Do we have the ultra-easy and simple snap in headliner? I heard they were in newer cars, but not how new. If it isn't I dont want to touch it. Anybody know?

 

Our headliners are held in by the surrounding plastic moulding, dome lamp, and visors. Not hard to remove if you take out all the surrounding parts. They are fiberglass board and bend pretty easily if you aren't careful. Take it out through the rear hatch. The fiberglass has a tendency to start falling apart, and once that happens your best bet is to soak it with a good coat of resin (after you remove the material and padding). If you want to spend the bucks, there is an abs replacement available from companies like year one, either bare or with material already attached. I'd give this one a difficulty of 4 or 5 on a scale of 10.

 

hmm, never considered geting it out thru the hatch, but I have T-tops. I can get mine out in less than a half an hour. And i am careful.

Be careful with the front there are 2 clips that are about above your sun-visors and they break really easy. Chances are you will break them... I broke mine.


John

 

Oops, forgot about those clips. Been about 8 years since I pulled mine out.

 

Hmmm...I was wondering what that headliner board was made out of!

It looked like fiberglass....but more of a household insulation type fiberglass. I took mine out today to repair it, but didn;t want to add any fiberglass resin to it for fear it might eat it away!

So it's safe to add a few coats to stiffen this sucker up? Once I re-upholster it...I don't wanna do it again for awhile!

 

yeah, people have used resin to stiffen and even added a layer or two of 'glass to it for reinforcement.

 

Thank ***....one of the pieces for the rear seat belts was completely broken off.....some resin will hold it together much better than glue ;-) hehehe

 

I put resin all over mine & it is fine.

What its actually made of is kind of a mystery. It seems to me that its kind of a combination of paper & fiberglass. It tears so easy. I know some cars actually use stiffened cardboard. Kind of similar to a not so dense masonite. But as for puting resin on it, You should have no problems. Been there done that...

I would recommend trying to salvage as much as possible. For example, if you broke off a corner & still have the piece, use it in your re-construction & use some actual fiberglass & resin to re-inforce it. This will more than likely give you a better shape than just throwing away pieces & using only fiberglass. Unfortunatly that is not always possible, just do your best.

John

 

Excellent! This should come out pretty good then....I was using an article I found about a headliner replacement on the web....jay something wrote it. I've seen his name on the board many times.

I was just glueing some fiberglass cloth, but REALLY wanted to coat it in resin as opposed to glue. That's gonna be today's project ;-) Should make it nice and stiff to avoid breaking if I ever do need to take it out again.

As for broken pieces....luckily it was only the driver's side rear seatbelt surround that snapped off. I've got it glued back into place with fiberglass cloth....so a coat of resin will make it super strong.

Thanks for the helps guys!

 

Does anyone have the service manual headliner diagram scanned? Chuck usually has them.