sunroof headliner

tadel001 · 09-17-2009, 03:05 AM

My 76 sunroof 911 is coming back from the paint shop this week and with the windows out, I am going to install a new headliner. I got the headliner a few weeks ago and opened up the package to allow it to settle. I have reviewed a number of forums but most seem to deal with non-sunroof. looking for some guidance...

1) Does the sunroof car use the bows? If not, how do you get the headliner to remain tense?

2) The headliner I got is a solid piece (no sunroof cutout). Do I install the headliner and then go back to cut out the sunroof?

3) The rest of the interior is going to stay as is. I was simply going to peal the pillar trim down a few inches, set the headliner and then re-glue the pillar trim at the top back into place. Is that an okay approach?

4) Another other recommendations?

scottrx7tt · 09-17-2009, 04:37 AM

i just installed mine since it was damn near impossible to find someone who was willing to do it. It does not use the bows like the non sunroof models. this headliner is just stretched between the window openings, and sunroof opening. I used the old headliner as a template to get my rough opening for the sunroof. You just have to take your time. I also peeled the vinyl down for the pillars and tucked the headliner down in that. The only area that i messed up is when i cut the opening for one of the dome lights.

porschenut · 09-17-2009, 05:24 AM

1. No
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Cutting the opening for the sunroof is the very LAST step. Have lots of patience.

jhelgesen · 09-17-2009, 06:30 AM

Buy several dozen black clampy paper clip things, the ones with the chrome wire handles on them. Small or medium size is best. Install the entire headliner around the perimeter of the roof. Then go back and start pulling a few off in a row, squirt on your glue, then put the clamps back. If you get any wrinkles, you can use the steam from a iron to work some out, but you should be able to pull them all out before hand with the clamps.

jcunning · 09-17-2009, 07:25 AM

My advice is to NOT use the spray can glue. Use something from a tube.
The spray makes a mess and is more difficult to get the glue in the right spots.

I ended up having to reglue some spots as the headliner would start to come loose in certain spots. Mainly around the sunroof opening and sunroof headliner itself.

Paulporsche · 09-17-2009, 07:35 AM

You should get the headliner made for sunroof cars. It has the piece needed to cover the sliding panel, and the zippered area @ the rear window to access the motor and trans.

Gary De · 09-17-2009, 08:43 AM

Just finished the headliner in my 72T w/sunroof. Start at the rear window area first and make sure you get the zipper for the drive motor centered. You should have small steel clips for the top edge of the front and rear window. I used ******** interior trim adhesive. It looked like contact cement.

fredmeister · fredmeister's Garage

my sunroof section in my 79 930 turbo is sagging?
is there a way to tighten it up so that it is taught? is there some sort of clips or something internally under the headliner that my have detached here and lets it sag?
Some one mentioned heating it with a hair dryer to make it shrink, is this adviseable?

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

black clampy paper clip things = "binder clips"

there are pics on some thread showing exactly how to do this - looks like he used small ones

Good Luck - I am thinkful that a PO did this on mine -- people say it is a bear.

jhelgesen · 09-17-2009, 09:17 AM

Binder clips, yeah, that's it! Sorry my CRS had kicked in this morning.

john walker's workshop · 09-17-2009, 10:55 AM

get the sunroof style liner because it comes with the sunroof piece. you still have to cut the sunroof hole in the main piece. get the zipper to rear window distance and mark that, as well as center the zipper. use clip board clips to get the whole thing basically centered. install the domelights, coat hooks, visors and visor clips first, then cut and glue the sunroof hole. use weldwood brand contact cement. then work around the outside.

tadel001 · 09-17-2009, 12:20 PM

Thank you very much. I had my assistant order binder clips today. She was confused why I asked for 5 dozen. I did order the sunroof headliner with the extra piece.

tadel001 · 09-20-2009, 04:31 PM

I am beginning to install the headliner. At which point should I cut out the sunroof and light holes? How do you get the corners to match up while stretching.

w21055 · w21055's Garage

You have to work at it in small sections. If you try to pull it all at once it will more than likely not line up correctly. If you have access to a steamer or heat gun (low heat though) you can get a good tight pull and keep using the clips to hold it into place. John's advice is dead on, I used the glue from a tube versus spray glue as it was a firmer hold and not as messy.

Good luck, although most folks will not notice it, it is an area of pride to see a clean headliner you put in yourself.

Phillip

tadel001 · 09-21-2009, 04:57 PM

So is the recommendation to put in place with binder clips. Get the roof (not the pillars) as tight as possible and then install the coat hook, visor, visor clips and dome lights. Then cut out the sunroof. Then clue the outer edge of the headliner. Then glue the sunroof. Then work on the pillars. Is that the best order?

porschenut · 09-21-2009, 06:20 PM

Don't stretch it tight, just make it taught so it doesn't sag. If it's too tight you'll never get the dome lights back in without tearing. See if you can examine another car with an original headliner still in it - notice how it's not drum tight (and shouldn't be). Remember that you'll be stretching the sunroof cutout too, so don't worry about it not being tight enough at the beginning. Putting in the dome lights will stretch it quite a bit too.

The order I used is:

Get it aligned and taught with the binder clips, all the way around all 4 sides
Make certain the zipper is correctly located, centered, and parallel with the back edge
Make certain the entire thing is stretched evenly in all directions with no wrinkles
Glue the front edge and replace the binder clips to hold it while the glue dries
Glue the back edge in the same manner
Glue each side in the same manner
Stretch and glue the C pillars
Finish the areas around the A and B pillars
Install the dome lights
Install the coat hooks and visors
Cut the opening for the sunroof and glue it around the edges
Do the sunroof panel and then reinstall

5 dozen binder clips may be just enough. I used more. You need to bunch them up right next to each other all the way around the perimeter.

This took me about 10 hours.

I found this thread very useful before I did mine:

Restoration Porn: Headliner Install

tadel001 · 09-22-2009, 03:21 AM

Where pillar does A, B and C refer to? C being the rear pillars, B being the rear door post and A being the front pillars? I have had several recommendations to not use spray glue. What brand are people recommending? What prep work are you doing on the surface?

krk · 09-22-2009, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredmeister

my sunroof section in my 79 930 turbo is sagging?
is there a way to tighten it up so that it is taught? is there some sort of clips or something internally under the headliner that my have detached here and lets it sag?
Some one mentioned heating it with a hair dryer to make it shrink, is this adviseable?

So this may not be the right thread, but I have what sounds like the same issue with my '76. Is there some way to slip off/re-fit/whatever the panel that goes on the sunroof?

kim.

tadel001 · 09-28-2009, 11:06 AM

Do you need to remove all the residue from the previous glue? Also, what kind of padding do you recommend?

tadel001 · 09-30-2009, 04:08 AM

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