Redo a headliner with me (Page 1/17)
1MohrFiero OCT 26, 07:50 PM
I finally decided to give this a try after seeing it discussed here a lot. First some pictures of why I needed to do this. Apparently the previous owner punched the roof at least once.

Not the worst I've seen but definitley on its way.

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Dwayne Mohr
84 SC Red
87 GT 5sp Silver
(Formerly FieroSoul, member since 2001)

1MohrFiero OCT 26, 07:57 PM
First remove the seat belt retainer bolts. Use a T-45 torx bit.
You don't have to have air tools but they help here.

Next remove the single screw on the door pillar and slip a screw driver behind the panel to release the trim fastner at ear level.
Finally slip the seatbelts out of the slot on the backside of the side panel. There is a small metal clip that holds the panel secure.

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1MohrFiero OCT 26, 08:06 PM
Remove both side panels. It seems to work best if you gently bend them down from the top first. Then slip them inward and out.

Next comes the roof trim and front pillar. This is a frustrating and delicate part. Expect to break a clip or two but don't worry the panel seems to hold in-place from tension and unless you break them all it will not be noticable.
Start by prying gently down on the trim from outside the door.

Then pull outward when the clip releases.
After these are loose, work the pillar support down and in toward the center of the car while using the screw driver to gently pop the two clips in the pillar out.

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1MohrFiero OCT 26, 08:19 PM
Now we will remove the accessories that are holding the liner up. I started with the sunvisors first. Remove the 3 screws that hold them. I found it easier to remove the visor from the mount first.

Now take the overhead console down. There are four hidden screws. 2 are in the hole where the visor rod snaps in.

The other two are hidden behind the outside light covers. Gently pry them out to find these.

Unhook the single wiring connection and the console is off.

By now the only thing supporting the liner is the two coat hooks in the back if you have them.
If not your head is probably supporting it. Let it rest on the tops of the seats and the rearview mirror while you slide out.
Then gently work the liner out of the car. Careful, it is made of thin pressed fiberglass and very delicate after all these years. It helps to have rolled your car windows down for clearance.
1MohrFiero OCT 26, 08:27 PM
We are halfway there. Well maybe a third. Here are some pics of the board out of the car.
The backside...

Some details...

Sunvisor mount
The damaged area on mine which I repaired with fiber glass.

The brake light cut out...
1MohrFiero OCT 26, 08:48 PM
Next we gently pull off the old liner material. It came off pretty easily and left a black semi-sticky foam residue on the liner board. So use a stiff brush to scrub that away. Don't get overly zealous and break the liner!

After this is thoroughly cleaned, test fit your material. You can find it at many auto parts stores. I got mine from Hancocks Fabrics for $8.97 per yard. 1 yard was almost a perfect fit. I had very little to trim away.

Fold half the material to one side, like in the picture above then spray the exposed side of the liner board and back of the material with a good spray adhesive. Once again there are many choices available at auto stores, Hancocks, Lowes and Home Cheapo. I bought 3M Super 77 at Lowes because it got good reviews here on the forum. Let the adhesive cure of a minute or so before the next step.

Gently fold the material back into place and smooth it into the contours of the liner with the flat of your hands. Too much pressure or pointed finger work could leave permanent marks.
Presto...sort of.

Let it dry some. Trim and fold around the edges. Mark the holes for the visors and coat hooks. Then, as they say in the instruction books...installation is the reverse of removal.

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bryson OCT 26, 10:28 PM
Man! That looks great! I want to get rid of my sunroof now! Definitley a (+) for you! That was a great write up, thanks for the information.
--Bryson

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88 Fiero GT Quad4 Turbo...It has begun
88 VW GTI 16v ($300 driver/autox MACHINE!)
90 Olds Calais International H.O. (donor car)
88 Fiero Formula (parts car)

Jncomutt OCT 26, 10:38 PM
Sweet!! I'll give you a plus for that, good write up!

Tiny stupid stuff:

I will say, I dunno about that super 77. I have used it on all my sunroof headliners with no problem at all. The people I know that used it on solid roofs had problems with the 'hump' eventually starting to sag. Solid roof guys may want to consider rubber cement or something along those lines. Also, a T45 works, but I believe the correct size is a T-47

litespd OCT 26, 10:38 PM
Excellent, Dwayne! You did a nice job on the headliner...and a nice job on the writeup and pics, too! Now...when are you going to do a sunroof-equipped car, so that I can see how to do mine?

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Mike...86 GT 4 Speed
"Sucks to be me..."

Electrathon OCT 27, 12:34 AM
Great write up! Definatly worth a plus.

I do have to second the warning about super 77. I used it on mine and it only lasted a few weeks, it was way harder to do the second time! I knew better too since my friend that works at an upholstery shop warned me (sometimes I don't always listen, LOL). Reglued it with the glue he uses at the shop and it held well. I believe he uses contact adhesive, like you would glue formica with.

If you have a sunroof it really isn't that big of an issue, the side trim will keep it from saging.