Sagging door headliner-best adhesive?

[aadcderm]

My driver's side door headliner is sagging- I pulled the panel from the top to access the inside (pictured). Advise on what I can use as adhesive to have the liner properly seat without the adhesive leaching through the headliner to the visible side?

Thanks

16559

[Timeless]

3M 45 or SprayWay fast tack. Consider complete headliner replacement?

[David T]

It's not that simple. The fabric had a layer of foam applied to it and then it was glued to the cardboard backer. Over time the foam turned to dust and the materiel was no longer attached to the backer so it sagged. Now you must clean all of the dust (old foam) from the materiel and the backer, glue new foam to the materiel and then glue the foam to the backer. A lot of work. Most just buy a whole new kit from one of the vendors and install new materiel and foam already applied to new fiberglass baker.

[aadcderm]

It's not that simple. The fabric had a layer of foam applied to it and then it was glued to the cardboard backer. Over time the foam turned to dust and the materiel was no longer attached to the backer so it sagged. Now you must clean all of the dust (old foam) from the materiel and the backer, glue new foam to the materiel and then glue the foam to the backer. A lot of work. Most just buy a whole new kit from one of the vendors and install new materiel and foam already applied to new fiberglass baker.

I was afraid of that. Is it easy for an amateur to remove the entire headliner, backer and all, without special tools and an engineering degree?

[Rich]

I was afraid of that. Is it easy for an amateur to remove the entire headliner, backer and all, without special tools and an engineering degree?

Yes, follow this How-To (https://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?7566-How-To-Recovering-Headliners-60-photos) for that job. The only special tool is a simple $10 fir tree pry bar like this one (https://www.autozone.com/test-scan-and-specialty-tools/molding-and-trim-remover-tool/p/dorman-help-trim-removal-tool/103001_0_0). It's for popping the 2 door headliner boards out. Or just get a whole set (https://www.autozone.com/test-scan-and-specialty-tools/molding-and-trim-remover-tool/p/performance-tool-trim-removal-set-5-piece/1099425_0_0).

Removal and replacement of the central forward and rear boards is more complicated but well within a DIYer's scope. This DMCH article (https://support.delorean.com/kb/a83/sagging-or-droopy-headliners.aspx) shows the general issues around headliners.

The big decision is whether to DIY the headliner fabric onto your old boards after you get them out or whether to buy new ones. Buying all-new ones with fabric attached is the easy and expensive way. Even in that case you need to carefully trim and attach the loose edges of the fabric to the lips around the door openings.

If you're not up for any hands-on work then order a new kit and take your car and the kit to an auto upholstery shop. Give them the How-To so they don't butcher anything or leave too much fabric wrapped over the door lips at the door seal.

The How-To covers it all.

As others here say, there is no good way to reattach the old fabric. You must pull the old headliner boards and go from there.

Read up and take your time.

[JohnZ]

I chime in to ask an opinion about an idea that I had concerning the rear headliner.

Mine sags at the sides and it is ugly to see... I was thinking about applying some Velcro strips to keep them straight and adherent to the roof! Do you think it might work or is it too weak and the thing will detach eventually?

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[David T]

I chime in to ask an opinion about an idea that I had concerning the rear headliner.

Mine sags at the sides and it is ugly to see... I was thinking about applying some Velcro strips to keep them straight and adherent to the roof! Do you think it might work or is it too weak and the thing will detach eventually?

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On one Delorean the owner used metal tacks. Velcro could work, just make sure the surface they adhere to is clean but don't expect it to last, especially if you leave the car outside and it gets hot. Another owner removed the fabric, meticulously cleaned the foam off if it and had it dry-cleaned to remove the waterstains, cleaned the backers, glued foam to the fabric and then reglued it to the backers. A LOT of messy work! Most owners will just "bite the bullet" and spend for new headliners. If you replace the headliners chances are you also need to replace the door seals (inner AND outer).

[dn010]

If the actual piece is sagging because the carboard material is old, you straighten it out and lay fiberglass over it, just keep it straight while it is drying. Otherwise, I would use neodymium magnets. I have them on the upper door panels instead of the tree clips and the magnets work great. In fact, I was recently shocked to learn that the headliner in my Mustang is held up by magnets! I wonder how many other new cars use them.

If it is the material that is sagging, I would take the time to remove it and apply new material. Foam backed headliner is pretty cheap and you can find the correct color.

[rjd2]

You can do a whole replacement of the fabric, but it's going to be very hard to get the wrinkles out of it. This is one of those disciplines that seems to take alot of experience to really nail it.

If you have a driver car, and you want to spend $50 on materials(3M adhesive, i think there is a specific headliner version of some product?), you can pull it off yourself, and I'd bet $100 that you'll have something passable with wrinkles in the corners. I think there is a drop in replacement of the whole headliner that is around $500. if you have a show car, or see yourself selling in the next 5 years, maybe just plunk down the cash now and make your life easier.

[dn010]

This is from when I did mine. Still holding up like I just did it.

https://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?13191-How-To-Headliner-recovery

[JohnZ]

Thank you everybody for your comments and support! :)

I'll see what I can do, my goal is just to straighten up a bit the back portion of the headliner... The fabric is in perfect condition, and also the other pieces of the headliner are in great shape so no need to replace anything there!

My car is neither a concourse vehicle nor a garage queen, it's just a semi daily driver that I always try to improve, both in the big things and in the little ones! I'm equally concerned about mechanical integrity/reliability and the little visual details as well! I think that if the DeLorean interiors are properly maintained, they are a work of art!

I will try to straighten up a bit the cardboard and apply something that can make it stick better to the roof! :)

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