Headliner R&R…? anyone?

Chubbs · Sep 24, 2024

Headliner removal, headliner strip, and headliner reupholster, and headliner reinstall with interior trim and wiring reinstall. Holy sh*t this turned out to be a cluster. And I started well prepped and supplied. But those little 15 minute videos that pop on google are edited to flip through the BS and there’s a lot of bs. Will update later. I’m on about the 3rd night of stripping the old headliner from the frame or whatever you want to call it. Flimsy Fkn piece of paper with cardboard bulkheads. Ugh I don’t even know if it will go back together. I’m like 50/50 on the success of this thing.

Chubbs · Sep 24, 2024

Just finished stripping off completely the old and started FRI night. Ive got at least 6 hours on the sanding. 2 hours removing trim and getting the headliner out. This thing its bare form lost all of its shape. I will see what i can do on the reupholster but im not confident at all. Oh and i cut through the paper in a bunch of spots so i really want to spend 1 night with a fiberglass kit and get it halfway patched back up because its flimsy as hell

Chubbs · Sep 26, 2024

I started on gluing down the new headliner fabric last night. i got a late start, got into a rush worried about losing a bunch of sleep and made a couple mistakes. doh! ftw I just keep it moving. I did about half yesterday and will try to knock out the rest tonight. it depends if i can get started early enough. i forgot to take pictures so hopefully i can remember to click a few tonight and post for the record.

89Suburban · Sep 26, 2024

I don't miss that crap. Good luck.

Chubbs · Sep 27, 2024

1:30a finished laying down the new headliner material. I got that glue everywhere and ruined my hard work. My dumba$$ was spraying underneath it to make some of my holes and the headliner glue goes streaming through a 1-inch hole for the visor latch mount. Doh!! I still have more holes to cut and hopefully get this dude reinstalled over the weekend. That’s going to be super fun

Chubbs · Sep 27, 2024

89Suburban said:
I don't miss that crap. Good luck.

If I wasn’t putting $3k into the restoration, I would have paid a pro to do this. Then my gauge cluster stopped working completely when I had to remove everything to get the headliner out. Now I feel a ball joint or tie rod end knocking. One thing after another. Oh and the rpms on the engine drop when the ac compressor turns on so I’m going to need one of those before it $hits the bed completely and cause me to overhaul the entire AC system. Hopefully it goes in for paint and body soon because she’s just a little on the embarrassing side what with the collision damages and clearcoat peeling off and sunburns everywhere. Key scratches. You name it. Hopefully it will look brand new after a couple more months

strutaeng · Sep 27, 2024

I have a headliner that's pretty beat up on my project Suburban. I was thinking of trying to tackle it myself, but maybe I need to reconsider. I didn't realize that backing material was so hard to remove! I wonder if they sell headliner replacements?

And I gotta paint the hood and roof because it sounds like your truck. :-(

I think yours turned out looking good.

Tonyrodz · Sep 27, 2024

When you pull the headliner material off, all you need is a handheld steel wire brush to get the residue off. Don't use too much force or you'll go through the backing board. That's all you need to do. Too late, but for anyone else who might stumble on this thread.
Also it's best to start laying the material in half--spray the headliner board with glue on 1 side--spray glue on the foam part of the headliner, let it tack up then start laying the material together. Make sure it has no wrinkles because once it's laid down you're not going to be able to pull it up to readjust.
I've found a plastic bondo spreader works the best to smooth it out.
Also--which headliner glue spray did you use? Not all are created equal.

Chubbs · Sep 27, 2024

Tonyrodz said:
Also--which headliner glue spray did you use? Not all are created equal.

I used the permatex with the orange can and blue cap. It took almost 2 cans

Tonyrodz · Sep 27, 2024

Chubbs said:
I used the permatex with the orange can and blue cap. It took almost 2 cans

I've used that product a few times with disappointing results. In my personal experience 3M is the best for this. Hopefully you'll have better results then I did.

Headliner R&R…? anyone?

Chubbs

Full Access Member

Attachments

Chubbs

Full Access Member

Attachments

Chubbs

Full Access Member

89Suburban

Bull in the china shop

Chubbs

Full Access Member

Attachments

Chubbs

Full Access Member

strutaeng

Full Access Member

Tonyrodz

Resident Resident

Chubbs

Full Access Member

Tonyrodz

Resident Resident

Similar threads

Forum statistics

Latest posts