Headliner Replacement
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
Headliner Replacement
So I finally got sick and tired of always repairing the edges of my headliner. So I bought one of those replacement headliners that go right in. It didn't come with any directions on how to remove the old.
Do you just unsnap it somehow? I'd prefer to ask before just "going for it"
Do you just unsnap it somehow? I'd prefer to ask before just "going for it"
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
Just go for it, the fiberglass pad is glued on to the targa. If you use a wide putty knife you may be able to save the pad with a little care. If it doesnt damage too badly you could probly sell it. My fabric is starting to come loose again so when it comes off I am going to remove the fiberglass pad as well and put in something like Dynamat to gain the 1/2" of headroom that I had with my acrylic top. Can you post the link to your headliner product?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,219
Likes: 696
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
I think Corvette Central has never installed one as there are no existing fasteners
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 63
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From: Big Flats NY
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
Well this has been certainly the easiest project I've done on the car.
Once I removed the top I flipped it over and peeled off the headliner with my fingers and to my surprise I found it was held on by velcro. I found where someone had written in by hand the production date of the top. Kinda cool.
The new headliner from corvette central is very good quality. The board itself is much stronger than the orginal, the material is also much thinker and nicer. To top it off it comes with the velcro already installed.
I'm assuming what they refer to as fasteners is the velcro strips. Pressed in and your done. Perfect fit.
Once I removed the top I flipped it over and peeled off the headliner with my fingers and to my surprise I found it was held on by velcro. I found where someone had written in by hand the production date of the top. Kinda cool.
The new headliner from corvette central is very good quality. The board itself is much stronger than the orginal, the material is also much thinker and nicer. To top it off it comes with the velcro already installed.
I'm assuming what they refer to as fasteners is the velcro strips. Pressed in and your done. Perfect fit.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 9,758
Likes: 49
From: Houston Texas
Could you please do a write up? I'm still confuses. It looks very difficult to do. It looks like I will have to rent a headliner removal tool and a Velcro attachment tool. I might even have to call you once I get it off for instructions. 
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,219
Likes: 696
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
Well this has been certainly the easiest project I've done on the car.
Once I removed the top I flipped it over and peeled off the headliner with my fingers and to my surprise I found it was held on by velcro. I found where someone had written in by hand the production date of the top. Kinda cool.
The new headliner from corvette central is very good quality. The board itself is much stronger than the orginal, the material is also much thinker and nicer. To top it off it comes with the velcro already installed.
I'm assuming what they refer to as fasteners is the velcro strips. Pressed in and your done. Perfect fit.
Once I removed the top I flipped it over and peeled off the headliner with my fingers and to my surprise I found it was held on by velcro. I found where someone had written in by hand the production date of the top. Kinda cool.
The new headliner from corvette central is very good quality. The board itself is much stronger than the orginal, the material is also much thinker and nicer. To top it off it comes with the velcro already installed.
I'm assuming what they refer to as fasteners is the velcro strips. Pressed in and your done. Perfect fit.
Banned Loser
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: They say you learn from your mistakes, I must be a genius
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Creator of the "Original" whining and crying thread
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Don't you love it when repairs go as planned. Just don't get used to it. 
Good job Ed.
Good job Ed.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,008
From: Texas
It may vary by year. Wouldn't be the first time GM (or their supplier) took a benign item and changed the install method for the heck of it. Having said that, although I'm considering selling my GS, the one thing wrong with it is the sagging roof panel material. Soooo, I just pulled out the factory piece (it was glued in) and ordered the Corvette Central replacement for the late '85-'96 cars (similar but slightly different than the early '85 linked above). If I do sell, the new owner will have a nice new headliner.
Originally I was going to buy the material and recover it...but IMO this was one of those situations where the extra $100 to buy the pre-made piece was worth it in order to save a little hassle and a little time.
Originally I was going to buy the material and recover it...but IMO this was one of those situations where the extra $100 to buy the pre-made piece was worth it in order to save a little hassle and a little time.
Last edited by 96GS#007; Aug 8, 2012 at 01:09 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 216
Likes: 4
From: Shrub Oak NY
Mine had a brown **** cover which my wife hated. I bought a woman's black leather coat at Goodwill for $20. My wife cut it to size and glued it to the headliner in place of the ****. Mine was velcroed up, too.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Barberton Ohio
Yes, my 1988 is also glued in and I haven't decided yet whether to buy the whole replacement headliner or to just glue new material to the old padding which is in what seems to be very good shape. Once I pulled the old fabric off i cleaned the old glue off the foam pad and it came out pretty decent.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 171
Likes: 1
From: Chicago
My factory 1995 was glued in as well. I bought a precut material off ebay, was able to salvage the old board, glue new material to it and glue board back in. Came out nearly perfect. If I could redo in hindsight, I probably would have made a new board and just velcroed like above. But the first one lasted 17 years before sagging so I'll worry about it then.
Whatever is in that headliner glue (maybe all the little strands of fiberglass type stuff) caused me to get a bad rash on my arms though so where some good gloves that come up high.
Whatever is in that headliner glue (maybe all the little strands of fiberglass type stuff) caused me to get a bad rash on my arms though so where some good gloves that come up high.