Headliner ?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 783
Likes: 2
From: Wake Forest, NC
St. Jude Donor '05
If you glue it back up, it won't stay. A week or two and it will start falling again.
Just replace it yourself. Easy job.
Most important step is cleaning off the underlayment really well... other than that, a little 3M spray adhesive and some patience and you'll be just fine.
Just replace it yourself. Easy job.
Most important step is cleaning off the underlayment really well... other than that, a little 3M spray adhesive and some patience and you'll be just fine.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
I've seen headliner material at fabric stores like JoAnne's Fabrics. It has a thin foam backer on it. You can also buy it from an upolstry shop.
Don't use non-backed fabric. Getting the right spray adhesive is also important. If it says not recommended for headliners, believe it!
Don't use non-backed fabric. Getting the right spray adhesive is also important. If it says not recommended for headliners, believe it!
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,517
Likes: 19
Originally Posted by GREGGPENN
I've seen headliner material at fabric stores like JoAnne's Fabrics. It has a thin foam backer on it. You can also buy it from an upolstry shop.
Don't use non-backed fabric. Getting the right spray adhesive is also important. If it says not recommended for headliners, believe it!
Don't use non-backed fabric. Getting the right spray adhesive is also important. If it says not recommended for headliners, believe it!
Without the foam back, the glue bleeds thru and discolors the fabric. I have done 3 and all came out as good as new or better. If I can do it, you can too. However, $80 for a pro to do it is a pretty good deal. My local guy wanted $200 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 783
Likes: 2
From: Wake Forest, NC
St. Jude Donor '05
When mine was sagging, forum member JB666 was awesome! He sent me two yards of the factory GM black headliner fabric for teh cost of Shipping!!! That and a can of 3M adhesive made it an $8 project for me.
It's members like JB666 and others on this board that, in my opinion, go way beyond the norm to help out their fellow members in this Corvette brotherhood.
Shoot him a PM... couldn't hurt.
It's members like JB666 and others on this board that, in my opinion, go way beyond the norm to help out their fellow members in this Corvette brotherhood.
Shoot him a PM... couldn't hurt.
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 21
From: Denville NJ
My local upholstery shop charged me $40 and they used the foam backed fabric. It looks brand new. Definately use the foam backed fabric. I tried gluing plain fabric and it looked real bad. Good Luck!
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: 1994 Black East OH
Originally Posted by Red Dwarf
I have a scan from Corvette Fever or Vette magazine that outlines the procedure for replacing the headliner. If interested shoot me a PM with your e-mail address.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 13
From: Wallingford Vermont
Boy, I must be the cheapest SOB around here.
I grabbed some micro-fiber clothe (fake suede matches my seats) from the local Wally world. A can of 3M spray adhesive, and voila' Yes, you have to be careful and not saturate the cloth. I couldn't reinstall the factory headliner 'cause there wasn't enough edge to tuck it in and make it look right, plus it was so thin the 3M did soak thru. I think it was $10 for the 3M and material together
I grabbed some micro-fiber clothe (fake suede matches my seats) from the local Wally world. A can of 3M spray adhesive, and voila' Yes, you have to be careful and not saturate the cloth. I couldn't reinstall the factory headliner 'cause there wasn't enough edge to tuck it in and make it look right, plus it was so thin the 3M did soak thru. I think it was $10 for the 3M and material together
CF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,219
Likes: 2,870
From: Charlotte N.C.
Maybe I just got lucky but I took my roof off and put it on my work bench and I took the whole fiberglass pad off, a little prying around the edges and it came right off. I pulled the old cloth off and cleaned all the old fiberglass from it. I then took a real coarse sanding pad and cleaned the fiberglass pad of all loose stuff. I then blew off all the junk that was everywhere, sprayed 3M 77 lightly on the fiberglass pad and stuck the original cloth back on, turned it over, the pad, and sprayed the 77 around the edges stuck the cloth down and then spayed 77 on the inside of the roof and the underside of the fiberglass pad and stuck it back in. I can't tell that it's not original and like new and I did it.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by EvanD
Maybe I just got lucky but I took my roof off and put it on my work bench and I took the whole fiberglass pad off, a little prying around the edges and it came right off. I pulled the old cloth off and cleaned all the old fiberglass from it. I then took a real coarse sanding pad and cleaned the fiberglass pad of all loose stuff. I then blew off all the junk that was everywhere, sprayed 3M 77 lightly on the fiberglass pad and stuck the original cloth back on, turned it over, the pad, and sprayed the 77 around the edges stuck the cloth down and then spayed 77 on the inside of the roof and the underside of the fiberglass pad and stuck it back in. I can't tell that it's not original and like new and I did it.
You did not indicate how long ago your repair was done. That would tell us how "lucky" you really are!
CF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,219
Likes: 2,870
From: Charlotte N.C.
Originally Posted by GREGGPENN
You can reuse the old cloth (if not damaged). However, the foam backing will continue to disintegrate (faster than new material). So, it should fall back down faster than applying new material.
You did not indicate how long ago your repair was done. That would tell us how "lucky" you really are!
You did not indicate how long ago your repair was done. That would tell us how "lucky" you really are!
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 1
From: Lockport, IL Let's get em ALL home soon!
Originally Posted by Saisling
When mine was sagging, forum member JB666 was awesome! He sent me two yards of the factory GM black headliner fabric for teh cost of Shipping!!! That and a can of 3M adhesive made it an $8 project for me.
I got mine from him too. Great guy! That was about two years ago and I know he made life alot easier for a bunch of us guys.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 33
From: Van Steel Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
I was thinking about doing it myself as well, but I think I'm going to have a design put into the headliner. The corvette emblem or something along those lines. Either that, or I'll see if I can have it redone in leather to match the seats. Not sure yet.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,531
Likes: 35
From: Lecanto Florida
Originally Posted by shakedown067
I was thinking about doing it myself as well, but I think I'm going to have a design put into the headliner. The corvette emblem or something along those lines. Either that, or I'll see if I can have it redone in leather to match the seats. Not sure yet.
In January's issue of Corvette Fever there's a whole story on making a custom headliner for the C4 Corvette. The story is called "Head Above The Rest" and starts on page 70.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,475
Likes: 2
From: Austin TX
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by shakedown067
I was thinking about doing it myself as well, but I think I'm going to have a design put into the headliner. The corvette emblem or something along those lines. Either that, or I'll see if I can have it redone in leather to match the seats. Not sure yet.
Maybe have the corvette emblem design in the fabric. If you do this, shoot me a PM/email and let me know how you did it, how it turned out. My headliner is sagging, so i'm in the same situation.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 33
From: Van Steel Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
I'm thinking about just puting "C-4" in the headliner. It's pretty simple. You just use foam padding. I'll probably use 1/2" or 3/4" foam and you adhere it to the roof first (after you cut out the design of course). You then just spray the headliner and carefully press it in starting in the middle around the letters and slowly work your way out. I read an article on how to do it for my truck a few years back...never did it though. I may just have to try this install myself since you can take the roof off and place it on a table. Not sure when I'll get to it though. Just wish I had a garage....I could leave the top off for days and take my time.