Headliner Styles: Bow or Fiberboard

[Patton]

Mine is a 1974 model with a fiberboard. In the heat the white covering became “unstuck.” Lucky me.

“Do the job twice“ suggestions?

Were earlier models the ”bow” type?

RP

 

[Thomas76]

1970 is bows.

 

[Bmachine]

Mine is a 1974 model with a fiberboard. In the heat the white covering became “unstuck.” Lucky me.

“Do the job twice“ suggestions?

Were earlier models the ”bow” type?

RP

My 74 also has the fiberboard type. And it is also coming unstuck. I’m going to have to bring it to an upholstery guy in a couple of weeks to fix it.

 

[HB Chris]

No sunroof means it has bows, with sunroof it has fiberboard, it is not based on year or model.

 

[Patton]

 

[Patton]

Fiberboard, removed from car. Suggestions on how to make a replacement.

White textured headliner cover material went "sag" on me. It was salvaged.

A better glue than the 3M stuff that was previously used. (I'll get the part number for the "didn't work" spray later.)

RP

 

[jefflit]

I am restoring two sunroof cars and only have one original fiberboard. It has a lot more complexity to it than I had remembered. A lot of shape around where the grab handles attach, and some other dips and curves. I'm not sure how many of these contours belong and how many are warp and sag from old man time. My original is covered in plastic to help prevent moisture damage but that doesn't mean it hasn't had any. The other side has some thin foam, much of which is no longer there. Does anyone know the proper shape? Any source for a reproduction before I embark on it myself? What have others done?

 

[Patton]

Working on it as we post.

 

[Patton]

Foam and saws all.

Jeff, If you wish to compare notes, feel free to call. Misery loves company.
404-226-6678.

Robert Patton

 

[Patton]

Plastic 9mm pine trees will hold the “multi-layered” fiberboard.

You will need longer 10 mm trees for the corners.

 

[Patton]

I am restoring two sunroof cars and only have one original fiberboard. It has a lot more complexity to it than I had remembered. A lot of shape around where the grab handles attach, and some other dips and curves. I'm not sure how many of these contours belong and how many are warp and sag from old man time. My original is covered in plastic to help prevent moisture damage but that doesn't mean it hasn't had any. The other side has some thin foam, much of which is no longer there. Does anyone know the proper shape? Any source for a reproduction before I embark on it myself? What have others done?

Headliner photographs from the audience that has had success...
(I'll do a search, too.)

RP

 

[dang]

No sunroof means it has bows, with sunroof it has fiberboard, it is not based on year or model.

Whaaaaa? I never knew this. Some how, all these years and I've never seen a fiberboard headliner in a coupe. I guess I need to look up more often.

 

[bavbob]

Mine was a disaster. I bought MDF from HD and just used the old one as a template. WRT the curves, I tried to soak it a bit in water but it would not budge, I believe I bought the thinnest they had. I over-sized those curves/ears, then scored the MDF to get it to curve. Once done, a thin layer of JB Weld along the scored line. Then added new foam. Came out pretty good. There are two prongs on each side of the roof that this fits into to hold, a cross member in the roof and then screws along the back window edge where I used some fasteners like the ones for the door cards. Sadly, took no pics.

 

[dang]

Sadly, took no pics.

Installed pics?

 

[bavbob]

Sorry.

 

[Patton]

Headliner photographs from the audience that has had success...
(I'll do a search, too.)

RP

Come on guys, we need those photographs for inspiration and to see how it is correctly accomplished.

( In other words, I’m waiting on 3M headliner spray to arrive.)

RP

 

[bavbob]

I was very lucky as my headliner guy came to the house and we did it together. I will reach out to him to ask what glue he uses.

 

[mark99]

I am pretty sure the headline should not be attached to the fiberboard (opinions vary)
There would be 'mark off', a crease of some sort, where the headline leaves the board and spans to the edge
We did mine just gluing around the edges, looks great

 

[Patton]

Thin “poster board“ is now glued to the factory fiberboard. Holes are the locations where the pine tree clips will go.

Headliner fabric gets glued on tomorrow.


I don’t think this is the way it was done in 1974. Too late now to change.

RP

 

[bavbob]

Not attached to the fiberboard.

When we did ours, we replaced the hardware for the dome light, rear straps before we put on the headliner. This way, we just felt for them and made a small hole over them. I think it is best to make a tiny hole or mark over the head of the screws, then use a phillips head, heat the tip and melt a hole. You get a nice round hole, edges are clean and no crosscuts which may later migrate. I did this on my newly-installed carpet as well to get a clean hole for screws that would not grab carpet fibers while screwing in.