Headliner repair?

[CrashTestDummy]

While heading to the pharmacy to pick up a 'script for my bride, I noticed that the leading edge of the headliner is coming loose. I was busy with that task, so didn't do a thorough analysis when I got home, but am HOPING it's just the leading edge. I'll know better later on, maybe this weekend when I get time in the car again.

So if it is just the leading edge, can I just clean the foam off the material and backer board and reattach the cloth with 3M weather strip adhesive? What have others done? Any idea what a whole headliner replacement job runs for these cars? Thanks.

[Sanford]

Once the foam starts to go, the headliner is pretty much done. I pulled the fabric off of all of mine and then vacuumed the gummy/sticky foam backing off of the backing. Haven’t had the motivation to pull the backing out of the car and recovering it.

[CrashTestDummy]

Yeah, I know that. Been there, done that sort of thing. Didn't know if things had improved any from the '90's. I attempted a recover ONCE. It was on our 1983 Impala F41. I vowed then I'd never do that again. Friends did that sort of work then, and did really good work, so I left it up to them. I'd tune their carbs, they'd do my headliner.

Looking around, I can't imagine how they'd get the driver's side A-pillar off to drop the panel, with the spotlight in the way.

[Capeasy]

Yeah Gene, I went to a couple auto upholstery shops in the area and got ridiculous quotes (around $1,200 and up) they would tell me how they never did a PPV and it would be complicated. So I just put up with a floppy headliner couple more months and for the He'll of it I went to a furniture upholstery shop I've used before. The old time owner said go in back and talk to Javier, he does car upholstery on the weekends. So I scheduled bringing in my car on a Saturday after he recieved the fabric he ordered for me. I show up at the end of the day and I now have a brand new headliner for under $400 . I couldn't be happier with the job, he said he scrapped and removed all the old deteriorated glue and material. He said he used a steam machine and the best adhesive available. I'll stick with mechanical issues and just pay someone to do stuff I have no patience for lol.

[CrashTestDummy]

I don't remember what it was 'back in the day', but was easily something a college student working two jobs could afford, so I had friends do it. I may have also gotten a 'friend' deal, but who knows. The work was top notch. It's just peeling off the leading edge of the backer at the top of the windshield. I've seriously thought of taking some 3M Weatherstrip Adhesive and running a bead across the front of the backer board and cloth and sticking it back in place.

But anything more than that, yes, indeed, I have no patience for.

[CrashTestDummy]

Back to the top. The headliner has now mostly fallen so that front occupants get to wear it as a hat going down the road. So now I'm looking at replacing it if we keep the car.

It looks like the OEM headliner is still available (still listed in the GM parts catalog, anyway), but it's ~$1100. The instructional videos on YuuToobs University make replacing the material look easy, but I'm still skeptical. I'll be asking around for recommendations local to us and maybe get quotes.

I may also look into R&R the thing myself, but then only as a winter project. We got an aftermarket headliner for our Camaro, so we'll practice on it and see how just the headliner remove and reinstall itself goes before tackling the replacing material chore itself. I attempted it many decades ago and the job was an abject failure, but it was me working alone with simple hand tools.

Has anyone actually done the job, or bought the material to get it done? If so, what color did you choose, besides black? Thanks.

[elc32955]

Almost enough to make you start patrolling salvage yards to find a wreck with an intact headliner. They DO exist, just finding one & getting it pulled is the challenge. Holden might have installed like the front dash, through the windshield hole before the glass was installed. Have to re-watch those car build videos to be sure...

Eric

[CrashTestDummy]

I'd just as soon redo the one we have, or have it redone, as I fear all the existing ones have been exposed to time, atmosphere, heat (and cold) and local environment, **cough**cigarette smoke**cough**, so they're a ticking time bomb even if they look good when you come across them. That, or bite the bullet and get a new one.

I'm certain they probably went in before the windshield was glued on, but I seem to remember reading somewhere here where someone mentioned they came out through the back door. I would be hallucinating, though...

[elc32955]

Don't forget you always have the Swingline mod to keep the cloth up. A few years back I owned a Porsche Cayenne SUV, it had the alcantara headliner and naturally, on schedule around 100K it started to pooch down. Just the headliner itself was $3k before installation. So I consulted the owner of a local Porsche service center and his advice to me was... keep the original headliner in-place and up via Mr. Swingline. People want to see the original headliner up, if it has some stratigicly placed staples no biggie, it will still sell. Where you get into trouble is trying to glue it back in place or changing the color with new fabric, takes it away from the stock look. Buyers will never see staple holes in the backer board.

So, I took his advice, the headliner held in place, and I got $15k for it when I sold it. That +/- $4500 I would have dropped into it for a new headliner would be soaked-up money, you'd never see a dollar extra out of it for increased profit at resale time.

Good advice.

Eric

[Sanford]

I'd just as soon redo the one we have, or have it redone, as I fear all the existing ones have been exposed to time, atmosphere, heat (and cold) and local environment, **cough**cigarette smoke**cough**, so they're a ticking time bomb even if they look good when you come across them. That, or bite the bullet and get a new one.

I'm certain they probably went in before the windshield was glued on, but I seem to remember reading somewhere here where someone mentioned they came out through the back door. I would be hallucinating, though...

I doubt you will find one that is any good. All of the headliners in my fleet have gone belly up, including the wife’s car that has been garage kept for the last 7 or so years. I just pull the cloth down and vacuum the deteriorated foam off of the board. I have gotten use to the look, plus I have too many other projects to spend the time on cosmetics. I have always been a function over beauty type of person.