Tore the headliner out of my 89 coupe this weekend because it was sagging. Other forum entries mentioned that the liner pad would be held in with velcro. Well on mine there was no velcro and it didn't look like there ever had been any. Its like there were about 3 random places where it was glued but that could have just been from the heat making some of it stick to the steel top. It was as if someone had taken about a 2" paintbrush with glue on it and just slapped the top in about 3 ramdom places. Weird. It may have even just residual from the hard foam interacting with the hot top over the years.

It didn't look like it was a rework either because the dull black paint on the inside of the top looked like a factory job. The pad may have just been wedged in there because it was a REAL TIGHT fit ll the way around. Got a putty knife under it and just started prying expecting the velcro would pop apart. It really acted like there was velcro all the way around it but it was just the interference fit making it tough to yank out.

Anyway, I'm just going to probably take it to a top trim shop because the foam on the headliner side is all fuzzy and rubbing off and the whole thing probably needs replacing. I'm not sure I want to be the one that has to cut and glue a new pad back in the top without messing it up. I don't think I can easily cut a new backer pad to the tolerance to just wedge it in there either.

Anyone else ever see a original liner put in this way (no velcro)?

 

I removed my headliner and its backer. The backing board had a 1/8 in insulation on the back and the headliner fabric glued to the passenger side. I'm looking for some insulation to cut and put back on and some fabric to reinstall.

 

In my 95 it is all glued.

While you have it off, get some ThermoTec insulation (it comes in a sheet about the size of the top) and glue it to the top, foil side out. Then glue the headliner board to the insulation. Use 3M Super Trim Adhesive liberally, and let it dry 24 hours. Or you can have a trim shop glue everything for you.

The insulation makes it much cooler in the summer.

 

That fuzzy stuff that rubs off is actually the glue. It's about 1/16th" thick.

You'll need to gently rub it all off to get to the stiffer foam surface. I had to use a razor blade carefully to get it all off. I used spray adhesive and new fabric, but after 10 months, it's started falling againi.

 

Headliner in my 85 was the same way. Since I never have the top on, I still haven't replaced it, but I'm thinking about doing it soon. Think I'll try that insulation.

Kirk
:seeya

 

I replaced mine myself. After taking it out I went to home depot of all places and bought some foam at the thickness I wanted, bought some headliner spray glue. I cut the foam to match the headliner and glued them together, then I glued the black felt over that. The overlapping part I just folded in and glued down. After everything was dry I put it back in the car, worked great, I havent had any problems since.