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ABS headliner Install with pictures

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Old Mar 9, 2008 | 05:18 PM
  #1  
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ABS headliner Install with pictures

Well just spent all day installing this ABS headliner. It was a major PITA and the result is not perfect. I would say that the ABS headliner has some design issues as I am not overly impressed with the fit.

I muck around with it all day to get it best as possible and this is the result. I would have thought that the company that produces these would have done a better job and getting it identical to the original GM one. One thing that I think is a major issue is the thickness of the headliner. It is not as thick as the original headliner and that is probably why the gaps are present in a few of these shots. Maybe I might get it upholstered with some extra backing to make it thicker and that way it will cover the gaps better.

I did not really have any option in using my old headliner as it was cactus. So I guess this was the next best thing.

The sun visor holes are off no matter what I did I could not get rid of the gaps. This was the best I could get it.

The seat belt trim piece also has some gaps from behind and does not sit flush with the headliner. My over head console also does not sit right on the headliner in a few spots so there is a tiny gap.

From above near the sun visor area you can see it needs to be trimmed down a bit as it sticks out too much. Not sure how I am going to do this to make it look neat. But as it is now the pillar trim piece does not sit perfect with the headliner as it is.

One side has slightly a larger gap then the other when you look down the center panel of the T-top. You can see this in one of the pictures too.

I would have wished I had another GM headliner. These ABS ones that cost a bit of money are not a 100% fit unfortunately. I was hoping it would have been better in all honesty.

Anyone have any suggestions that would fix the gaps around the seat belt trim pieces? Maybe trimming down the headliner where it goes behind the sail panel covers. I basically need the headliner to drop a fraction to cover the gaps.

The over head console gap I might be able to fix pretty easy.





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Old Mar 9, 2008 | 05:20 PM
  #2  
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Re: ABS headliner Install with pictures

Cutting out the headliner holes for the overhead console was pretty easy with a Stanley knife.








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Old Mar 9, 2008 | 06:13 PM
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Re: ABS headliner Install with pictures

is that a right hand drive car? nice.

i have an ABS headliner, but mine was covered with fabric when i bought it, and the fabric covered any imperfections in the cuts
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Old Mar 9, 2008 | 06:16 PM
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Re: ABS headliner Install with pictures

Yeah RHS from Australia

I might do the same with the headliner getting it covered. But I kind of wish that the sun visor holes were not pre cut, that way I could have cut them myself exactly.

I pretty much need to drop the back of the headliner down. That would cover the seatbelt trim piece gap. I might take the sail panel covers off and see if it drops or not. That way I should know if I need to trim the headliner where it goes behind the sail panel covers.
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Old Mar 9, 2008 | 06:25 PM
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Re: ABS headliner Install with pictures

I just bought one these too and it had terrible fitment issues. Certainly wasn't worth the money they charge for one. I ended up living with it as it was the only alternative to the broken up OEM headliner in there.

I was expecting much better....
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Old Mar 9, 2008 | 06:28 PM
  #6  
//<86TA>\\'s Avatar
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Re: ABS headliner Install with pictures

wherer did you guys buy your from? My holes may not have been perfect, but they were much closer than that.
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Old Mar 9, 2008 | 06:31 PM
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Re: ABS headliner Install with pictures

Some place in California, classic industries maybe? I knew when it came out of the box,folded in half, that I was going to be in trouble.

I couldn't imagine more than one company producing them. All though many companies sell them.


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Old Mar 9, 2008 | 06:42 PM
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Re: ABS headliner Install with pictures

Yes I think only one company produces them. Maybe some come out better then others. As some people have better results.

I expected much better results too. You can only do so much with what you get.

Classic Industries too.
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Old Mar 9, 2008 | 06:48 PM
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Re: ABS headliner Install with pictures

i bought mine from classic industries too, and it was folded in half, but flattened right out.

Only thing i dont like is they deleted the mounting clips in the center behind the rear view mirror and it has a slight sag there...
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Old Mar 9, 2008 | 06:49 PM
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Re: ABS headliner Install with pictures

In a strange way I'm glad to see your pictures and the same fitment problems I had. I was starting to suspect that my TTA had been wrecked and the body was waaaayyy out.
----------
Originally Posted by //<86TA>\\

Only thing i dont like is they deleted the mounting clips in the center behind the rear view mirror and it has a slight sag there...
I didn't need mine because the overhead console holds the middle up. I did save the clips if you want them.

Last edited by W72; Mar 9, 2008 at 06:51 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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Old Mar 9, 2008 | 06:53 PM
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Re: ABS headliner Install with pictures

Originally Posted by W72
In a strange way I'm glad to see your pictures and the same fitment problems I had. I was starting to suspect that my TTA had been wrecked and the body was waaaayyy out.
----------


I didn't need mine because the overhead console holds the middle up. I did save the clips if you want them.
Be at ease I think there are lots of people with the same problem. Also I took close ups of these problem areas so they do look worse then what they are in real life. But still they are there.

It really is a shame that they can't get it right before they start producing things like these. They are an inferior product.
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Old Mar 9, 2008 | 08:45 PM
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Re: ABS headliner Install with pictures

hey check this site for the reason why the ABS headliners do not seem to fit right. They seem to require different visor and sail panel mounts, available on this site: http://www.iroczone.com/motorsports/...headliners.htm
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Old Mar 10, 2008 | 01:01 AM
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Re: ABS headliner Install with pictures

Originally Posted by IROCmonkey
hey check this site for the reason why the ABS headliners do not seem to fit right. They seem to require different visor and sail panel mounts, available on this site: http://www.iroczone.com/motorsports/...headliners.htm
Getting different sun visor brackets will not help. Since the holes in the body do not line up with the holes in the headliner. So that will always be off unless the visor brackets were 50% bigger. That way you could mount them and screw through the headliner and the extra size of them would cover the gaps.

I am going to remove the sail panel covers and see how much the headliner drops by. It might really improve the fit issues at the back.
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Old Mar 10, 2008 | 01:20 AM
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Re: ABS headliner Install with pictures

I bought and installed an ABS headliner this summer. Since I have C&C ttops, I had to use the hardtop headliner, cut the holes, and cover it myself. I learned this the hard way after ordering the ttop version . Anyways, I had similar fitment issues, but not the same as you are having. My sun visor mount holes lined up perfectly, but my seat belt trim holes are way off. This really infuriates me, because although the seat belts come through, the trim pieces will not click back in no matter how much I try. (It looks like your seat belt trim will fit perfectly if you install some foam-backed fabric on there.) Seems like I will have to take the headliner down, and widen the holes. I have a feeling like that this may end up looking even worse though.
Fortunately, I found an ABS headliner in the junkyard a couple of weeks ago, picked it up for $10! I may try this one once it gets warmer to see if there is any difference in fitment.
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Old Mar 10, 2008 | 03:01 AM
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Re: ABS headliner Install with pictures

Originally Posted by chriswenk
I bought and installed an ABS headliner this summer. Since I have C&C ttops, I had to use the hardtop headliner, cut the holes, and cover it myself. I learned this the hard way after ordering the ttop version . Anyways, I had similar fitment issues, but not the same as you are having. My sun visor mount holes lined up perfectly, but my seat belt trim holes are way off. This really infuriates me, because although the seat belts come through, the trim pieces will not click back in no matter how much I try. (It looks like your seat belt trim will fit perfectly if you install some foam-backed fabric on there.) Seems like I will have to take the headliner down, and widen the holes. I have a feeling like that this may end up looking even worse though.
Fortunately, I found an ABS headliner in the junkyard a couple of weeks ago, picked it up for $10! I may try this one once it gets warmer to see if there is any difference in fitment.
Yeah I think you either might get the sun visor holes to line up or the seat belt holes but not both. So it ends up being a compromise one or the other.

I basically used my old headliner as a template.

The thing that worries me the most at the moment is the part where it sticks up through the t-tops openings. Not sure how I am gonna cut it to look nice. I might just end up having to get it clothed maybe if it does not come out too good.

I'll try and mod the rear next weekend and if I have success will post some pictures.
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Old Mar 10, 2008 | 06:27 AM
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Re: ABS headliner Install with pictures

Originally Posted by IroczInOz

The thing that worries me the most at the moment is the part where it sticks up through the t-tops openings. Not sure how I am gonna cut it to look nice. I might just end up having to get it clothed maybe if it does not come out too good.
That's where I'm worried too, I got mine covered and all but there's this big gap showing where the T-top opening is. My concern is how the wind may get under it at speed.
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Old Mar 10, 2008 | 08:09 AM
  #17  
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Re: ABS headliner Install with pictures

after doing research and seeing posts like this im glad i paid a guy to recover mine stock one . He did the sail panels and got rid of the sun visors for like 280 and im totally happy with it . He also said it was a major pita since the old headliner is crappy to have to work with .
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Old Mar 10, 2008 | 11:10 AM
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Re: ABS headliner Install with pictures

I also though bout buy the ABS unit but for what they charge and was in luck that my liner was cracked in any places. so I removed my ttop headliner and to me it was very easy to remove. I didnt in my works parking lot and took around 30 mins. Didnt break anything and my liner is in pretty good shape and just removed all of the old stuff. I also noticed that there is suppose to be 3 clips holding it in place by the windshield and I found none. Not sure where did they go and I believe Im the 1st to remove the liner due to there was places the the factory glue was at. Im going to Joann fab today to get the new material but my question is should I buy the foam liner then recover that part or put the new material right to the liner. thanks.
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