T-Top Headliner Restoration.....?
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T-Top Headliner Restoration.....?
Any of you guys recovered you headliners?
I have a t-top z28 and the headliner has most definitely seen better days. I would like to take on the project of doing this myself, I just don't want to get in over my head.
Any thoughts?
I have a t-top z28 and the headliner has most definitely seen better days. I would like to take on the project of doing this myself, I just don't want to get in over my head.
Any thoughts?
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Have you tried to search the forum for people that have done it themselves? Ive done a couple of headliners for friends of mine and for a couple of my cars (although none were as complex as our T Top cars) and it really wasnt hard and one of my cars was a suburban (it was like recovering a football field), but for $225, thats a little steep of a price to pay. For that amount, you might as well try to find a shop that is willing to do the work for you.
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I would love to see some pics. I also thought about recovering mine in some sort of vinyl. One thing that I am nervous about it the delicate headliner backing. Seems like it will break or sag. Any thoughts on a reinforcement method.
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maybe, just spit balling here, pull it down and fiberglass the backside but you'll need to make a "jig" to hold it in the right shape, then once that side hardens pull the fabric and fiberglass the "view" side, I would think that would strengthen it and prevent sagging then cover with new material of choice.
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I dont have any pics of my past cars i did since it was way long time ago, but yea, you can do it for under 50 bucks and a little time and patience (patience is key here). I remember i did my friend`s wife`s eclipse and my friend`s celica in the same day in his living room, so i think its pretty easy. Im guessing with the a T Top car, you need to pay attention to all the curves around where the T Tops would be, which can be a little nerve racking. I would even say you got to be innovative also, like i would use the handle of the scissors i was using to help me make curves and such as i was laying down the fabric. I would even go as far as taking a piece of the headliner, go to an interior shop and just match up the color fabric, or choose whatever you want.
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i sold my old headliner for $40 that was recovered about 8 years ago but was sagging in the back and the corners weren't right.
anyway, here's a few pics of mine out of the box and installed.
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yeah its sturdy. a little too sturdy lol. there is a slight bow out on the drivers side by the middle of the t bar. i tried to put velcro there to hold that part of the board further in but its too rigid. its not very noticeable though. i had my old board recovered by a friend and between all the glue we had to buy and the $60 fabric and the used board i spent $200 and it didnt look that good. i should have just bought the abs plastic headliner with new fabric in the first place.
here's a few pics of my old headliner from ~ 2008 (it was redone in 04) and you can see how the corners didn't come out very good.
here's a few pics of my old headliner from ~ 2008 (it was redone in 04) and you can see how the corners didn't come out very good.
Last edited by 1995blacktattop; 02-07-2013 at 10:54 AM.
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That's what i am thinking. I have a head liner in my car that isn't ripped at all but it sags. I took the original headliner out because the fabric was torn however the old one still has held 100% of its shape.