Headliner R&R…? anyone?

[Chubbs]

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]

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]

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]

I don't miss that crap. Good luck.

 

[Chubbs]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Chubbs]

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.

oh $hit! not what i expected to hear. i work at napa and thats what we carry

 

[latvius]

I used 3m but I made the mistake of putting it back in the same day I glued it. The heat from the next day caused it to separate and sag in spots. If my memory is correct I read somewhere to let it dry for 3 days before you try and install it back to make sure it is glued good. I did that after I redid it (mine was a 95 bronco, so much smaller liner), 3 days may be excessive but I wouldn't want to do it a 2nd time.

 

[Chubbs]

I used 3m but I made the mistake of putting it back in the same day I glued it. The heat from the next day caused it to separate and sag in spots. If my memory is correct I read somewhere to let it dry for 3 days before you try and install it back to make sure it is glued good. I did that after I redid it (mine was a 95 bronco, so much smaller liner), 3 days may be excessive but I wouldn't want to do it a 2nd time.

ya i hear that. this headliner is never coming out again, at least on my watch. i will be glad to get it back in. lucky, more like it. was a PIA to take out, and its going to be 2x the difficulty getting it back in because of the caution needed not to dirty it and such. plus getting all of the holes lined up where everything goes back in with the tacks, and trim, etc. this was a much larger job than i had anticipated and fortunately for myself i didnt put a lot of thought into it lest i would have skipped this headache altogether and just set it on fire.

 

[Chubbs]

and its been sitting for almost 24 hours now. I may try to stick it back in tomorrow night or sunday. the weather has been great as far getting that headliner glue set and cured. mid to high 80's daytime and low 60's at night... and zero humidity, slight breeze - i would bet that its good and set by tomorrow for sure.

in the meantime i would like to get my cluster working again. i'm still researching on what type of bulbs go in the gauges and what type of solder is best suited for the circuit board. the gauges all worked properly when they worked. the whole pod itself goes in and out. except this time i can't get it to kick back on since i removed it for the headliner thing. so whatever intermittent bad connection that was going on before must be completely separated now. i'm thinking its a wiring issue since i have no power at all to the pod. i saw a video that discussed a short in the wire loom where it runs through the engine bay and bolts to the engine block. except that when the pod did go out, if i beat on the dash and the face of the gauge pod enough times, or hit a pothole, it would come to life. not this time. at least i have one idea. i can trace the wires behind the dash and look there too. because i can't get blinkers on there, or messages so it must not be getting power and/or signal

 

[Tonyrodz]

I used 3m but I made the mistake of putting it back in the same day I glued it. The heat from the next day caused it to separate and sag in spots. If my memory is correct I read somewhere to let it dry for 3 days before you try and install it back to make sure it is glued good. I did that after I redid it (mine was a 95 bronco, so much smaller liner), 3 days may be excessive but I wouldn't want to do it a 2nd time.

Good idea.

 

[dps01]

Got burned using rattle-can adhesives. The 2nd time I did my 03 Tahoe was with professional adhesive and an inexpensive harbor freight paint gun.

Adhesive worked great, but was unforgiving… have a couple small wrinkles, but not bad enough for a redo.

 

[Chubbs]

Got burned using rattle-can adhesives. The 2nd time I did my 03 Tahoe was with professional adhesive and an inexpensive harbor freight paint gun.

Adhesive worked great, but was unforgiving… have a couple small wrinkles, but not bad enough for a redo.

You removed and repaired the headliner 2x??? God bless you

 

[dps01]

unfortunately, yeah… plus a few other vehicles with their own set of issues. Have to redo one of those again too…. All GM, and all initially had the foam backing turn to dust..

I have a healthy respect for those who do this type of work for a living…

 

[Chubbs]

if this glue doesn’t hold the headliner I will just pull it out and put on the trash pile. No way I’m reupholstering this dude again. I really hate to hear that. Wish I had done more research and used a commercial/ pro adhesive BUT if I had done more research I would not have this headliner out right now. Or ever

 

[Chubbs]

unfortunately, yeah… plus a few other vehicles with their own set of issues. Have to redo one of those again too…. All GM, and all initially had the foam backing turn to dust..

I have a healthy respect for those who do this type of work for a living…

It’s definitely an art and nothing you want to get in a hurry or rush. I would do it for payment but for my own satisfaction no there are 100 other things I will do before the headliner.