesive is compatible with the cardboard interior finish of the panel. Clamped em up for about 3 days. Not too tight or the cardboard will dent. If it does dent a little, it should return to normal after a while.
Will probably never chance removing them ever again, tho!
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,991
Likes: 3
From: Piscataway NJ
One it is not velcro. It is a dual lock fastener. If you have any glue on the fastener it will never work as intended.However I feel Velcro pads will work better in this area than the dual lock. Not being snub.....Just the best way I can explain it.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 699
Likes: 3
From: Millersville, MD
No doubt Velcro would work better.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,371
Likes: 223
From: Beecher Illinois
Also, I put it back onto the T-top with the top installed on the Vette.
Didn't want to chance being off a little and then need to pull it loose again. Plus, it's a little more secure pushing the fasteners together with the top installed instead of it bouncing around on a bench.
Note that each metal bracket is different and goes in a certain location.
edit.... maybe you could soak the fasteners in lacquer thinner to soften the glue
Last edited by KapsSA; Jan 29, 2009 at 09:23 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
From: san antonio Texas
I refrurbed my 79 T-tops myself and used liquid nails. but it drys to hard and eventually the liner came undone. I then used 3M weather strip adhesive for both attaching the clips to the liner and the black round pieces together. worked great, as they have some give to them as you take the t-tops on and off.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 699
Likes: 3
From: Millersville, MD
I refrurbed my 79 T-tops myself and used liquid nails. but it drys to hard and eventually the liner came undone. I then used 3M weather strip adhesive for both attaching the clips to the liner and the black round pieces together. worked great, as they have some give to them as you take the t-tops on and off.
Last edited by Vette79C3; Jan 30, 2009 at 11:07 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
I've had this exact problem with the drivers side liner on mine since I bought it. The metal bracket won't stay glued to the liner. KapSa, once again I'll try one of your ideas, the drywall adhesive. I've tried just about everything else and eventually everything has failed. I second the comment on positioning the liner on the top with the tops on the car. On a previous attempt I did it with the top off and then the liner was in the way of attaching the top, so I had to take the liner back off again. All this trouble because I had to replace the t top when the car was painted and the liner has never attached correctly to the replacemnt t top.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,371
Likes: 223
From: Beecher Illinois
In a way, regardless of the glue used, the real problem seems to be with the pressed cardboard construction of the liner.
Some of the previously bubba glued brackets on the pictured liner had a coating of the cardboard still on the glue. Simply peeled a layer off the liner. Glue held, cardboard just let go.
Original had the brackets staked to the liner. Those stakes are what I ground off to get the brackets to fit flat again. Besides, there was so much glue blobbed on em I had no choice but to grind everything off.
If your liners were never reglued, you could probably leave the stakes on to help locate the brackets.
Some of the previously bubba glued brackets on the pictured liner had a coating of the cardboard still on the glue. Simply peeled a layer off the liner. Glue held, cardboard just let go.
Original had the brackets staked to the liner. Those stakes are what I ground off to get the brackets to fit flat again. Besides, there was so much glue blobbed on em I had no choice but to grind everything off.
If your liners were never reglued, you could probably leave the stakes on to help locate the brackets.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
that's exactly what has happened with mine, a layer of the liner comes of still glued ot the metal bracket. I'm afraid to grind off the stakes even so. I would think they still help some in conjunction with glue. KapSa, has the liner you fixed been installed, and if so for how long and is it holding up?
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,371
Likes: 223
From: Beecher Illinois
I did the repair back in October. Like I posted, I had the brackets clamped for 3 days and I did butter the adhesive over the holes in the brackets and a little beyond the brackets.
I did gently try to wiggle them after I took the clamps off, no movement. Surely a good tug would pull them back off, tho.
Been on the Vette since then but it's still in winter storage so no real world use.
I won't be removing the liners hopefully never again! Hopefully the car's owner won't try to pull them off either!
I did gently try to wiggle them after I took the clamps off, no movement. Surely a good tug would pull them back off, tho.
Been on the Vette since then but it's still in winter storage so no real world use.
I won't be removing the liners hopefully never again! Hopefully the car's owner won't try to pull them off either!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 699
Likes: 3
From: Millersville, MD
I've had this exact problem with the drivers side liner on mine since I bought it. The metal bracket won't stay glued to the liner. KapSa, once again I'll try one of your ideas, the drywall adhesive. I've tried just about everything else and eventually everything has failed. I second the comment on positioning the liner on the top with the tops on the car. On a previous attempt I did it with the top off and then the liner was in the way of attaching the top, so I had to take the liner back off again. All this trouble because I had to replace the t top when the car was painted and the liner has never attached correctly to the replacemnt t top.