Headliner fixes

[canyncarvr]

Is there such a thing as inexpensive, good, AND easy?

My '73 Duster has the OEM headliner. The exact/correct description of it I'm not sure...it's a textured cardboard affair.

It's sagging a bit at the rear seam. Is there a tried-n-true reasonable fix for it that doesn't involve replacement? Can an adhesive be injected/squirted behind it using a small access hole that will attach itself to anything?

Steam?

It's not terrible...just sagging some. It's a driver car...no concern about keeping it all proper and correct, just a DIY fix that might last until I actually get a round-tuit to replacing it.

Thanks!

 

[halifaxhops]

@zkx14

 

[michiganpat]

it's only been like 30 years since I had the one out of my '76....thinking out loud, getting some aluminum strip (like 1" wide and 1/8-3/16" thick?) and epoxying it to the backside to correct the sag might be the easiest way.....

 

[Cranky]

My sagging headliner in my 66 Belvedere got pulled out after seeing it was pretty much rotten....

 

[Inertia]

it's only been like 30 years since I had the one out of my '76....thinking out loud, getting some aluminum strip (like 1" wide and 1/8-3/16" thick?) and epoxying it to the backside to correct the sag might be the easiest way.....

Very close, - I used about 3" wide aluminum band shaped to the headliner, with the ends turned down to catch behind/inside the screw-on upper door mouldings .
I used 3 on my station wagon, worked great for over a decade.
Paint to suit.

Glue, - the old insulation and stuff above the headliner is just powder, with nothing to adhere to but dust, I tried that first .

Good luck .

 

[WymanV]

It's my thinking if the vinyl is peeling off the base "cardboard" I'd peel it back to the sagged part, spray it with spray-on adhesive and stick it all back up.

Unless I'm misunderstanding the issue...

 

[matthon]

On my 64 wagon, one panel was not staying up so I slipped in two flat pieces of aluminum.
Done.

 

[canyncarvr]

Very close, - I used about 3" wide aluminum band shaped to the headliner, with the ends turned down to catch behind/inside the screw-on upper door mouldings .
I used 3 on my station wagon, worked great for over a decade.
Paint to suit.

Glue, - the old insulation and stuff above the headliner is just powder, with nothing to adhere to but dust, I tried that first .

Good luck .

I hadn't considered approaching a fix from an outside POV.

I was thinking that cutting a slit in a 'seam' then vacuuming/blowing/dislodging the antiquated dust might be helpful for stickage with an adhesive. Probably not. Besides, any cutting would reduce the already weakened structure of the liner.

Thanks!

It's my thinking if the vinyl is peeling off the base "cardboard" I'd peel it back to the sagged part, spray it with spray-on adhesive and stick it all back up.

Unless I'm misunderstanding the issue...

I don't know exactly what it is. It appears to be an embossed cardboard. I know new headliners come with a 'foam backed vinyl' over ABS option, but there is no 'soft' to mine. Besides, the ABS pieces are new AFAIK...not true oem pieces. If there is vinyl over the base of mine, that outside layer is pretty good. It's the base structure that is lower than it used to was.

I have propped up the sag and steamed the liner. That helped some, but that 'fix' isn't sticking...so to speak (meaning staying put..not 'stick' in an adhesive sense).

Thanks for the input!

 

[canyncarvr]

Just checked the measurement, hoping that a 48" piece of bolster will do the trick...'cuz a 48" piece costs less than a 96" piece!

Nope. It's going to take about 49". Of course!

That is placing the bolster strap right at the joint between the two side trim pieces. There being a screw there, it seems like a good spot to jam in a piece of accessory metal.

Thanks, folks!