The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors 58 Apache Headliner Install

The new headliner came today from CP. The problem is how to install it. I have the rubber to go arould the roof edge. What holds the new panel in the center,glue,bows or what? Does there need to be some sort of mating under it to build it up to the lip where the rubber goes?

the repro plastic headliner? the originals had a jute backing and were glued up - the rubber takes up the gap to hold the edges, don't try to fill the gap with anything, the rubber is a tough enough install because of the way it needs to be worked onto the lip, if you decide to put any insulation behind the headliner, cut it shy of the edge

Bill

It is a thin plastic. With no support in the center I believe that it would sag down.

3M spray contact cement is what I'd use

Bill

I will pickup some 3M today. To see how it goes on,I tried putting on the headliner rubber, and it is very tight and hard to slide on the lip. Any way to making it easy to go on? I was thinking of spraying it with WD40.

I have rubber lube for installing tires, so I would use that. WD 40 might work; will it damage rubber?

My reproduction headliner was rigid enough that the rubber part held in firmly in place with very little sag. I didn't glue it up.

I put it up with clothes pins holding it around the edge as would the rubber and it saged in the middle. I then put some 1/8" self adhesive insulation/sound deadner to the roof. Then I used 3M adhesive to glue the headniner to it,letting it stay untill tommorow.I will then try putting the rubber in.

If you're looking for something to get the rubber in easier use soapy water. Don't use WD-40. It will stay greasy.

A really hot work area or a nice hot day in the sun to make the rubber more plyable.

That rubber is a major PITA! I tried using dish soap but found that vaseline or petroleum jelly worked better. It also helps to do it on a hot day or somehow get the rubber warmed up real good. I put some thin aluminum foil wrapped insulation on top of the headliner and didn't glue any of it, hardly sags at all.
Darren

Well the headliner and the rubber retainer is in. I put a self stick insulation that is used for HVAC ducts, got it from Home Depot. It is 12" wide, 1/8" thick and tin foil on one side. Easy to put up in two strips. I then spayed 3M contact to the insulation and the headliner and put it up. to keep the headliner in place untill the glue dried I used clothespins around the edge.I did not heat the rubber even though it was in a cold garage over night. To lube it I used vasaline on about 6" at a time, worked in the starting end and then used a ballpien hammer to hit it in, working it in a little at a time with the hammer. Worked out very good with no problems, took about one hour for the rubber.
Thanks everyone for your help and input.

I am having the same issue in my 1958 Apache. Does the rubber go in before the headliner? That was my plan.

No, put the headliner in first. It glues into place as red58 says. Use the 3M spray adhesive (Super 77 works best) to attach it. The rubber goes in after. Use rubber lube or Syl-Glyde to help the rubber paice go in.

Thanks for the headsup

Just put the headliner rubber in today. Used 3m glue yesterday on the headliner. Greased the rubber with Vaseline and tried using a brake adjusting tool to push the rubber in the grove. It worked but was very hard. About half way around I tried using a rubber mallet to tap the rubber into the grove. It worked great. Still had to use the Vaseline but the mallet was the trick!