66 coupe headliner sag

[Richard E.]

What is a good way to fix a sagging headliner? It has no rips just sags. I'm told the vinyl has likely separated from its foam backing. Is this a do it yourself fix or best left to a experienced shop? Any thoughts on how to make the repair and what materials are required are apprecited. Thanks all.

[Richard W.]

Re: 66 coupe headliner sag

I've never heard of anyone fixing the 66 headliners. I suppose anything is possible and someone may chime in. I've had my 66 for about 20 years and I have replaced the headliner twice. A hot garage in Louisiana for a few years will sag the best of them!
I used Al Knoch headliners. They look good and feel right. I'm not sure about judging standards. Just be really careful when shaving the sides to clear the tabs for the metal trim pieces. Trim too much and you've got junk.

[Richard E.]

Re: 66 coupe headliner sag

Thanks for the advice Rich. Is the old headliner difficult to remove, is it glued to the fiberglass for example?

[Dennis B.]

Re: 66 coupe headliner sag

Richard,
I also have a 66 Coupe. Not too long ago my headliner did the same thing. I made no attempt to repair it. The thin foam backer was crumbling. I can't imagine how you could glue it back and make it look decent. I used the Al Knoch replacement. As stated above be careful t******* it over your door where the small retainer clips are in the moulding. Those clips are fragile and expensive. I found replacements at LIC. The headliner is not glued in place and is easy to remove once your mouldings are out of the way. It's not a hard fix just take your time t*******.

Dennis

[Richard W.]

Re: 66 coupe headliner sag

Richard,
As Dennis said, it's not hard. It's not glued in. The backing is a piece of bowed cardboard like material on the originals. The foam is in between the vinyl and the board. The repros are a plastic type board as I recall. The difference isn't obvious once it's installed.
Remove the windshield mouldings and top mouldings above the side windows. Rearview mirror and moulding too. I didn't remove the big dome light surround last time...just loosened it and dropped it down a bit. Test fit the new headliner carefully and trim VERY gradually. You want all the edges covered by the trim mouldings. It can get close above the doors. The new ones look great though.

[Richard E.]

Re: 66 coupe headliner sag

Thank you gentlemen. Never having seen a headliner out of a coupe, is the trim done by sanding or with a knife for example? I pictured the vinyl wrapping around the edges of the backing but this cannot be if trim is required. Does the backing extend beyond the vinyl so you trim the backing only? Thanks again for the help and your time.
Rich

[Dennis B.]

Re: 66 coupe headliner sag

My headliner,which came from Al Knoch, only needed to be trimmed above the door where the clip that supports the center of the over the door molding is located. There was a small amount of interference there between the headliner and the clip. I had to trim a small notch so the clip would pass by the headliner and into slot in the support above the door. It's not much but I had to do it. But if you go too far your notch will not be covered by the molding as you put in back in place so be careful. My headliner came cut flush on all edges. You have your liner material,a layer of thin foam and then your backer board or stiffener. Use a new single edge razor blade, an exacto knife or a roofers knife. Just be sure it is sharp and new. A reminder about the clips over the door. Very fragile and expensive. Here's a link http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~partsor for the clip I am talking about. Good luck this is not a hard fix.
Well it looks like my link does not work. So Long Island Corvette (licorvette.com) section 57 part #20.

Dennis

[Richard W.]

Re: 66 coupe headliner sag

I found that end-cutting nippers work well when t******* the backer board for clearance on the clips. The nippers let you trim off about 1/16 inch or less at a time. Better to go slow and trim the sides after the front and rear of the headliner are in place.

[Richard E.]

Re: 66 coupe headliner sag

Appreciate the additional details Rich & Dennis. With my luck I might as well buy extra clips too. I'm familiar w/LI Corvette, bought parts there many times. Thanks again.
Rich

[John H.]

Re: 66 coupe headliner sag

Oh, good grief - now the robot thinks t r i m m i n g is r i m m i n g - the "filter" list needs more "filtering".

[Richard W.]

Re: 66 coupe headliner sag

Oh, good grief - now the robot thinks t r i m m i n g is r i m m i n g - the "filter" list needs more "filtering".

So that's what those are all about.
I could have sworn I wasn't goofy enougn to hit all those asteriks!