Headliner coming down - How to fix this?

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Joined
Dec 13, 2010
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3,457
Location
Atenas, Costa Rica
Hi to all,

My headliner is coming down as you can see in the pic.
Headliner_down.webp

My question is: how to fix this? Just fold it back, use spray glue and put it back? Or is there a better/easier way to do this.
I have 3M Super 77 Multipurpose adhesive spray. Is this glue good and/or strong enough to fix this? Or do you recommend another glue.
3Msuper77.webp

All advice is welcome.

Rudi
Headliner_down.webp
3Msuper77.webp
 
I re-did my 40 headliner a decade or more ago using CCOT headliner material. Took the top off the 40 & was able to apply it upside down, which is the only way I would attempt a full headliner install.

Yours on the otherhand...at least from that one pic does not appear to warrant a full headliner restore. I think I would do as you suggest & peel it back, apply some adhesive & press the material to the roof.

I've not used the adhesive product pictured & while there may be better stuff, I am a big believer in 3m products. However, when I did mine, I went to a local upholstery shop & bought adhesive from him. He convinced me the product he used was better. And he wasn't really trying to sell me his stuff. He didn't even have a way to sell it. He just poured some of his adhesive into a bucket & charged me a small amount. But I bet your 3m stuff would be fine too.

Is that the only area that is coming down ??

John
 
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my stock original headliner was sagging b/c of moisture coming in through a corner.
I tried super 77 and super 90 and they didn't work so well. The foam backing on the headliner and bits stuck on the fiberglass prevented a good adhesion.

I just ended up ripping the headliner out, to be replaced another day.
 
77 is a good product.

You may be able to temporarily hold it up, however, it's falling down because the foam is degrading... As it deteriorates more, it'll fall down more/again.

I replaced mine with a stretchy fleece blanket... Cheap, easily replaced, looks decent. To do it over, I'd buy a nicer one (rather than a $7 one).
 
I haven't replaced my headliner yet, but I have used Super 77.

It is a lot like a contact adhesive... you have to spray both pieces, let them get tacky (or even dry) to the touch, and then carefully press them together. Don't be impatient- just wait and let the adhesive set up per the instructions before pressing the pieces together.
 
I tried super 77 and super 90 and they didn't work so well. The foam backing on the headliner and bits stuck on the fiberglass prevented a good adhesion.

I just ended up ripping the headliner out, to be replaced another day.

You may be able to temporarily hold it up, however, it's falling down because the foam is degrading... As it deteriorates more, it'll fall down more/again.

^^^ These; exactly what happened to mine also.

I replaced mine with gray marine carpeting that matches my stock seats (color) pretty well.
 
I went thru this a number of years ago and the poster is correct about the foam backing degrading. The foam is degrading and I found it was a waste of time and money trying to get the headliner to stay attached to the roof. After having it fall down a half dozen times, I removed the headliner and used my 6” random orbital sander to smooth out the surface. I then took it to an upholstery shop, which replaced it with high end plush automotive carpet. They did it without removing the top and I could not find any flaws in the install. They said that they stretched the carpet to fit the corners. I found that the capet helped to reduce the temperature coming thru the roof in the summer.
78FJ40 37.webp
 
Thanks for your input on this.

So many people, so many opinions.

-> I am a big believer in 3m products.
-> 77 is a good product.
-> I tried super 77 and super 90 and they didn't work so well.
-> I got tired of the headliner issue and replaced it with Line-X.

I peeled a piece back and found that the haedliner consists of 3 layers with foam in the center.
DSC00484.webp
The foam is crumbling so the whole headliner is falling apart. Time for a roof resto, so next week is headliner shopping-week!

Rudi
DSC00484.webp
 
bsevans said:
I went thru this a number of years ago and the poster is correct about the foam backing degrading. The foam is degrading and I found it was a waste of time and money trying to get the headliner to stay attached to the roof. After having it fall down a half dozen times, I removed the headliner and used my 6” random orbital sander to smooth out the surface. I then took it to an upholstery shop, which replaced it with high end plush automotive carpet. They did it without removing the top and I could not find any flaws in the install. They said that they stretched the carpet to fit the corners. I found that the capet helped to reduce the temperature coming thru the roof in the summer.

Love it. Where did you get that done? By chance here in So. Cal?
 
like the carpet idea, here you need all the insulation you can get...I want to paint my roof black..probably not the smartest idea I ever had...but thats what I want so I will need to find something to insulate it with..
 
Bamboo to keep it up

The headliner is coming down every day a few inches more so I had to find a solution to keep it up for a few days.
I walked over to the empty lot next door and cut a few braches of bamboo and see...... This will keep it up till I'm ready for it.
DSC00499.webp

Rudi
DSC00499.webp
 
Simple... :D
 
Stay motivated. so far i've spent 4yr w/o the headliner saying that i'll fix it next time i take the hardtop off.

There's a lot more bamboo were these came from....;)
 
When you get around to doing something more permanent, Super 77 is a contact adhesive... it sticks really well if both sides are almost dry when you stick it together. However, it you want to be able to pull it off and reposition things, I'd stick things together while they are wetter... and lay them lightly together until you're sure they're where you want them.

The stretchy fleece blanket (Double sized from Zellers $7) was a cheaper version of the automotive carpet used in one of the other posts. I used some random spray glue I had around, so for less than $10, I was set. I turned the top upside down (not mandatory), dry fit it, folded 1/2 of it back, sprayed some glue on it, stretched it to lay it in place, and then repeated it on the other 1/2. I then trimmed off the excess. It stretched enough that there were no visible folds and no seams. The install took less than 30 minutes. If it gets wrecked, I can do it again... might use a $20 blanket next time (to get a different colour and more even texture) and two layers will offer more insulation, and sound deadening:D.
 
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