Hi, My 1981 Caprice Wagon has a headliner board that's pretty badly warped, and I'm wondering if there's a source for replacement board, or a method to get it back into more or less the right shape. Can I get it back into the right shape via a good gluing to the roof once I replace the fabric, which is also coming apart. (Its hanging down off the roof pretty badly in a few spots, and then the fabric is also coming off the board which I can replace). The headliner in question is the big one in the front. Many thanks, Kipwrite
when I was researching the headliner for my 79 Impala, I never saw the actual panels for sale. They are formed for the car when made, so I doubt buying new panels would work very well. I would think you would be much better off taking it down and seeing if you could support it from behind with something, if not, find one in a junk yard. I doubt gluing it to the roof would work, it does not touch the roof for the most part, only the ribs that go across it. Good luck, Jim
I also would not recommend gluing it in place... IMO that will bring up more problems down the road. If you can find a good used one in a auto wreaker that would be the best solution. If not, space, time , and patience! I've seen this work on warped headliners..... Remove, clean, etc, and have a large enough bench/ sheet of plywood flat. Heat with a good space heater until it's nice and warm but not hot and apply some weight on it, BUT NOT TOO HEAVY as to break/crack the headliner panel, just a bit at a time to help it get it's shape back. In time and by that I don't mean a day but a few days if not more it will be flat again,,,,,then wait a few more days with no heat with weight on it. Important! >>>>> Think of it as a longer project you have to be near while doing this, don't leave it being heated and leave for the day. Be at home where you can closely monitor how warm it's getting, you want as even heat distribution as possible. It will return to it's original form if you are patient and let it cool for a longer period of time (again a few days) and keep it's memory of the shape before reinstallation. If after you are still worried about it sagging again I would suggest adhesive Velcro strips, that way if anything happens you can still remove the panel in one piece compared to glue....and then you would be :banghead3: Good luck witch ever route you chose
I seriously doubt GM custom-formed the panels to each individual car on the assembly line. The reality is that these panels rarely require replacement, so no one sells new ones. Get a good used one from a salvaged car. I have two B-body wagons I'm parting right now, but the mid-Atlantic is a long way from Wisconsin. The 1977-1990 B-body wagon headliner panels are all the same. Also keep in mind that the panels are fiberglass. You can cut them apart and glue them back together with fiberglass resin and cloth on the backside. They do NOT glue into the car, as there is a space between the panel and the underside of the roof.
