Coupe Headliner Question

[1974carrera]

I have a question regarding the cutouts in a coupe headliner where the two interior lights are located (above the B-pillar on each side). The question is: is the headliner glued around the edges of the hole that the interior light pops into? It seems like it should be, but I really can't remember for sure. If someone could pop out an interior light, just like when you have to change a bulb, it should be apparent whether or not the headliner is glued around the edges of the hole that the light assembly fits into. Thanks in advance for any help.

[sammyg2]

Yes, it should be glued. AFAIK every edge should be glued, I haven't found one that wasn't.

[85eurocarrera]

That is a trickey area. I left those areas for last, I glued everything else first and then just cut slits from each corner of the opening, meeting in the middle, and then just popped the lights in. This gave me the best results, no wrinkles. I started the cuts inside the edge of the light box about a 1/8" or so.
Not saying this is the "correct" way but it worked for me.
Joe

[Wayne 962]

Yup, that's smart. The best way is to take the old headliner, and cut a pattern from it that's slightly larger - then trim to fit.

In my opinion, rebuilding my engine was easier than the entire process of replacing the headliner (glass removal, headliner install, glass re-installation)...

-Wayne

[1974carrera]

Thanks for the input guys. Cutting slits from near the corners to the center makes a lot of sense, and so does gluing it once I've done that. Wayne , I agree with your comments wholeheartedly, and I'll add that building my engine was a lot more fun than doing a headliner. My old headliner was used for the pattern but I was reluctant to cut the opening for the lights before installation since they are such a small area and it seemed like it would be easy to be off a little bit

Right now, my headliner is completely in with the exception of gluing the sides and rear of the sunroof opening and installing the 2 interior lights. It looks great and I sure don't want to get any wrinkles at this point. I was debating whether to install the lights now or glue the remaining 3 sides of the sunroof opening and then install the lights. I've wondered that if I installed the lights after gluing the rest of the sunroof opening that the headliner might be too taut for it to be pulled up against the light box areas. Joe, did your installation have a sunroof and did you glue the perimeter of that before cutting the opening for the lights?

[85eurocarrera]

Bob,

Yes it is sunroof coupe. I did glue the roof opening first and then carefuly felt for and found light boxes. Same for visor holes and the little sensor my 85 Carrera has above rear view mirror.

Joe

[dram]

Just curious, what type of glue does everyone use for this? I have a small area around the sunroof that is coming loose.

Thanks,
Don

[cmelecci]

Same problem here. I painted the inside of my roof with a paint called Hammerite. The paint looks great and is hard as expoxy, but now no glue that I've tried(weatherstrip,super glue,craft glue)will stick.
Any advise would be appreciated.
Thanx
Carl

[1974carrera]

Joe - Thanks for the reply and shared experience.


Don - I'm using glue specifically meant for doing automotive upholstrery. I got a small quantity from the guy that painted my car, since he buys it in gallons. It is a contact type of glue that you brush on both surfaces, let it flash off and then stick the pieces together.

If you have just a small area to do that is not under too much stress you could probably use a general contact cement available from any hardware store. Your best bet though would be to obtain a small quantity of the contact glue made for the purpose from an auto upholstery or restoration shop...it is thinner than regular contact cement so it brushes and flows on better and it sticks like mad.

[limble]

I used a a 3M product that worked great. It was a yellow contact cement.

[TopsailBeach]

[Same problem here. I painted the inside of my roof with a paint called Hammerite. The paint looks great and is hard as expoxy, but now no glue that I've tried(weatherstrip,super glue,craft glue)will stick.
Any advise would be appreciated. Same problem here. I painted the inside of my roof with a paint called Hammerite. The paint looks great and is hard as expoxy, but now no glue that I've tried(weatherstrip,super glue,craft glue)will stick.
Any advise would be appreciated.]


It the paint has an epoxy base, you'll need to sand it first, otherwise, nothing will adhere to it. It has a layer that must be broken down by sanding to accept any paint/primer.