Original Headliner saved - Part 2.....success....
Hey guys,
A little bit ago I drafted a post regarding my attempts to save the original headliner in my Silver 67 coupe. Please look it up....I was told by everyone (top level restorers, friends, upholstery shops - all of whom are GOOD friends) that it could not be done. Some said the oils in the headliner from years of prior owner's using Armor All or equivalent products would not allow any glue to adhere to the headliner material to adhere to the foam. Others said I could not safely remove the old, dried up foam from the backside of the headliner material to get a clean "mating" surface. Others told me they didn't want to tackle the job. Well, I removed the original, sagging headliner and carefully inspected it. It was stretched in places, shrunk in places, nasty on the backside and had a wonderful slime to it notwithstanding the fact that my garage is air conditioned.
In my prior post I detailed that I bought a new backing board and foam from Al Knoch. I talked with a fantastic upholstery place in Fort Lauderdale Florida who does outstanding work. They didn't want to do it but I convinced them to try when I explained that the car was completely original, save for one repaint in 1983. The entire interior was original, so i really wanted them to try. I personally removed the original foam from the headliner. I cleaned gently the top side of the headliner. Dropped the foam, backing board and headliner to the shop. I spoke with them often. They said the Al Knoch foam was too thin as well as not dense enough to hold it. They had thicker and denser foam that would still look flush in the roof in the car. They stretched and massaged the headliner and DID IT. I picked it up and was incredibly pleased. I installed it back in the car it was born in a week ago and am tickled. It looks fantastic. As you can see, i can't take credit for it as i personally didn't do the majority of the work, but i couldn't be happier. Reproduction headliner from Al KNoch my work, $234, shipping $45. Gas to and from uphonlstery shop, $25, pride in knowing the original headliner is back in the car it was born in on December 21, 1966 PRICELESS. I hope this post encourages some of you out there whose headliners are having issue to NOT throw them out and listen to the downers. It can be done...and after all our cars deserve at least the effort to save it.....
Happy New Year to all my friends in the NCRS.......Regards,.....ARA
A little bit ago I drafted a post regarding my attempts to save the original headliner in my Silver 67 coupe. Please look it up....I was told by everyone (top level restorers, friends, upholstery shops - all of whom are GOOD friends) that it could not be done. Some said the oils in the headliner from years of prior owner's using Armor All or equivalent products would not allow any glue to adhere to the headliner material to adhere to the foam. Others said I could not safely remove the old, dried up foam from the backside of the headliner material to get a clean "mating" surface. Others told me they didn't want to tackle the job. Well, I removed the original, sagging headliner and carefully inspected it. It was stretched in places, shrunk in places, nasty on the backside and had a wonderful slime to it notwithstanding the fact that my garage is air conditioned.
In my prior post I detailed that I bought a new backing board and foam from Al Knoch. I talked with a fantastic upholstery place in Fort Lauderdale Florida who does outstanding work. They didn't want to do it but I convinced them to try when I explained that the car was completely original, save for one repaint in 1983. The entire interior was original, so i really wanted them to try. I personally removed the original foam from the headliner. I cleaned gently the top side of the headliner. Dropped the foam, backing board and headliner to the shop. I spoke with them often. They said the Al Knoch foam was too thin as well as not dense enough to hold it. They had thicker and denser foam that would still look flush in the roof in the car. They stretched and massaged the headliner and DID IT. I picked it up and was incredibly pleased. I installed it back in the car it was born in a week ago and am tickled. It looks fantastic. As you can see, i can't take credit for it as i personally didn't do the majority of the work, but i couldn't be happier. Reproduction headliner from Al KNoch my work, $234, shipping $45. Gas to and from uphonlstery shop, $25, pride in knowing the original headliner is back in the car it was born in on December 21, 1966 PRICELESS. I hope this post encourages some of you out there whose headliners are having issue to NOT throw them out and listen to the downers. It can be done...and after all our cars deserve at least the effort to save it.....
Happy New Year to all my friends in the NCRS.......Regards,.....ARA
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