How do you attach T-Top headliners
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 8
From: Hamilton NJ
How do you attach T-Top headliners
Title says it all...How does the headliner attach to the underside of the T-Top? Are the opposite sides of the little black bristly feet supposed to grab each other and hold, or do they need some kind of glue or solvent to make them stick. The ones on my 79 are kind of dry and hard so the self stick mode may not work of this is the way they're meant to be. I was thinking of using a dab of clear silicone on each so I can get them apart in the future if need be. Thoughts?
Thanks, Steve
Thanks, Steve
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 8
From: Hamilton NJ
mine are more like plastic bristles...do they dry and lose thier grabbability with time? Mine don't seem to hold anymore...
Any other thoughts on using a sealent to hold them together that can be split apart if I ever want to upgrade to new headliners?
Any other thoughts on using a sealent to hold them together that can be split apart if I ever want to upgrade to new headliners?
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
They should hold together like velcro would. Or a plastic version of velcro. Due to the age and changing positions, they seem to lose some of thier gripability. ( New word )
I used some type of glue on an older vette I had, and they would not pull apart. Some of them ripped out of the base of the tee top liner. But that was ok since I was going to replace it.
As a suggestion, why not replace them with some new t-top pad fastener kit. They are $27 for a set of 18 for the 78 and 79 years from Ecklers PN 34689
kdf
I used some type of glue on an older vette I had, and they would not pull apart. Some of them ripped out of the base of the tee top liner. But that was ok since I was going to replace it.
As a suggestion, why not replace them with some new t-top pad fastener kit. They are $27 for a set of 18 for the 78 and 79 years from Ecklers PN 34689
kdf
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
The headliner fasteners are interlocking pad pieces...really heavy-duty. If you press hard enough on them, they will "mesh". The problem is that the plastic headliner surface gets hard, and if you press them too hard or bend them to get the tabs together, you might well crack the headliner. Anyway, that's how they work. There are also a couple of small Philips-head sheet metal screws...one on each side...to hold it in proper position before you press the tabs together.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 29
From: The Netherlands
Mine have become brittle over the years and a few weeks back one quit ratteling and fell on my head while driving 
A closer inspection showed bubba got to them before me, so now I'm just going to glass 'm in permanently. I'll add padding behind them against roadnoise and cover them in vinyl like one other forum member has done.
A closer inspection showed bubba got to them before me, so now I'm just going to glass 'm in permanently. I'll add padding behind them against roadnoise and cover them in vinyl like one other forum member has done.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
Anyone had any success reattaching the metal bracket the holds the "velcro" on the headliner itself? When I had to take my liner off an old broken t top to install on a different one, one of the brackets broke loose from the liner and I've tried everything and can't get it to stay attached.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 8
From: Hamilton NJ
Anyone had any success reattaching the metal bracket the holds the "velcro" on the headliner itself? When I had to take my liner off an old broken t top to install on a different one, one of the brackets broke loose from the liner and I've tried everything and can't get it to stay attached.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 528
Likes: 9
From: Grand Rapids Michigan
I had to resort to using black high temp silicone adhesive. I clamped it up with even pressure for 24 hours and Voila! It's been a year and no problems. My "bristles" on my '79 were definately NOT going to hold anything!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 8
From: Hamilton NJ
Well, so far so good. The gorilla glue is holding strong. While I had the liner out I sprayed the original oyster with black dye to match the slowly morphing interior (came out nice). I used a small pick to clean any debris out of the original bristly velcro connectors and carefully snapped them back together, no issues. I just needed to set the top on a soft blanket on the floor and focus the pressure right on the connection point, then they pop right back together. Looks much better and seems to be holding fast.
Thanks to all,
Steve
Thanks to all,
Steve
