Smokin87TA

iTrader: (2)

Alright well i decided to fix my ttop headliner in my 1987 trans am since it was falling apart and in pretty bad shape. I decided to make a little write up on how i did everything and how everything went so others can do this as well. I was going to just buy a new headliner or abs one but i was looking at $230 shipped for one. And those had holes for seat belts and a dome light, which i didnt want.

So i went to Home Depot and picked up the supplies i would need. I bought 32oz of Fiberglass Resin, Fiberglass cloth, acetone, and the cheapest brushes i could find. If you plan on filling holes pick up some bondo as well. All the stuff i purchased cost me just under $30.



I then pulled the headliner out of the car and laid it on a plastic surface to work on. Heres what it looked like after i pulled it out.





Well as you can see mine was falling apart really bad. So decided that the best step was to get the underside cleaned off and remove the liner. Heres what it looks like after everything is cleaned off.



Once everything was clean i mixed up some fiberglass resin and hardener and added some acetone to thin out the resin so it would seep into the cardboard layers of the headliner. This will really make the headliner strong compared to how brittle the cardboard is. I let it sit and dry for about 2 hours.

I then mixed up some more resin with hardener, this time with very little acetone. I used this to get a thick coat over all the edges and places i was going to add the fiberglass cloth too. I then added the cloth and put another layer or resin to soak the cloth. I let this dry for another 2 hours. Heres what it looked like after coating it with resin.




continue to next post...

Smokin87TA

iTrader: (2)

Notice how it still had the cloth on it. I left that on to hold everything together while i was fiberglassing the back side. The headliner is now MUCH sturdies that it was, its actually hard and can be handled without it falling apart. Now it is time to remove the cloth liner. Peel it all off and you are going to find a disgusting glue and foam mix that is super sticky. Here is what it looks like...





Now the best way i found to remove all this crap is by using a brush with stiff plastic bristles. DO NOT try to use your hand, it will just make a mess of your hand. This will take some time but is important. Once all the glue and padding is removed you can fill in any holes that you want with bondo. I mixed up a little bondo and hardner and added a little acetone to thin it just enough to get smooth coverage. Once applied let harden overnight. Here is a pic of the bondo filling in the overhead holes...




This is where it is currently at, check back after next weekend as i will be sanding the bondo smooth, fiberglassing the top with thinned resin, then applying glue and fabric to finish it up. Tim

Smokin87TA

iTrader: (2)

Saved for update.........

Smokin87TA

iTrader: (2)

Saved for another update.....

novadk13

looking good, noticed my sail panels are coming undone need to look into this kind of stuff.

Frozer!!!

iTrader: (11)

Coo, look forward to seeing the final product as I have to do this on my 90

johnnyq5021

cant wait to see the rest of this write up!!!

Fyrstorm

iTrader: (1)

Bumpity Bump. Like to see how this turned out!

DuronClocker

iTrader: (1)

Tim's been SUUUPPER busy with school and such the last few weeks. Not sure if he got around to putting the finishing touches on this.

84redta

iTrader: (34)

Excellent idea, i did this last summer to my berlinetta headliner. Excellent procedure and damn sure saves you $$$$ from ABS...stays more original, and you can do this in your garage in all of about a day. Do the fiberglass first to the cardboard so that it soaks in, that was the first thing i did on both sides. That alone is strong enough to man handle w/out bending, of which cloth to both sides just does that much more. Good luck and would really like to see end results!

Frozer!!!

iTrader: (11)

Did this ever get done? This is gonna be my project next weekend so Im curious to see how it came out

SinZ

iTrader: (1)

Bump, Also interested in how it turned out...

Jeff91RS

iTrader: (1)

i started this today after i saw this last night and it is working phenominally. my only fear is that my headliner super rigid like i could throw it throw a window and im afraid that it is gonna be difficult to put it back in and it put it up right.

Frozer!!!

iTrader: (11)

I also started this. Maybe have the actuall headliner fabric on by next week. the fiberglassing steps worked great though.

92RSsleeper

iTrader: (6)

bump...any finished pics?

MrsDuronClocker

I text messaged him, see if we can get an answer!

buell

lol yup im another one getting ready to do something similar to this by the end of this year. wheres the best spot to get the headliner fabric? I went to jo-anns but didnt have exactly wat im looking for... I have a red interior on an 87 iroc (still dont know what the interior color is lol). I can put up pics but i want something very similiar to orginal color

Frozer!!!

iTrader: (11)

My headliner has been sitting for awhile now. I still gotta buy the fabric lol. Sure is sturdy after fiberglassing though

92RSsleeper

iTrader: (6)

did you guys use fiberglass cloth on both sides? I coated the top with fiberglass resin and (and cloth only on broken spots) but it isn't seeing to dry....i did it last night...any guesses? I figure it's just not warm enough and I used waaaay too much resin lol.

Jeff91RS

iTrader: (1)

did u dilute the resin mixture with asetone? i dont think it will make it dry any quicker but it made it a tad tinner so it absorbed into the liner better

92RSsleeper

iTrader: (6)

ya i actually did use acetone, more the second "batch" i made, but like I said...I used way too much I'm guessing. the factory headliners don't have a fiberglass top to them already right?

EDIT: I guess it would probably make a difference that I'm covering a hardtop, I know i heard about 2 hrs to dry..but that was with a ttop

Jeff91RS

iTrader: (1)

it has a lot to do with ur mixture of resin to hardner.

92RSsleeper

iTrader: (6)

Sorry about hijacking your thread with all these questions.....

is it possible that if I didn't use enough hardener..that it just won't harden at all?

Frozer!!!

iTrader: (11)

You probably didnt use enough hardner. Mine dried in like 5-10 min. I had to keep stirring it so it wouldnt paint on all clumpy

92RSsleeper

iTrader: (6)

well i guess that explains it, mine was thick, but i didnt feel like it was gonna harden on me immediately thx guys i'll let you know when it finally dries lol


EDIT: Do you think we could get this thread moved to the regular interior section? The beginning with pics is great for anyone trying to do this...and you can delete all my questions if you want haha