Sagging headliner.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 794
Likes: 2
From: Allentown Pa.
Sagging headliner.
Gentlemen, When sitting in my 90 coupe the cloth headliner is coming loose and laying on my head. In my opinion I think by taking the targa top off and while laying upside down it would be possible to cut it loose around the edge and reglue it with a good brand of spray glue. Then with a putty knife tuck it back in at the edge where it was cut away. Has anybody done this and how successful were you at this project?Just askin, answers? Allentown Ernie.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,226
Likes: 697
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
Gentlemen, When sitting in my 90 coupe the cloth headliner is coming loose and laying on my head. In my opinion I think by taking the targa top off and while laying upside down it would be possible to cut it loose around the edge and reglue it with a good brand of spray glue. Then with a putty knife tuck it back in at the edge where it was cut away. Has anybody done this and how successful were you at this project?Just askin, answers? Allentown Ernie.
I PM'd you
Last edited by Cruisinfanatic; Jul 26, 2009 at 11:15 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,181
Likes: 286
From: Puyallup Washington
I will disagree with the previous poster. I have done upholstery on collector cars for the last 25 years. You can lay the top upside down on a padded work surface and remove the entire headliner and foam pad it is glued to. Then you can turn that upside down and take the glued edges of the headliner loose and then turn it over and get it all removed from the foam, carefully, without tearing the foam. Then carefully place the headliner in the proper position on the foam pad. Using a good quality spray glue, such as a 3M product, but not their contact glue, you can start glueing the headliner down in sections. When you have all the headliner on the side that will be down when in the car glued, which means every square inch of it (if a section is not glued properly it will sag) then you can turn the foam pad over and glue the edges of the headliner to the foam pad. Then all you need to do is get the headliner and pad in place on the targa top and glue all of it to the top. I did this with my 1991 and it looks like new. Just be careful as it is very easy to get glue on your hands, which will then get on the cloth and other places you do not want it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,226
Likes: 697
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
I will disagree with the previous poster. I have done upholstery on collector cars for the last 25 years. You can lay the top upside down on a padded work surface and remove the entire headliner and foam pad it is glued to. Then you can turn that upside down and take the glued edges of the headliner loose and then turn it over and get it all removed from the foam, carefully, without tearing the foam. Then carefully place the headliner in the proper position on the foam pad. Using a good quality spray glue, such as a 3M product, but not their contact glue, you can start glueing the headliner down in sections. When you have all the headliner on the side that will be down when in the car glued, which means every square inch of it (if a section is not glued properly it will sag) then you can turn the foam pad over and glue the edges of the headliner to the foam pad. Then all you need to do is get the headliner and pad in place on the targa top and glue all of it to the top. I did this with my 1991 and it looks like new. Just be careful as it is very easy to get glue on your hands, which will then get on the cloth and other places you do not want it.
Last edited by Cruisinfanatic; Jul 26, 2009 at 12:16 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
I did this on my 86. What you do is lay the top upside down on a towel on a table or workbench, then pick at a corner where it is shoved under the garnish molding, and then gently peel it back all the way with keeping one full edge in place. Mask off the painted surfaces, then use the spray glue evenly and completely cover the foam, let the glue dry for about a full minute, and then have an assistant pull the headliner taught over the glue. You then use your hand to adhere the headliner to the glue starting from the middle and working out to the edges. when you get the whole middle section down, then use a tongue depressor sanded a little thinner than the way it comes, making sure theres no slivers and sharp pokeys, and proceed to push the left over under the garnish molding.
I did this about 5 years ago, and it still looks 100%.
my foam was in great shape.
make sure you don't stretch the material, and when you start putting it back down, correct any air bubbles immediately before going any further.
Do not spray the headliner. If you do, it will bleed through.
I did this about 5 years ago, and it still looks 100%.
my foam was in great shape.
make sure you don't stretch the material, and when you start putting it back down, correct any air bubbles immediately before going any further.
Do not spray the headliner. If you do, it will bleed through.
Last edited by coupeguy2001; Jul 26, 2009 at 03:42 PM. Reason: add info
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 430
Likes: 113
From: Easton, PA
My 89 was a dusty disintegrated mess when I took it down. The foam dry rotted and there was no way any type of glue was going to hold it back in place. I went to a fabric store and got some black pleather that has a little bit of a backing. After I rolled all the old glue and foam off of the board, I spayed it and the pleather with 3M spry. I did this outside with the rest of the roof taped off so I wasn't gluing the wrong stuff. I set the pleather in place and rolled it with one of those wallpaper seam rollers. I let it sit overnight and then trimmed the excess with a razor blade. It looks better than the original and it only cost me about $20 with the pleather and the spray glue. My head is now free and clear of any sagging.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
3M adhesive on the backing, let it set up and then put it back, rolled it tight and tucked it back. Good as new.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 430
Likes: 113
From: Easton, PA
The cardboard was OK. It was the glue and the foam that had turned to dust. The old glue rolled off like rubber cement and the foam got sucked up in a shop vac. I lightly sanded the cardboard to make sure the old stuff was gone then I wiped it down with a damp cloth before spraying the new glue and putting the pleather on.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,176
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Just prior to my vacation trip the headliner fell.
I removed the liner cloth and lightly, very lightly sanded off the old foam.
After two coats of flat black paint I sanded again. Then a final coat of flat black.
A few days in the sun and VIOLA! No more sagging headliner.
Maybe someday I'll spring for some cloth, for now I've got a few repair expenses that help make the car go.
Until then, don't look up!
I removed the liner cloth and lightly, very lightly sanded off the old foam.
After two coats of flat black paint I sanded again. Then a final coat of flat black.
A few days in the sun and VIOLA! No more sagging headliner.
Maybe someday I'll spring for some cloth, for now I've got a few repair expenses that help make the car go.
Until then, don't look up!
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,966
Likes: 4
From: Made In America
St. Jude Donor '10-'11
I ripped mine off since it was bad. It gave me a little bit more of headroom. A warning. Use glue specifically for headliners. Some glues can heat up and cause hazardous fumes if they are not deisgned for headline applications.
Im either laying down frost king or dynamat then putting the material over the top of that. Cut down heat and no more foam!
Im either laying down frost king or dynamat then putting the material over the top of that. Cut down heat and no more foam!
