Headliner starting to sag...

[patburton]

Is there anything I can do about my headliner sagging? Has anyone tried adhesives? They sell new ones but they are in decent shape just starting to sag.

[Cory W]

A lot of us have stripped the old fabric off, cleaned up the fibreboard, and replaced it with new material. A good fabric or upholstery shop should be able to sell you two yards of material in a matching or "close enough" shade.

There used to be some great how-tos on this topic, but web gremlins seem to have taken them away. This link (http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?249-Is-there-a-how-to-remove-headliner&highlight=headliner) may be helpful, though.

[Mark D]

From my experience once the headliner starts to fall the best solution is to recover. The outer fabric/material is bonded to a thin layer of foam which breaks down over the years. You can try and reglue the fabric to the foam but the since the foam is what is falling apart your chances of having it stick are pretty slim.

Your best bet is to get some matching headliner material and recover the panels. Someone can chime in here with sources for the material...I think JoAnn Fabric has some that is the correct color and grain pattern. Otherwise your local upholstery shop should be able to get the right stuff you'll need.

[David T]

As pointed out, once the foam goes bad you cannot reglue it, the fix is to replace the fabric. Means you also have to do the large piece on the cabin ceiling so it all matches. Gluing to the door panels is tricky because you have to stretch it into all of the curves. Striping and cleaning the cardboard backers is a lot of work. The Delorean venders use new fiberglass backers and new foam-backed fabric. It is not all that bad cleaning up the cardboard using spray adhesive and sandbags to get the fabric evenly glued. Any large fabric store should have automotive foam-backed, flame resistant, grey fabric. It may not be a good match but it should be close. Get a can of 3M spray adhesive too.
David Teitelbaum

[DeLorean03]

I am about to do this job, and have a question - is there any "trick" to getting the headliner boards down? I'm looking at just doing the door headliners today. I assume all that's holding them up there are the fir trees, right?

[David T]

Yes, but the "trick" is to remove them without doing too much damage to the cardboard. Instead of just grabbing and pulling get a tool like a puttyknife with a "V" notch in it, get behind the cardboard around the plastic fastener and pry it out. Or you can use a large needlenose plier or two screwdrivers, just be careful. Once you remove them record (take a picture) of any writing on the door for future reference so you do not have to remove them again.
David Teitelbaum

[dmc6960]

The door headliners use fir-trees. The body headliners dont. The forward body headliner needs the sun visors removed, then pull back the fabric from under the weather seals. Slide the whole thing forward to detach it from a retention strip. For the rear segment, remove the two screws at the top back above the seatbelts. Then again, pull back the fabric from under the weather seals and slide the thing forward to detach it.

When attaching new material, be sure to note which areas need extra fabric left hanging for wrapping under the weather seals. Then be sure to give yourself enough. Finally, when finally attaching them under the weatherseals, cut them off just after the fold-over so no material goes down into the water channel. Otherwise you'll have just wicked yourself a new water leak.

[rothsean]

The door headliners use fir-trees. The body headliners dont. The forward body headliner needs the sun visors removed, then pull back the fabric from under the weather seals. Slide the whole thing forward to detach it from a retention strip. For the rear segment, remove the two screws at the top back above the seatbelts. Then again, pull back the fabric from under the weather seals and slide the thing forward to detach it.

When attaching new material, be sure to note which areas need extra fabric left hanging for wrapping under the weather seals. Then be sure to give yourself enough. Finally, when finally attaching them under the weatherseals, cut them off just after the fold-over so no material goes down into the water channel. Otherwise you'll have just wicked yourself a new water leak.


What is the headliner?

[DeLorean03]

Not trying to hi-jack any threads, but here is where I am so far. Headboards down - going to Ken Koncelik's tonight to recover these two. Will do the T-panel one when I drive the car down there as it requires a bit more work. Here's documentation pictures of the doors.

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[DeLorean03]

What is the headliner?

They are the boards above your head on the doors and the rest of the ceiling of the car - there are four parts: 1 for each door, big T-portion in the middle, and then a rear board closest to the rear glass.

[mluder]

Not trying to hi-jack any threads, but here is where I am so far. Headboards down - going to Ken Koncelik's tonight to recover these two. Will do the T-panel one when I drive the car down there as it requires a bit more work. Here's documentation pictures of the doors.

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Do you find that the foam pads help keep the roof from colapsing? Mine does every time I wash the car. Of course it pops right back if I pound underneath. My concern is it may cause a crease one day.

Cheers
Steven

[DeLorean03]

Answered this on FB so won't repeat everything. Basicallym, if the foam was there before I went in, I'm not touching it :P.

[mluder]

Answered this on FB so won't repeat everything. Basicallym, if the foam was there before I went in, I'm not touching it :P.

Yep... Thanks.

Funny how we were practically having a the same conversation in both places.

Cheers
Steven

[DeLorean03]

Here's how mine came out :D! Just got done installing them!

Thank you to Ken Koncelik - he basically installed the fabric for me :thumbup:.


Driver's side:
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Passenger's side:
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