MrWiggly

I just bought a replacement headliner for my '92. Any hints on installation? I'm not quite sure how the framework comes apart to accept the new headliner...
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks,

yaknow

I just laid it out, sprayed the adhesive down, flattened it out by hand and carefully tucked the excess in with a plastic putty knife.

StealthLT4

Just like yaknow said. 3M spray adhesive, some 409 to clean the top beforehand, and some knife that won't scratch the plastic surrounds when you tuck the headliner into the edge. Pretty easy job when you can take the top off the car and set it on a table

runner140*

Its just that easy.

myred86

I received the kit for Christmas- so i don't need to pull the existing cover off of the cardboard? You guys didn't pull the cardboard out of the top to do this? Just curious!

auto_cran

I did pull out the cardboard backing from the top.

Once it was out, I carefully took off the old headliner. Then I sprayed the headliner adhesive to the cardboard, and carefully put the new headliner on - make sure its nice and tight. As I rolled it over the edges, I used duct tape to hold it (since it would be out of sight).

After it dries on the cardboard, simply place the cardboard back into the top. My cardboard/headliner piece fit back in the top pretty tight, but just to be safe, I applied some velcro stips - again out of sight. Came out perfect.

One tip - when spraying the adhesive - make sure you do it in an area where there is no wind. That stuff can get messy if it starts flying!

Good luck!

Chris
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1988 Chevrolet Corvette 35th Anniversary #1941/2050
1989 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am #760 (1950 miles)
1986 Pontiac Fiero GT V6/5-speed
1983 Delorean DMC-12
1986 Toyota Supra MKII
1985 Kawasaki Eliminator ZL900

NEVRL8T

My 92 didn't have a "cardboard" piece. It had a fiberglass type board that was starting to crumble apart. I used a putty knife to get the edges loose then a metal spatula to slowly work the board from the top. The bad part is getting all the old adhesive off the top and off the fiber board. Spray the top with the 3M adhesive and wrap the board with the new headliner. Once it was dry I glued the headliner/board back into the top like it came from the factory.

johnnymo63

I installed my own headliner to the blue tinted top I painted. (Plexiglass was fryed)
I have a link to the thread about it in my signature.

MrWiggly

Anyone use contact cement instead of 3m adhesive for headliner replacement?

xCCTer

I was going to do the kit, but the padding under the fabric just kept crumbling as I tried to get the old adhesive off of it.

I couldn't get to a layer where it wasn't still crumbling, so I figured it had to be replaced thinking whatever new adhesive would just lose adhesion as the padding continued to deteriorate. So...

I took my fiberglass targa to a local upholstery shop that does hot-rods and boats.

He stripped all the old padding out down to the fiberglass and installed new padding and headliner material for $150.

Call me crazy.

MrWiggly

WOW - my kit alone cost $150 (Corvette Central) and I've gotta do it myself!...you're not crazy- I am!

carguy604

Ok, go ahead and laugh, but mine looks 100% factory and it cost me less than $25 and an evening's work. I went to the building supply store and bought some 3/16" rolled cork sheeting as well as the spray adhesive. Then I went to a fabric store and bought the black cloth by the yard. Then I went home tore everything out of the original and tossed it. I then made up a cardboard template for the insert (don't try using corrugated cardboard as you'll end up fighting with it - use the flat stuff) and just kept trimming it until it was about 1/8" smaller all the way around than the inside of the targa top. That became my template for the cork which I then easily cut to size using some sharp scissors. I then used the template to cut my cloth - making sure that the cloth was about 1/2" larger (in all directions) than the dimensions of the template. Finally, I masked off the outside of the targa top with newspaper and masking tape to protect the finish - and then masked off all the areas aroud the perimeter where I didn't want to spray adhesive. Then I sprayed the underside of the targa top as well as one side of the cork and then set it in place. Make sure to get it right the first time - it's hell to move once it's been set down! Then I worked out any bubbles and made sure that the cork was glued down everywhere. Then I sprayed the cork and (carefully) set the fabric down onto it - again making sure it's where you want it. Smooth out any wrinkles from the centre out to the edges and tuck the edges into the crevice with a soft blunt tool (I think I used a plastic scraper if I recall correctly). The finish product is just about NCRS perfect and it's considerably quieter than what was in there before. Cork is an excellent natural sound deadener - try it, you'll like it!

runner140*

It became a fast and easy job. Purchase 3M adhesive...it works.

NEVRL8T

I wouldn't use contact. The 3M adhesive is made for headliners. Contact involves too much work. You have to coat the headliner and the hardboard to get it to stick. Double the work when all you have to do is spray the hardboard or mounting surface. Brushing contact on a flimsy headliner would not be eay.

M.J.L.

Mine had foam underneath the material. I threw out the foam and the material. The foam was rotting and smelled horrific! Can I just glue the material down to the bare fiberglass? I need the extra headroom because I am 6'3" and when I had the old foam/material in there, I got cramped. Now I have about an inch more room.