So I got thoroughly pissed off at my falling headliner in my 86 RWD FWB, and I ripped it out today.

I tried to be as surgical as possible.. I undid all the steel and plastic body-trim and didn't break a thing..

Then as I dropped the headliner, it promtly cracked in two. My only guess is that the car was a southern car and was in the sun 24x7 or something.

So now I'm faced with having to re-do the styrofoam backing...

I've searched the forum and done a fair bit of googling, but I can't come up with anything pertaining to this - everyone sells repair kits, but not full headliner replacements.

Does anyone know if it's possible to purchase an entire replacement headliner, backing and all?

If not, I'm thinking I'll try to fabricate something using fiberglass ceiling tiles as the backing, and then gluing the fabric to that..

How about pulling another one from a junkyard car? Even if you have to have it recovered that will give you a good starting point.

Steve B.

JUST PAINT THE THING FLAT BLACK AND FORGET ABOUT IT. :drinker IS AN '86 WORTH SPENDING $300-$400 FOR A HEADLINER? :banghead:

JUST PAINT THE THING FLAT BLACK AND FORGET ABOUT IT. :drinker IS AN '86 WORTH SPENDING $300-$400 FOR A HEADLINER? :banghead:Jake:
They really aren't that expensive if you have a decent "frame" I paid less than $100 for the last one I had redone. If the car is nice it is definatley worth keeping it fixed up.

Steve B.

JUST PAINT THE THING FLAT BLACK AND FORGET ABOUT IT. :drinker IS AN '86 WORTH SPENDING $300-$400 FOR A HEADLINER? :banghead:
maybe not $300.. but that's not my question. my question is where can I go to get it? A dealer won't have this I don't think - the car's too old.

I think I'm going to attempt to re-fabricate my broken one with some cardboard stock. It's worth a shot.

My headliner totally feel apart too. I took it to an auto upholstery shop and had it redone for $150. The guy at the shop admitted that was expensive, but because my car has a sunroof its a tougher job. If you don't have a sunroof you can do it yourself, all you need to do is get some new fabric, good upholstery glue and clean the backing up good.

Jake:
They really aren't that expensive if you have a decent "frame" I paid less than $100 for the last one I had redone. If the car is nice it is definatley worth keeping it fixed up.

Steve B.
STEVE, I MUST HAVE WENT TO A SHYSTER WHEN I TOOK MY '79 COUP DE VILLE. HE WANTED ALMOST $300. OF COURSE,IT HAD A SUNROOF THOUGH. WHERE CAN YOU GET THAT LINER EXCEPT FROM AN AUTOBODY SHOP? :hmm:

Just an update - I separated the fabric from the broken backing last night. The entire thing was COVERED in rotted/rotting foam that came off with it as I peeled.

I tried brushing it off with a flexible brush, but no go.. so I threw it in the washing machine with some regular old detergent set the washing machine on delicate.. and it worked like a charm! no more foam, and the fabric is nice and clean again.

Now the next step will be to put the jigsaw puzzle of bits back together and then re-glue it. I'll let you know how it goes.

STEVE, I MUST HAVE WENT TO A SHYSTER WHEN I TOOK MY '79 COUP DE VILLE. HE WANTED ALMOST $300. OF COURSE,IT HAD A SUNROOF THOUGH. WHERE CAN YOU GET THAT LINER EXCEPT FROM AN AUTOBODY SHOP? :hmm:
Many of the full service car washes will replace them for you. I don't know where you could get just the fabric but J.C. Whitney comes to mind as a possible source.

Steve B.