Headliner on sunroof car

[rodster]

Just curious before I start removing the headliner on my 84, anyone know how the material is fitted around the sunroof? Looks like the headliner board may stop short of the sunroof and the windlace holds the vinyl in place. :confused:

[dsgmach007]

I believe you are correct. I had an 84 that I did the headliner in let me see if I can dig up the pics.

[rodster]

Thanks, no rush, just planning ahead. I'm hoping to save the original material and reuse it to help keep the car as original as possible.

[Mustang Al]

I believe it is wrapped around the edge and then the windlace is pressed on it. If I remember correctly.

[rodster]

OK thanks guys.... I took a quick look and believe you are correct. I will get on it as soon as it warms up a little!

[svobrad]

My sunroof had a little contact cement at the perimeter of the opening - then the seal covers the edge.

[rodster]

OK thanks.....any original contact cement on mine is probably dust by now. ;)

[rodster]

Well, it warmed up today ;) so I took a look at the headliner. As mentioned, it is glued around the edge and then the weatherstrip goes over it.

The vinyl is still nice and secure at the sunroof, so I was debating if I should let it attached and drop the rest of the headliner, clean off the old foam/glue on the board and back of headliner then start at the sunroof and smooth and re-glue?

It might be more tedious and time consuming than dropping the whole board but it would allow me to keep the original headliner material.

Has anyone found a close match to the original vinyl headliner should I decide to replace it?

[k98dave]

"The vinyl is still nice and secure at the sunroof, so I was debating if I should let it attached and drop the rest of the headliner, clean off the old foam/glue on the board and back of headliner then start at the sunroof and smooth and re-glue?

That would be pretty hard to do especially since the backing needs to be completely removed for the new adhesive to work. For the sun roof opening you might try using a heat gun (or maybe a hair dryer) and slowly start working the it off the edge using a small plastic scraper.


Has anyone found a close match to the original vinyl headliner should I decide to replace it?

I have seen some that were close. Upholstery shops might be able to help as they have samples.

[rodster]

Thanks k98dave,

I think I could get all of the foam/glue off of the board, just not sure if the new adhesive would adhere to the vinyl. I've done other sagging Ford headliners :mad: before so I have more experience than I prefer, just none around sunroofs.

Of course, before I go to all of that trouble, like you suggested, I will check around with upholstery shops to see how close they can get. If I find something very close, I will probably just take the car to them (with everything cleaned up and ready to go) and let them do the install.

It's one of those jobs where extra hands really come in handy.

After the New Year, I will start looking around.

Rod

[venomizd93]

Yeah, contact cement to the body and light stretching to get the wrinkles out around the corners, and the weatherstripping(windlace?) covers over that.

[rodster]

Headliner is out and cleaned up. Stopped by a local automotive upholstery shop and they claim the old vinyl will not adhere to the backer board so now looking for a similar vinyl replacement. If that proves impossible (this shop had no grey vinyl samples in any of their books and even called a vendor) I'll consider a nice foam backed cloth.

Estimated cost from the shop was $450. I think I can do it for less. ;)


7262

[FoxBuddy]

Estimated cost from the shop was $450. I think I can do it for less. ;)

I agree Rodster. We are doing a headliner in our 79 coupe right now too. I got quoted $250+ (plus who knows what) for a 'custom product' from a colleague of a coworker who uses him for his Mopars, $200 US plus shipping to Canada (oversize+ouch!) for an NPD repop or $250 CDN. plus tax from The Mustang Shop (probably same as NPD source).

I have decided to do it ourselves. We couldn't use the original board due to mice damage but it was still good for the template. I was going to go with ABS but they talked me into a new product (PVC based)

http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o671/82GTforME/Tangerine%20Machine/IMG_5527_zps2f0c266f.jpg
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o671/82GTforME/Tangerine%20Machine/IMG_5526_zpsc3532906.jpg
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o671/82GTforME/Tangerine%20Machine/IMG_5525_zpsab68e5bf.jpg

I had the industial plastic shop where I bought it cut it for me (they used a jig saw) for $50 plus $50 for the sheet (good for two!). I have to do the visor mount holes and I may heat the folds into it instead of trying to bend it to the shape.

http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o671/82GTforME/Tangerine%20Machine/IMG_5528_zps9bb231de.jpg

[FoxBuddy]

I tried to find this nice black vinyl that was on originally, it wasn't damaged from the mice but had a few small cuts etc.

http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o671/82GTforME/Tangerine%20Machine/IMG_5620_zps318d000b.jpg

No go. Believe it or not they upholstery shop I went to could get it in white, not black! Bummer :mad: Went to a fabric store and decided on "outdoor vinyl". It looks more leathery then 'vinyl' to me, but my son likes it. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm going to scuff the plactic and figure out an adhesive to use.

http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o671/82GTforME/Tangerine%20Machine/IMG_5633_zps2bd9f513.jpg


Headliner is out and cleaned up. Stopped by a local automotive upholstery shop and they claim the old vinyl will not adhere to the backer board so now looking for a similar vinyl replacement. If that proves impossible (this shop had no grey vinyl samples in any of their books and even called a vendor) I'll consider a nice foam backed cloth.

The reason for all of this is that when I went to the upholstery shop, they had the newer style felty material with 1/8" foam in different colors. I was looking at the black on the bottom right but there was a "graphite" on the upper left that looks close to SVO grey. So there may be other alternatives out there for you.

http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o671/82GTforME/Tangerine%20Machine/IMG_5624_zpsd5c8eedc.jpg