Headlining replacement guide, repair, replace fix, DIY.

Post by **Red-Arrow** » 11 Feb 2011, 07:40

The headlining board is very fragile. You could reinforce it with fiberglass resin? I just don't see how it would be suitable because the board will bend under the weight of the PVC leather. I have used the synthetic leather on other headlining but they had much thicker boards comparable to the ones found on the back of furniture cupboards.

My advice is take the board out and then decide if you feel you can do it. Good luck.

cdnbluez · Post by **cdnbluez** » 11 Feb 2011, 08:05

Not sure how thick the fake leather material is, but I recently replaced the headliner on my '81 camaro. I used a repro of the original foam backed perforated vinyl. It wasn't very heavy in comparison to cloth. As far as the the liner board, Chevy uses the cheapest flimsiest stuff available, it was like cardboard. It would work well for pets.

Fishheadbarandgrill · Post by **Fishheadbarandgrill** » 25 Jul 2012, 20:11

Should I spray glue on the new material and the headliner shell? The glue instructions say both surfaces should have glue applied. But the post doesn't refer to spaying glue to the new material.

Bob

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 28 Jul 2012, 12:54

Follow the instructions on the can of your particular glue. Most of them want the adhesive to spray onto both surfaces to be mated but they vary on wait time. Some adhesives want you to immediately join the pieces while others want you to wait until the glue dries to one degree or another.

Sorry about the delay in getting your post approved. We did away with that a while back but some posters are still trapped in the approval web. At worst, you should be able to post freely after four posts.

...Lee

alexk243 · Post by **alexk243** » 05 Sep 2012, 10:32

So just started doing the same for my car, only its a sedan 850. You think one can of 3m will work?

Also when you glued it on did you pre-cut it or did you wait till after it was glued on and trimmed around the openings?

byeboy · Post by **byeboy** » 05 Sep 2012, 11:00

PAINT IT!

Back in the 50's white headliners were cool, and replaced the very thin mouse grey felt fabic headliners all the cars from the 40's and 50's had.
A small fad began (no doubt springing from a "how-to" in one of the Hot Rod magazines (which were small, comic book sized back then). The fad was to PAINT the cloth headliners, in the car, with Latex Flat Wall paint...Strange, but true!

Well my 1950 Ford tudor..(which was loud, but far from any show car) got the treatment. I was in the Air Force at the time, and had to do it in the parking lot. It takes a lot of time, because you have to begin very slowly, and allow it to dry totally before the next coat..definitely a job only for hot, dry weather....but after many )bushed on) coats, I had a pretty darn nice looking white headliner. Stiff as a board, but it looked exactly like a fabric one.

Were I to do that again today (and my 850R's headliner is looking pretty 'baggy'), I would lightly spray, but use Acrylic Latex this time (They didn't have that in 1960, when I dd the Ford), an give it a week after each of the first couple very light coats...after that, the backer board would be protected, and heavier coats could be applied.

If I decide to do this, I';'ll put up a step-by-step with pictures...if I fail (and I don not believe that I will), I'll at least document what NOT to do. the beauty of it is, just remove the sagging headliner itself and paint the backer board, do any sanding in place (shop vac catching most of the dust), masking off the rest of the fittings, etc...anything too bothersome to simply remove.

Stay Tuned!

alexk243 · Post by **alexk243** » 05 Sep 2012, 12:28

Also wanted to add that I cant find anywhere locally to purchase headliners (Northwest Suburbs, Illinois) so I am wondering if there are any placed to order headliners online?

alexk243 · Post by **alexk243** » 17 Sep 2012, 13:07

Any thoughts on if you pre-cut it or if you just glue the whole sheet onto the headliner and cut it after?

Also has anyone ordered a headliner online? If so, any suggestions for sites?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 29 Sep 2012, 10:01

I have a small problem, as someone else mentioned- an 850 sedan. I see no way of getting the headliner out without the windshield also coming out. Is there a solution? Cut it in half?

alexk243 · Post by **alexk243** » 02 Oct 2012, 19:31

I just kinda bent mine a little to get it out. It didnt damage it.

Headlining replacement guide, repair, replace fix, DIY.

Re: Headlining replacement guide, repair, replace fix, DIY.