ABS Headliner
 

So I've got the (probably) normal headliner for a car that's 27 years old. Its sagging, discolored, and rotting to the point of shedding a black dust over the entire interior. I'm definitely going to get it redone over the Christmas break, but instead of cloth again, i had another idea. What if i was to take the ABS board from 1A and bondo it smooth and then paint it to match my interior plastics? To me, it seems like it would be much more durable than cloth with the tops off. Is this feasible, and/or would it look like total crap?

Re: ABS Headliner
 

What are you going to do with the rest of the interior that has cloth,Bondo it smooth and paint it.There's nothing more nicer than a matching interior.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/pict...966599&thumb=1

Re: ABS Headliner
 

You could try dying the straight plastic; Bondo would crack immediately just putting it in.

The cloth would definitely be nicer though. I've had an ABS headliner for 4 years or so now, and it still looks great.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

There's a layer of foam between the headliner and cloth that deteriorates over time. That may be what is falling down. Other than that imo it's usually water getting in that causes the headliner itself to fall apart. I see a lot that only need the foam scraped off and new foam &cloth applied. On the ones that don't I can peak in under the weather stripping and often see rust of some sort.
I would just wait until you pull the headliner and see how bad it really is. You might be able to repair it by doing some fiberglass work, and if you do go ABS the cloth/foam covering will probably last quite a while as long as you use the right adhesive.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

The abs headliners aren't exactly the same. The hard top fits ok, but they took the mold from the back side of an original, so it's not the correct shape, has a big ridge running down the middle. If you have an overhead console, it won't fit.
If it's just the fabric coming down, get the original recovered. If you don't like the cloth, strip it and have it covered with a high build primer and paint it.
It will look better than the abs replacement.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

Thanks everyone for the replies! I guess I was just thinking that the wind from having the tops removed was what caused the damage. Here in a few days i'll dig into my old one and see if it can be saved.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

If you need any help at all or have questions about our headliners, you can shoot me a PM and I'll help yah out.

Tony

Re: ABS Headliner
 

Thanks Tony!

Re: ABS Headliner
 

A few more ideas for you:

1 - Just sand the ABS smooth and paint it. As mentioned above, bondo will crack almost instantly.

2 - Use a flexible bumper repair kit to smooth out the ABS headliner. It goes on like bondo, but won't crack.

3 - Strip the cloth & foam backing off the original and spread a thin coat of fiberglass resin on it while it's still in place. Then take it down, put another coat of resin on both sides, sand it smooth and paint it.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

Ah, t-tops:
Anyone run the ttop abs headliner uncovered? I would like to see how it looks. I noticed the ttop headliner is also molded from the wrong side so it may not look right without the foam and fabric to push it out to the right dimensions and fill the gaps around the roof.
Also, what are the provisions for the visors? How does that part look without fabric?

Re: ABS Headliner
 

If you go to your local auto body supply store SEM makes paint that's made to bite into plastic.

If you plan on doing shows or anything with the car, you may want to cover it with cloth though. It would look more finished IMO Just my .02

Tony

Re: ABS Headliner
 

Thanks for the ideas, 92! That had also occurred to me the other day, what would I do with the visors and sail panels if I ended up going without cloth on the headliner. Maybe fiberglass the visors and paint them to match? Now i know the sail panels have to be cloth so the sound can get through...

Tony, thanks for the idea, that may be the same type of paint that motobooks had such success with on his '84.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

I hadn't really thought that far into it. I would definitely recover the sail panels in a matching cloth material. The sun visors I would probably recover as well. I had mine apart recently to recover them and it's not a hard job at all. And they are really, really ugly under the covering. Just piece of metal sheet with one end rolled into a loop and then stapled to a piece of fiberboard.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

My dad's a 71 year old auto body man, I've learned a few tricks in the body shop over the years, mainly how to watch HA!:doh:

Re: ABS Headliner
 

im running an un covered Ttop ABS headliner. just spray painted it to match the interior. I think it looks better than the fabric actually ill try to post some pics tomorrow. the fit is alright cant tell unless you really look at it. the only downside I see to it is that there are no clips for between the vizors so on hot days you can notice a sag in it. im currently trying to find a solution to this. ill try to get some pics of all the areas I find that could be "better"

Re: ABS Headliner
 

My car has a C & C T Top.

I've read that I need to get a hard top car roof liner and cut it to fit the T Top shape.

If I get a 1aauto ABS roof liner can I do this?

Re: ABS Headliner
 

i don't have exerience with the c&c tops, but from what i know of the headliners, i think the abs one might actually work better.
because they took the mold from the wrong side, the areas over the seats are actually closer to the roof that the original. might make a better fit.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

Can the ABS roof liner be cut to fit a C & C T Top roof?

Re: ABS Headliner
 

ok I know it took a couple days to get the pics but ive been a bit busy. pay no attention to the ripped seats and the mess. you can see what I was talking about the sagging towards the front and the back. but you can tell where the dome light is holding it up its a pretty good fit. haven't had much time to figure out the clip situation to support it better. Attachment 341161

Attachment 341162
Attachment 341163
you can see what I was talking about the sagging towards the front and the back. but you can tell where the dome light is holding it up its a pretty good fit. haven't had much time to figure out the clip situation to support it better.
Attachment 341164

Re: ABS Headliner
 

Try a overhead console!!that would do it.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

I have to redo my headliner in my '85 Camaro SC and I'm getting a headache about the whole thing. I can't decide whether to order from eBay or some other site. Most I've seen are on ABS board and already come foamed and clothed, ready to be put up as soon as you receive it. My frustration is I don't see any holes for the Visors and what not. They're completely solid. I have no idea where to start and cannot find a decent video for a hardtop Third Gen Camaro headliner repair. I've seen sites that sell the fabric separate with a special adhesive. I've heard people scrape the foam off the originals and reupholster it with a new cloth that matches the original headliner. I have no idea what to do. Would love some input. Thanks!

Re: ABS Headliner
 

Read the other abs headliner thread, you don't want one.
Yours can easily be recovered and there are no better replacements available. There are several threads on fixing and recovering headliners on this board. If you do it yourself, get actual headliner material, it has a foam backing to conform to the shape of the headliner and accessories. If you don't want to do it yourself, any upholstery shop can do it for around $100-$150.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

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

left mine uncovered and installed an overhead console

one tip, enlarge the holes for the sun visors and use velcro to hold up the corners if the holes dont line up for the visors
mine didn't and the abs ended up cracking from the stress over the coarse of a year, im in the process of fixing the cracks and reinstalling

Re: ABS Headliner
 

I think I'm going to end up doing this. The whole oversized shipping load and everything else is too much of a headache. Thanks man!

I don't have a T-Tops, only a solid roof. I think I'll just end up reupholstering GM's headliner. Thanks anyway!

Re: ABS Headliner
 

Good move. The hardtop ABS headliner fits like crap, luckily mine is black imperfections are not as noticeable.

The T-top one in my T/A fits great though.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

After doing a little more research, I'm getting a local shop to recover mine, along with the visors and sail panels. Should look great and save me any trouble with fitment issues. I started a build thread for my car, I'll be sure to put up pictures there!

Re: ABS Headliner
 

I have an ABS headliner I got from 1A Auto about 8 years ago. Still looks great and fits great.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

That pic makes me seriously reconciider getting an abs headliner. That looks like complete crap. Sagging or not the size looks way off. :doh:

Re: ABS Headliner
 

That's because it was done hastily or wrong!!!
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/pict...966599&thumb=1

Re: ABS Headliner
 

This is a worry I have when thinking about the ABS headliner as my interior is Charcoal grey or Oxford grey, etc. Wish me luck!

One thing that really worries me about ABS headliners is all of the ones I could find were a solid board without cutouts for the visors, seatbelt clamps, overhead lights, etc. The last thing I want to do is spend $300 USD easily on a decent ABS board and end up cob jobbing it because of inexperience. I've taken Carpentry classes in my Technical High School so I'm pretty sure I can at least handle making some incisions or whatever method is best for creating cutouts in the headliner material itself for all of the accessories.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

Goodreau, I definitely understand where you're coming from. A nearby shop quoted me about $150 to redo mine completely, so that makes the $300 for questionable quality seem even worse.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

I'm almost positive that the headliner has all the cuts in it already(don't remember cutting),you just have to cut the fabric(cloth).I really don't remember making the cut's for the sunvisors,rear seatbelts or the dome light,the only cut I had to make was for the upper console,witch was not difficult at all.
I got mine from Classic,I don't know if other venders use the same co.or not,You can always call to check if it has the cutouts.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

Summit has an abs liner for hardtops I got for 150 delivered IIRC. Has the holes for dome light and visors. Unsure of the fit, I have yet to install it. Fits wonderful in the corner of my man cave.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

So it does come with the cuts.I thought so.Thanks Joe for clearing that up.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

The material is a little different than stock though. Stock has a texture like flannel. This one is more like a cotton weave. At the price though, I figure I can recover if it bothers me that bad. I see uncovered boards for similar prices.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

I just looked up Summit,they use a co.called PUI for their headliners.They were(PUI) spot on for my seat upholstery in witch I got those from Classic also.
http://search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0oG7...a//www.pui.cc/

Re: ABS Headliner
 

It is a PUI brand. There's nothing that you will notice without scrutiny, other than the ridge running up the center, but the material is different. Just pointing it out for people needing an exact stock look.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

My head liner is sagging also. I have to decide what to do with it by spring. Cant stand it rubbing on my head. lmao.. What kind of shop are you getting to recover yours Assaulta?

Re: ABS Headliner
 

What's sagging??the roof panel or just the material.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

Its been two years since I pulled the headliner off of the Trans Am I restored. I do remember the headliner being ruined and without doing research on fixing them I did a dumb thing and threw it out. Soooo I have to buy an ABS and you guys are right the shipping is 70 bucks extra. I will probably end up having to get one though because I have no choice really. There are no Third Gens anywhere in my area junkyards.

But for the life of me I cannot remember how these things install. I wanted to put mine in with no dome light, center console and no visors but Im thinking them are the things that hold it up.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

anyone try the R***Auto headliner board yet?

Re: ABS Headliner
 

^ Got a link?

Re: ABS Headliner
 

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/more...380&cc=1035627

thats for a covered one, if you follow the catalog on their site for year/make/model, its body-interior headliner, they have uncovered ones as well

Re: ABS Headliner
 

The ABS boards don't have the hooks that hold it by the windshield. Visors, dome, and the trim in the rear hold it up on T-tops. HT has the side trim holding it as well.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

I'd bet the Rockauto is a 1A auto headliner relabeled.

Very possible...

Re: ABS Headliner
 

Well that sucks. Guess I will have to use that stuff. The center console looks chessy to me with the trip indicator and that pocket. Never liked the pocket on the dash either. Oh well... wondering if I should get it covered or not covered.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

Before you cut anything i would try some 2" industrial velcro. Ill be trying that on mine this spring when I finally get it. I mean at a few bucks a roll it couldnt hurt to try. Only problem you might have are the holes for the dome light and visors, if you cover it, then you can cover the holes, if you dont cover it im sure you can get creative with some filler and light sanding.

Heck Id look at the visor delete plates i have seen, i think eBay? Also help hold the thing up.

I agree, the overhead console is a little cheesy, between the odometer stuff and the light pocket.... but to each their own.

Re: ABS Headliner
 

If I have to use the console I will, its not a huge deal. I have to look for visor delete plates.... I never knew they made such a thing, thanks for the info!

Re: ABS Headliner
 

Just a heads up, if you have mechanical/ body inspection , a drivers sun visor is usually required.