Headliner Replacement
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,057
Likes: 5
From: Bay Shore, NY
Headliner Replacement
Hey guys! Hope all you father's had a nice holiday. For my day, my wife and kids left me alone to work on my 85.
Someone gave me a fiberglass top from a late 86 in the same color as my car so I spent the day swapping out the brackets and replacing the sunvisors, etc. The "new" top had a sagging headliner and foam dust was coming out of it left and right. I pulled the material off and removed the backing board. It came off really easy but it looks flimsy, like if I go to clean off the remaining foam the board will fall apart. What have you guys used to replace the backer board for the headliners? I'm open to suggestions.
Someone gave me a fiberglass top from a late 86 in the same color as my car so I spent the day swapping out the brackets and replacing the sunvisors, etc. The "new" top had a sagging headliner and foam dust was coming out of it left and right. I pulled the material off and removed the backing board. It came off really easy but it looks flimsy, like if I go to clean off the remaining foam the board will fall apart. What have you guys used to replace the backer board for the headliners? I'm open to suggestions.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 1,488
From: Ashland, OH
I just pulled the old one out of my headliner and put in one i got from Ecklers. This is what it looked like when I was done. Good enough for a 31 year old car.
Last edited by Cjunkie; Jun 19, 2017 at 06:18 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,228
Likes: 698
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
Hey guys! Hope all you father's had a nice holiday. For my day, my wife and kids left me alone to work on my 85.
Someone gave me a fiberglass top from a late 86 in the same color as my car so I spent the day swapping out the brackets and replacing the sunvisors, etc. The "new" top had a sagging headliner and foam dust was coming out of it left and right. I pulled the material off and removed the backing board. It came off really easy but it looks flimsy, like if I go to clean off the remaining foam the board will fall apart. What have you guys used to replace the backer board for the headliners? I'm open to suggestions.
Someone gave me a fiberglass top from a late 86 in the same color as my car so I spent the day swapping out the brackets and replacing the sunvisors, etc. The "new" top had a sagging headliner and foam dust was coming out of it left and right. I pulled the material off and removed the backing board. It came off really easy but it looks flimsy, like if I go to clean off the remaining foam the board will fall apart. What have you guys used to replace the backer board for the headliners? I'm open to suggestions.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 456
From: USA
I had the same thing on my 1984 and I cleaned the backing board to remove any loose material. I then recovered the board and reinstalled and it is holding just fine. I did this in 2012 and still looks new.
I bought the headliner material from a seller on ebay who is or was a member here on the forum.
I bought the headliner material from a seller on ebay who is or was a member here on the forum.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 679
Likes: 279
From: Charlotte NC
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,065
Likes: 215
From: Epping NH
I need to do mine, bought the material from a member here as well I believe. Seems easy enough, but any particular tips? Or is it just simply buy the adhesive from auto store and go to town?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,228
Likes: 698
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
If you bought from me, you received instructions
Last edited by Cruisinfanatic; Jun 20, 2017 at 08:52 AM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
But, in the interim I learned how to use contact cement "mo bettah" now.
I believe in 3M spray adhesive for light weight materials like headliners. But, 3M makes a couple different formulas, I discovered: one specifically says NOT for use on headliners, and the other included headliners in their list of uses.
The issue is, before the two surfaces are pressed together, the glue may become too dry, especially in certain (hot/dry) conditions. What happens is there is less than idea adhesion between the liner and the backing. After a short while (and heat cycles) the glue looses its hold and the dang liner starts to come down (again).
Well, the trick is to spray a third layer of adhesive to one of the surfaces (the backing), and while it is still wet, press the liner to the backing, and I used a stiff, long-bristle brush to smooth the liner in place, working from the center to the edges.
As a matter of fact, I may have read about this "third layer" method on one of the 3M contact containers/tubes I have. Well, regardless, it really works - especially on large surfaces (like carpet and headliners).
Last edited by Paul Workman; Jun 20, 2017 at 09:26 AM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,057
Likes: 5
From: Bay Shore, NY
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,228
Likes: 698
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner