Mr Froman

I can't figure it out. It's either the headliner is too small or flexed to the point where I can't get it to fit. First off, the edge hangs way out on the passenger side so if I had the t tops off it'd look so terrible. (attached image) To make it worse, I can't even get the visors to line up. If I bolt in the passenger side, the headliner has to move toward the driver's side about a half inch to get the pre-cut triangle to line up, which won't happen no matter how hard I pull. Can't drill holes through the headliner because I already cut the fabric to fit the pre-cut triangle so there would be a gap around the edge. Once I get one side of the headliner lined up where it should be, another side flexes down or sits way off the body .

kozman

You're not alone, my headliner fit like crap also...wish I never changed it!!

my visor holes barely lined up, and also have gaps and sagging.

do a search, you will find tons of unhappy stories about ABS fitment issues

t-top havoc

iTrader: (3)

CaveCock did the ABS t-top headliner a few months ago, & put in the overhead console. It came out pretty nice.
I'll see if I can find it, & post the link.

( edit )

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...d-console.html

Maybe PM him for tips?

Good luck--We've been thinking about doing the ABS...YIKES!!!

Mr Froman

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Carlos773

iTrader: (3)

Should of instantly said it does not fit, and send it back. Once you cut it up or modify it any way they will not or rarely help you. That is why I hardly touch aftermarket things. If you are fine with doing something fishy, put it on craigs and sell it and make some money back.

t-top havoc

iTrader: (3)

That does bite!!
Call & ask if there was a bad batch or concerns about being so far off is the only thing I can think of.

Mr Froman

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Carlos773

iTrader: (3)

Think about it, most will think its an easy fix and mess with it and once they realize its too much to fix and call for a return, its too late to return and its a final sale. Just be smart next time and remember if it requires work to making it fit and they have a return policy and fitment falls into it then return it.

Also I had my Camaro well **** since it was in the family without a headliner. It wont matter much unless you care. Check local yards for a decent one or just a good backing and recarpet it. Sprayed the back with a glue my father got me from his work and let it dry and made the backing somewhat harder and still flexible and recarpeted it black to fit my Camaro. Total cost was around $30 and no headaches.

F A T B O Y

I had the same problem with mine (wasn't Hawks, but same problem). I took it to the local upholstery shop and told them it'd have to be extended in the middle. They cut it in half, extended it, and covered it. You'd have never known it wasn't the right size. I just hate that yours is already covered

Mr Froman

How much did you pay?


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F A T B O Y

It wasn't cheap, for sure.

It was especially painful cause i was only 16. I was pissed to no end, but then i went back and re-read the tiny tiny print on the auction listing. Something similar to "product may have to be altered for best fit.". So i just made the best out of what i had and had it fixed. (actually the first time the upholstery job did a hack job, and charged me some unheard of amount of money, and it looked about like the OP's. It didn't take too long after i started flying off the handle for them to re-do it and re-do it right.)

You might try to alter it yourself to fit, man. Definitely contact hawks and see if they'll do anything about it first - though. (as much as they make off of them they can stand to lose a bit replacing yours)

Mr Froman

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Mr Froman

[quote=Mr Froman;4571476]To make it worse, I can't even get the visors to line up. If I bolt in the passenger side, the headliner has to move toward the driver's side about a half inch to get the pre-cut triangle to line up, which won't happen no matter how hard I pull. Can't drill holes through the headliner because I already cut the fabric to fit the pre-cut triangle so there would be a gap around the edge

1ADan

iTrader: (4)

just out of curiousity, are you positive you have factory (fisher) t-tops? The C&C ones will not work with the ABS t-top liner since they're completely different tops. Had a customer recently go through the same ordeal, only to find out they don't have factory t's

Sonymaster20

iTrader: (3)

1a Dan I ordered the same fisher headliner and it turned out that the precut holes were in fact way to close together. When I say small, I mean they are Inward toward the middle too much and thus dont match the factory holes. Mine just barely fit in my car, and still has some holes showing where the visors line up.

1ADan

iTrader: (4)

interesting. i've not heard of any issues prior regarding the visor mounting holes. i know there have been a few write-ups around here about installing the ABS headliners, but i think i may have to tackle my own of these days to try and see what seems to be the issue

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

I only did an ABS headliner install once and pulled one out of a car I parted out. Neither had any issues like this.

defaced

iTrader: (6)

Do like I do and run with no headliner, fixes all problems. haha

Mine's been off for over a year and it doesn't even bother me anymore. Will get a new one eventually, but I'm going to try to find a lightly used factory one. I took mine off to wrap it with new fabric but as I was removing it, the damn thing literally fell into pieces.

Good luck!

Isn't there someone from Hawk's that watch this forum? I'm surprised they haven't chimed in yet.

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

I wouldn't bother with one of the original headliners. The crap cardboard is just trash. The newest cardboard headliners is 18 years old at least. I need a new one and I'm just going to go with another ABS headliner. I've done the installation before and it was easy. Even easier if you don't have the overhead console.

Mr Froman

I talked to them (Bruce I believe) on the phone and they are doing what they can to send me a replacement if they can, whatever they can do to help. I should have talked to them first before flaming.

t-top havoc

iTrader: (3)

It's totaly understandable to be pissed.
Also, IMHO,
it was good of you to say you shouldn't have gone off
like that. I would think Bruce understands the reason.

IIRC, there's just 1 or 2 companies making them.

Best to ya!!

Red90IROC

Sorry to read about your troubles. I have bought two new ABS headliners from Hawks. One for my 83 Z28 and one for my current 84 Z28. Both were a good color match and a very good fit. Hope you get it figured out.

iroc_valencia

I've bought the same ABS headliner weeks ago , and the sunvisor holes doesn't line up , there's too much material on the end of t-top's and the qty. of material to fill the zone near to the rear glass it's insufficient (can't be moved backward cause it has belt pre-cutted holes).

Better than runing without headliner , but not satisfied with the product.

What a joke

DJP87Z28

For what you guys pay for these on-line headliners, it would cost about the same or less at a local Auto Reupholstery shop. It may not be DIY, but it worked for me with NO problems with fit and finish with a Factory look.

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

The problem is that the cardboard headliners suck. Many if not most are too badly deteriorated at this point to even save them. On these cars I wouldn't bother keeping the factory headliners anyway. Cardboard is a crappy material to make interior parts with. I am unsure why the auto industry still does this today.

DARKmj16

iTrader: (6)

when i got my 92 i dont have any visors (there isnt even a cut out for them in the fabric) and it over hangs like that both in front and back of the ttop area.

and reading tho this got me thinking, bc people saying they had same/simalir problems or no problems. i would like to now if the headliners are one size. think bout it, the ttop dieminons changed for 90-92, they got smaller. but if the headliners are for 82-89 and trying to go on a 90-92...well theres the problem. what are the years everyone is putting them on? and is it just for ttop cars that are having problems?

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

That's incorrect. The factory t-top dimensions never changed. Their pins and latching mechanisms did but the glass and size of the top remained the same from 1982 to 1992. The dealer installed C&C t-tops were always smaller than the factory (RPO CC1) T-tops. They were especially common in later years when there were restrictions placed on what cars could have L98's and t-tops. The C&C t-tops cars had modified hardtop headliners in them. They basically cut the cardboard, reshaped it a little and recovered them so they'd look alright. Their headliners and glass tops are different than factory t-top cars' are. The C&C cars also kept their hard top sun visors as opposed to factory t-top cars that had curved visors.

DARKmj16

iTrader: (6)

oooo so that explains the different sizes, thanks for the correction

Dante93GTZ

iTrader: (5)

Good, correct information.

FormulaWolf

I just removed my old headliner piece, removed the material and junk, then glued on some nice looking black material from walmart. Reinstalled with no prob.

Total cost: $13.00

kd5icr

iTrader: (2)

There is a thread here about headliners. Check it out it looks damn good.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...rial-many.html

tekkitan

iTrader: (1)

Do what my co-worker is doing. Find a decent quality one that has held up and coat it in fiberglass.

Mr Froman

I remember a guy on here did one AMAZING carbon fiber headliner.