T-Top Headliner replacement

[Stevoone]

Has anyone used the headliner kit from Hawks Third Gen? I was interested until I saw that I needed to cut the holes for the overhead console. I've had the entire interior out of my car before and I've done light upholstery work but I'm not crazy about hacking up a brand new headliner.

I got a quote from my local upholstery shop for about the same price and I'm half tempted just to let him do it. If anyone has experience with a different brand that would also be helpful.

My current headliner board is trash so i need the entire thing. Im also looking for something that includes sun visors and sail panels.

[ar0ck]

I ordered their direct drop in a long time ago for my 1985 Trans Am, and I made the cut really small. I started with measuring out the lamp, then making a small cut in the center in the shape of an I. I made the cut just large enough for the bulb to poke through. Then I separated the cloth from the backing from my I incision, removed the excess board, and peeled the cloth back to glue it back behind the cut if that makes sense.

[1320B4U]

Why not go the abs headliner route? Its very similiar to stock material as my buddy has 1 in his '86..plus you will never have to worry about cardboard again.

http://www.stockinteriors.com/Headli...d=5&ModelId=71

[Stevoone]

Thanks for the replies. I would actually prefer an ABS over the stock cardboard, the one from Hawks was also made from ABS plastic. I'm going to call the upholstery shop tomorrow and see what he would replace the stock board with as mine is not reuseable.

Seems like some people over at Thirdgen.org have had issues with the sun visors included with the kit from Hawks.

[jam01]

i had one for my hard top car, it was abs and from what i remember the fit was good just a pain putting it back in by myself. if you can use the old one as a template for the holes.

[HardcoreZ28]

I have an ABS backed one in my IROC from Year One...prob the same manufacturer as Hawk uses. The fit is good but not perfect. Cutting it for your lamp should be no real issue if you take your time. I've recovered tons of headliners the last few years and more often than not you can repair the original board with some fiberglass matting if you really want to retain it.

[1320B4U]

^ I agree....i reenforced one one time w/additional cardboard backing however water didn't get to it and it wasn't dry out too bad as it still had rigidity to the original piece.

[Stevoone]

The one in the car seems pretty bad around the t-tops, don't think I would want to attempt a repair. I'm sure someone with more experience could repair it but I'd rather just swap it out.

The kit from Hawks caught my eye because it included the visors (which I need) and the sail panels ( current ones are lightly stained). I will most likely order it tomorrow if I don't hear back from the upholstery shop.

[BigAls87Z28]

I've been wanting to do this for a decade now. There is/was a really good tech article about replacing the headliner, and one that went more into depth if you have the center console.

[Stevoone]

I read a few of the articles over on ThirdGen.org and some of them had helpful information as well as a few comments about the kit that had me concerned.

I ordered the kit from Hawks a few days ago and it shipped today. I will take some pictures when it gets delivered and also as I install the headliner. I also looked at my current headliner a little better and it looks like someone had already tried to reinforce the area around the T-Tops. The whole headliner board is brittle and separating and I think it's going to crumble when I try to remove it.

[Teds89IROC]

I recovered mine myself a while ago and added the center console, it wasn't hard, just take your time. Better off cutting too little than too much. I ordered a new ABS one a couple years ago and wanted to change up the look a bit so I only put the light in, no console.

[Stevoone]

Just realized I never updated this thread.

The headliner was delivered 3-4 days after I ordered it from Hawks Third Gen, a lot faster than the estimated 2-4 weeks. Overall I am very happy with how the headliner turned out, it's been bugging me for the last 8 years and I finally found some money to replace it. I ordered the kit that included the headliner, sail panels and visors.

I will get better photos at some point after I figure out my new camera.

Old Headliner



Old Visor vs New Visor



New headliner

[ThoR294]

I need to do this in my car. The lining near the T-Top is falling off

[The_Bishop]

Looks good. Will have to do this to my car soon.

[ThoR294]

It came pre-cut with everything? So you just put it right in? Awesome... I really do need to do this in that case.

[Stevoone]

You need to cut holes for the dome lamp/overhead console and you also need to slit the headliner material for the visors and the rear seat-belts. Was not as bad as i thought it would be.

I was stressed out about having to cut up a $300 headliner but I measured 3 or 4 times, cut the plastic backing, folded the material into the holes and used some spray adhesive to hold the upholstery. Unfortunately I did not take any before or during pictures of the cuts.

[ThoR294]

No overhead for me... so I'd just have to do the dome lamp, seat belts, and visors