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Per YouTube videos and forum posts, I used a cheap set of plastic interior trim tools to remove the headliner assembly.
I was expecting a nice cardboard backer with disintegrating foam and cloth, that I could clean up then spray adhesive install normal headliner fabric material to.
What I found is some odd fiber board like material, almost akin to cotton candy, that is totally dead and coming apart.
Routes to go for a new headliner backer?
I might throw the towel in and buy a new headliner assembly with new backer, if those are available? Any suggestions?
I am seeing this product:
Is this a complete mounted headliner assembly with foam, backer, and fabric all mounted, ready to glue or hook loop install into the top?
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
Unfortunately backer boards are not sold separately by anyone unless you buy the fabric on it for over $150 plus shipping at the big corvette parts suppliers.
If you need a backer board, you can make one out of thick poster board sold at places like Staples.
I've had a few customers elect to just glue the material right to the fiberglass. Takes some careful trimming, but they seemed satisfied with the result.
I just bought the new headliner with backer from one of the Corvette online stores. It fit perfectly. The real job was cleaning up the old backer. I did have to go to Menards to buy more hook and loop connector as the amount sent with the kit was not really enough to hold it securely.
I might go that route, but IMO for my car, the $180-$220 or so for a nice reproduction one, that is already assembled with fabric taut and the right shape and size...
That is appealing. Thanks whaleman for your input also, as I am leaning towards that.
I am painting the top now, we will see how it comes out then perhaps decide from there.
I bought the nice headliner with backer board and it looked and fit great. Unfortunately the velcro attachment strips did not keep it in place. A black car parked in the Texas sun and it would fall down. I tied doubling the amount of velcro strips but it still fell down. I tried cleaning with acetone and alcohol and it did not work. I finally used contact cement to hold the headliner with the backer board up. If I had it to do over I would glue the headliner material directly to the roof with no backerboard and gain a little headroom.
I removed it entirely. I tried the usually suspected, ca board, posted pard, etc but I couldn't get the fitment i wanted. Then I decided to remove it and spray glue the carpet right to the roof panel. This gave me a little extra headroom and looked great, so I stuck with it.
Caveat, I used a foam backed micro suede. A material that isn't foam backed may not have the ability to fill in the not perfectly flat and smooth of the backside of the roof panel.
When I bought my car, it had no headliner. I took some black marine vinyl, and glued it directly to the underside of the top, with some 3M Spray Weatherstrip Adhesive. I then used some black silicone sealant around the edges to finish it. I'm six feet tall, and never hit my head on it. I also don't have to worry about it coming loose when I remove the top and store it away in the rear.
Last edited by LiveWire1; Oct 1, 2023 at 09:46 PM.
Reason: missed photo
I already have black micro suede with a thin foam backing.
Are you suggesting just spray adhesive installing this directly?
Is that a good long term solution?
it certainly is more affordable.
Head room would be nice, but I don't want to have to do this again.
Yup. All the backer board does is add some rigidity and maybe some sound proofing. Spray glue is all that holds up almost every headliner on the planet.
Can't say you'll never have to do it again, since headliner glue will eventually fail more than likely, but if you do it right it should last a long time.
the only thing that would worry me at all is if the bottom of the smc is sealed so the glue doesn't like, wick it's way up through it.
Headliner Backer Options?
