Headliner Install?
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Contact Cement
The headliner is glued in place with contact cement. I bought some from 3M off their web site along with some special solvent for removing old the adhesive.
I bought a headliner from OGTS. I planned to install it myself. After a trial fit, I wasn't convinced I could do it without screwing it up. So, I ended up paying an upholstry shop $100 to install it. Some of the other quotes I received were as high as $300 just to install.
The deal I struck included me removing the glass and any of the interior I did want them to screw up. I already had the new windshield rubber, so I cut the old rubber to get the glass out.
After talking to the shop owner, The trick is to use REAL STRONG contact cement, spray it on both of the mating surfaces, steel and fabric, and let dry completely. Then reinstall the headliner and stretch and attach the headliner to the steel. The cement has to be strong enough to hold the fabric in place to the steel as its being pulled repeatedly tighter as one works from the rear to the front. Pictures are in this thread...
http://www.opelgt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4506&page=4
It was worth it to me for someone else to do it once the right way.
The headliner is glued in place with contact cement. I bought some from 3M off their web site along with some special solvent for removing old the adhesive.
I bought a headliner from OGTS. I planned to install it myself. After a trial fit, I wasn't convinced I could do it without screwing it up. So, I ended up paying an upholstry shop $100 to install it. Some of the other quotes I received were as high as $300 just to install.
The deal I struck included me removing the glass and any of the interior I did want them to screw up. I already had the new windshield rubber, so I cut the old rubber to get the glass out.
After talking to the shop owner, The trick is to use REAL STRONG contact cement, spray it on both of the mating surfaces, steel and fabric, and let dry completely. Then reinstall the headliner and stretch and attach the headliner to the steel. The cement has to be strong enough to hold the fabric in place to the steel as its being pulled repeatedly tighter as one works from the rear to the front. Pictures are in this thread...
http://www.opelgt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4506&page=4
It was worth it to me for someone else to do it once the right way.
I had a the headliner replace in my Saab a couple of years ago.
It was definitely worth paying to have done. The windows did not
need to be removed.
However, I talked with the shop owner and he told me that professional
shops use an industrial strength adhesive. This stuff is supposed to be
orders of magnitude better than the 3M stuff in the can. Based upon the
results in my car, I would have to agree.
Chris
It was definitely worth paying to have done. The windows did not
need to be removed.
However, I talked with the shop owner and he told me that professional
shops use an industrial strength adhesive. This stuff is supposed to be
orders of magnitude better than the 3M stuff in the can. Based upon the
results in my car, I would have to agree.
Chris
I did mine by myself and I'd say it's about the hardest thing to do with a GT. I started at the front and worked my way back. Don't by shy with the glue and get a couple handfulls of the bulldog style paper clips to hold it in place while the glue dries. High temperatures in a shop or garage helps with the stetching of it. I'd also recruit 2 more people to help pull it tight. One at either door opening and 1 at the window opposite the one glued in already. Cut the excess after it's all glued and dry. if you fold under the end at the B pillar it looks better. good luck and have fun.
Joined
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5,564 Posts
Warm It!
Warm the headliner laid out in the sun before you start. The inevitable wrinkles can often be worked out with a hair dryer - or a paint stripping gun, if you get real desperate! Doing the job in a heated paint booth is a definite plus ......
$100 is money well spent to get the job professionally done.
Warm the headliner laid out in the sun before you start. The inevitable wrinkles can often be worked out with a hair dryer - or a paint stripping gun, if you get real desperate! Doing the job in a heated paint booth is a definite plus ......
$100 is money well spent to get the job professionally done.
Binder clips
On the Manta, using the binder clips interfers with the proper placement of the headliner material, so they can't be used. I now know that and have 4 boxes of them!!!!!!!!!
The 3M stuff says its made specifically for high tack/strength situations and names headliners as one type of application. The upholstry shop said the 3M stuff still wasn't strong enough, tho.
On the Manta, using the binder clips interfers with the proper placement of the headliner material, so they can't be used. I now know that and have 4 boxes of them!!!!!!!!!
The 3M stuff says its made specifically for high tack/strength situations and names headliners as one type of application. The upholstry shop said the 3M stuff still wasn't strong enough, tho.
Joined
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2,055 Posts
If you can have a shop do it for a hundred dollars (labor), jump on that deal. I installed one in a GT five years ago. Other than changing the GT's clutch without removing the engine/transmission, that was the hardest job I've performed on the car.
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