Ripped a hole in a perfect headliner -- what would you do???

[cld]

Update... Just got some vinyl/fabric adhesive (meant for repairing patio umbrellas, etc) and put a strip of vinyl over it. Just too much trouble to take the whole thing out right now. Looks horrible... too embarrassing for a pic... but it'll do for now and at least keep the wind from tearing the rest out.

Thanks for all the input!

 

[commando1]

Duct tape comes in an amazing variety of colors now.

 

[cm23uoc]

Duct tape comes in an amazing variety of colors now.

Green's about all you Need over here. ;)

 

[cld]

Unfortunately duct tape wouldn't stick reliably to that stretchy headliner mesh. Fell right off, even the good heavy stuff.

 

[commando1]

He tried that first........

 

[cld]

He tried that first........

Damn right I did. I grew up fixing stuff with duct tape and baling wire. We didn't have any nice tools or money for parts. When I was a kid I made an exhaust system for a '64 Bronco 6-cyl out of sewer pipe and a giant Cadillac-type muffler out of our farm's junkyard, all sealed up with duct tape (to make up for different pipe sizes) and hung with baling wire. It was nice and quiet for about a decade! Then got sold, presumably has a 351 and a lift kit in it now.

 

[greasemonkeyman]

Get a piece of material a little larger than the area your covering,preferably in a color close to your headliner.Get some adhesive spray from most auto parts stores(get 3M Brand). Spray the piece of material with the glue and stick part of it into the upper portion of the headliner so that it overlaps the tear,then push the other side up.Try to get it so that your tear is pulled together tightly.A heat gun might help make it a little more pliable.It's almost like duct take but it will be on the back side and the rip won't be as visable.You may need to wait a few minutes until the spray adhesive gets tacky.Your only other options would be to sew it back together using the same method or replacing it.The material is too fragile after 40+ years of weathering and heat.

 

[cld]

Get a piece of material a little larger than the area your covering,preferably in a color close to your headliner.Get some adhesive spray from most auto parts stores(get 3M Brand). Spray the piece of material with the glue and stick part of it into the upper portion of the headliner so that it overlaps the tear,then push the other side up.Try to get it so that your tear is pulled together tightly.A heat gun might help make it a little more pliable.It's almost like duct take but it will be on the back side and the rip won't be as visable.You may need to wait a few minutes until the spray adhesive gets tacky.Your only other options would be to sew it back together using the same method or replacing it.The material is too fragile after 40+ years of weathering and heat.

I did something kind of like that, minus the heat gun. I put a largish piece of vinyl over the torn area with some flexible vinyl/fabric adhesive, and piled up boxes on the seat and then rolls of packing material to push it all against the headliner for 24 hrs while it cured. It's not great, but it'll do. One of these evenings after I have a few drinks I might be able to lose the shame and post a pic of it. I really wanted to replace the whole thing but that's a one-day job that would have turned into weeks or months... I have three little kids, weekends packed with activities, and I have to get them out of the house so my wife can grade papers. They're too little to really help much at this stage, and I don't want them breathing the dusty disintegrating inner liner material/insulation or the adhesives anyway...

 

[greasemonkeyman]

A new headliner should run somewhere in the $200-250 range and any good upholstery shop should be able to do it in a full day once the material is in.

 

[cld]

A new headliner should run somewhere in the $200-250 range and any good upholstery shop should be able to do it in a full day once the material is in.

That lines up with what I've found but the headliner + labor would be too much money right now. Still rolling on 20+ year old tires, motor and trans mounts all dry rotted out, need to take care of those first.

 

[tallhair]

That lines up with what I've found but the headliner + labor would be too much money right now. Still rolling on 20+ year old tires, motor and trans mounts all dry rotted out, need to take care of those first.

get some old and really sticky (get's stickier with age and if exposed to heat) duct tape and put it sticky side down up in the headliner, then push the loose pieces up to it. sorry if suggested already

 

[CanCritter]

Folks--

I'm sorry to report that last weekend I stupidly punched a hole in my car's otherwise good headliner. I was taking out the rear seat back, going from one side to the other to gradually ease it up, and suddenly it popped up into the headliner and tore about a 8-10" hole in it. What can you use to repair this rubbery mesh fabric? This is not going to be a show car; I don't mind if the repair is visible. What would you do???

On the bright side: I did find the broadcast sheet behind the rear seat.

View attachment 27837

View attachment 27837

that's a little big for a remembrance day poppy.....sunflower?

 

[kmccabe56]

I'd get some "iron on" adhesive and find a similar cloth and iron on a patch.

It'll look like crap and annoy you enough to get a new head liner eventually. At least it's better than the rip.

Could you do that from behind so that the original material would still show?

 

[Big_John]

Could you do that from behind so that the original material would still show?

No, I'd say not. Just get something that's close in color.