Hi all, I'm going try and reglue headliner cloth back up. Do I need to remove foam and replace it, or remove it and glue cloth straight to board. Headline is around 8 to 9 years old. Thanks
Headliner reglue
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What you're going to encounter depends, in part, on what is there for a backing board and what material was used.
If you have the factory backing board, and if the maerial used was a factory style foam backed fabric, then you would want to do the following (assuming hardtop car, astroroof and ttops differ slghtly):
First remove the board and set on a table. Front and rear metal trim plates screw to the roof, sides remove by gentle pulling towards the interior of the car to release clips before removing downwards. Make sure to pull the fuse for your dome light before removing lens and the two slip on fasteners securing the lamp to the mount, there is a risk of shorting something based on metal contact. I use needle nose pliers to remove the fasteners.
With the board out on a flat surface pull the fabric off. You will need to remove the residual foam attached to the backing board as this is what causes the sag - it's the bond with the foam breaking down and separating from the fabric, not a glue wearing off the backing issue. If you don't get the foam off, your new covering won't hold as long.
Typically rubbing the foam residue with your hand will cause pills and remove the majority of the foam. Lint rollers can get the rest.
I always repair factory backing boards, and fix cracks and issues by coating with fiberglass resin, couple coats and you're good. Inconsistencies I fix with glazing and spot putty, than after drying/curing a light coat of resin. Makes a good stiff secure surface for gluing.
Precut your fabric to roughly the size/shape of the board, leave a good 3" of overlap per side. Do not cut your dome light opening yet. Then glue on using 3m spray adhesive liberally spraying the board. You will go through more than one can.
By not triming the fabric exactly beforehand, if you are slightly off in direction when applying the fabric it's not a problem. Being 1/8" off from a 90* angle on a 4-5 foot wide piece of fabric doesn't look like much. But after going 5 feet in length you can easily be off by an inch at the other end.
Laying the fabric down is a go slow and steady process, the glue is NOT some thing where you can lay it down then adjust and stretch it after before it dries.
Once it has dried you trim the edges and the light hole. Save some time and effort by making holes for the coat hooks before reinstalling as well, it's hard to find the proper spot once it's back up in the car.
Also as an afterthought once I hit submit i read your post another way... you aren't trying to remove and reglue your old cloth back up right? That's a no-no, won't come out right, lots of dark spots and glue bleeding through the fabric. The cloth comes with the foam molded/attached to it, you need to use new.
A roll of headliner material for a hardtop (around 2 yards) will cost around $90. Spend the money. Trying to re glue the material coming away from the foam will not work out well. There's really no way around doing that right.
Hutch
Hutch
I can tell you the Permatex headliner spray glue did not work gluing to foam. Multiple coats, stuck for a couple of days, a waste of time. Buy the 3M stuff, rated for high temps if you attempt it.
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I am in the middle of this horrible job right now. The only things I can add are make sure all of the old foam is gone, even one spot and the headliner will fail the first time you roll the windows down while driving. (Ask me how I know.) Also, I used fine steel wool and 3M adhesive remover to get the board clean and rough up the surface a bit. Lastly, my Monte Carlo headliner has a raised portion over the back seat, so I started there. I applied the adhesive and fabric, and put a few memory foam pillows along the ridge, to make sure the fabric gets a good bond, but not so much as to leave a mark in the fabric. I did this step Sunday, and I will let it set another day before gluing the rest of the fabric. I hate doing this job, so I take plenty of time to make sure it's done right. I sure don't want to redo it next year.
I just ordered a new headliner cloth, with spray adhesive from dixie restoration. I was going to try to put the old back up but you fellas talked me out if it. I have a new can of 3M headliner adhesive,will this can and the one coming be enough to do the job?
I ordered my headliner from StockInteriors, it cost $59 with shipping for 2 yards but one thing I like is they will send you samples for free of whatever colors you are considering so you can match your current color.
If you have a generic color Ebay sells 2 yards shipped for $25 and is also good quality.
I would say I used about 1-1/2 cans of 3M headliner adhesive to install a full hardtop headliner.
If you have a generic color Ebay sells 2 yards shipped for $25 and is also good quality.
I would say I used about 1-1/2 cans of 3M headliner adhesive to install a full hardtop headliner.
Just remember on the backer board. 95% preparation and 5% installation
Do it right the first time.
I didn't and learned the hard way
Do it right the first time.
I didn't and learned the hard way
Dixie restoration had a hardtop kit in tan color with adhesive for 29.95. I didn't think that was to bad. Shipping on the other hand was a different story. I'm starting this project today.
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