Who has installed a headliner?

Jeff Alton · 08-07-2007, 10:04 PM

Anyone here actually installed their own headliner? I did a search..... What I would like to know is if this job is the biotch it is made out to be????

Windows are already out, but I do have a rather tight fitting (on purpose) roll bar in the car......

Cheers

Chuck Moreland · 08-07-2007, 10:32 PM

I've done it on a non-sunroof car with very good results. Wasn't the hard, just had to take my time.

I understand a sunroof makes it much harder.

I used a whole bunch of spring clips (paper binders) to get it all in place. Then release a section and put on the adhesive. Pull taught, but not crazy taught. Make adjustments to work out the wrinkles.

When done I had a few minor wrinkles that I was able to shrink out using a heat gun.

fhernand · 08-07-2007, 10:49 PM

I did mine on my 78SC and now doing one on my 67. I got many good tips from the book 101 Project For Your Porsche 911. Plan ahead well and have great patience. If you take the front seats, windows, roll bar out. The more room you have the better. Best wishes.

tijnes · 08-08-2007, 03:30 AM

This link has good instructions and pics. I'm still having a pro do it on my '66 though.

Headliner Installation

Martijn

RoninLB · 08-08-2007, 03:39 AM

- waited 24hrs for one section to cure before pulling taunt.
- 120 Staples 3/4" "binder clips". 40 per container [cheap]
- layed out before hand and stretched out most creases for 1 week.
- if finished tight enough remaining creases will disappear.
- replaced white for black.
- wound up tight as a trampoline.
- on my sunroof coupe i cleaned up light switches and chassis ground.
- reinforced sunroof cover frame to add "body" or mine would be showing creases as the frame is weak.

Tim Hancock · 08-08-2007, 04:03 AM

Here is a link from when I did mine a couple years ago ('79 sunroof SC). It still looks great. The headliner went in fine and I used contact cement for the glue and maybe 15 binder clips to hold everything in place as I progressed. I can't really remember exactly how I did it, but I used Wayne's book as a reference along with patience and common sense. Just take your time and do not cut/trim excess material until you are confident that everything is right.

Interior project b4/during/after

johndglynn · johndglynn's Garage

George redid the liner in the C3 including making it, said it was tough but still looks great:

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 08-08-2007, 04:34 AM

I've done it twice. The job is time-consuming but ultimately about as easy (in terms of skills needed) as changing the oil. and no, a sunroof doesn't make it harder, just takes longer. If anything, a sunroof gives you an area where you can stretch and pull the vinyl to correct a few minor mistakes. Can't imagine a rollbar would greatly increase the difficulty either.

If you can't replace the headliner, there aren't many mechanical jobs on a 911 that you should tackle.

jpnovak · 08-08-2007, 06:56 AM

I have done 3 911s and a 356. The process is the same. Its not hard, just slow. Most of the time will be waiting for glue to dry. I pre-stretch the headliner for a few days using the binder clips and some spring clamps. You may find that some binder clips are not strong enough to hold tension.

Make sure to get the headliner centered as much as possible, especially front to back. There is usually enough material that side to side doesn't matter. Front to back matters due to the tension rod locations. Once satisfied start the gluing process. I use double side contact cement. Put on the glue, let it dry, pull taught and then stick in place. Make sure to get it to wrap tightly around the pinch seam as this helps with later window installation.

I usually do front center, back center then the two side centers. Then its just a matter of pulling and gluing to each corner. you can pull and look at the underside to see what direciton will take out the wrinkles. You can do the same while clipped in place.

Go for it Jeff.

John Brandt · 08-08-2007, 10:42 AM

Wayne installed one...

THE ABSOLUTE WORST JOB TO DO ON THE 911

jthwan22 · 08-08-2007, 07:41 PM

How about on a cab?

Jeff Alton · 08-08-2007, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

If you can't replace the headliner, there aren't many mechanical jobs on a 911 that you should tackle.

Well, this is about the only job I have never tried. I was looking at it tonight again and may attempt as alcantara headliner similar to Matteo's.

I have Wayne's book, bu the makes it out to be rather difficult. I guess I won't know until I try it!

Thanks for the replies guys.

cheers

Deschodt · 08-09-2007, 11:21 AM

Alcantara ? Do they sell one or where you planning to use your headliner as a template and have alcantara cut out to fit ? I really like the stuff and I'd like to do headliner + dash + seat inserts with it !

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 08-09-2007, 11:59 AM

Be aware that the perforated vinyl headlliner is actually part of the car's interior ventilation system. That's how air gets from the cabin to the exhaust above the rear window. If you put a solid headliner in, you defeat that.

Deschodt · 08-09-2007, 12:07 PM

[QUOTE=Formerly Steve Wilkinson;3418675]Be aware that the perforated vinyl headlliner is actually part of the car's interior ventilation system. /QUOTE]

What interior ventilation system ? ;-) The cryptic levers on the dash ? the squirel blowing on an Ice cube (aka A/C) ?

Good point actually, I joke but I did not think of that.... but I think the ventilation in my SC is so inneficient that it won't make too much of a difference in the end. Mine must be blocked already because the car feels airtight when I close the door !

Facey · Facey's Garage

hey Jeff,

i did it when i was 17, really wasn't that hard, i did mine first w/o any glue, just 50 clips, to see if i could get the flod creases out of it, and stretch it to look good, was really easy to apply the glue a day and half later. just pulled off small sections of the clips, applied glue, then re-clipped about with about twice the distance between clips.... and i've always though mine looks pretty good.

cheers
Nick

shbop · 08-09-2007, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

Well, this is about the only job I have never tried. I was looking at it tonight again and may attempt as alcantara headliner similar to Matteo's.

I have Wayne's book, bu the makes it out to be rather difficult. I guess I won't know until I try it!

Thanks for the replies guys.

cheers

Hey Jeff, If you're really bored, or just want to learn something new, give it a whirl. If you're not bored, the opportunity costs speak for themselves. Send it out.

oregonmon · oregonmon's Garage

Excuse me while I hijack,
My ivory colored headliner is needing replacement as well. Wondered how hard it was too and also what color I would go with.
It seems that black would look good if not better with my cork interior instead of the off white. It would probably age better too.
Does anyone have any pics of cork colored interior with black headliner?

oregonmon · oregonmon's Garage

bump...bumpity bump bump

Jeff Alton · 08-09-2007, 09:23 PM

I am not bored!!! I have more than enough to do on the car! But, while you are in there..... The entire rest of the interior is new. Charcoal carpets, black dash and RS door panels and black SPG seats..... The headliner is actually in very good shape but it is a very dark blue. Mind you the car is dark blue.... But the windshield is already out and the rear and rear quarters are comming out (being replaced with Lexan) so I thought maybe now is the time.....

Still thinking on this one.

Cheers