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Topic: T Top Headliner Bowed

in Forum: C3 Interior


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T Top Headliner Bowed (1/10)
 12/19/21 11:11pm
Mark Laird
Former Member

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Milford, DE - USA

Vette(s):
1977 C3 Auto Coupe Lt Blue/Dk Blue Prev. 1968 C3 convertible 4spd Red 1984 C4 Automatic Silver 2000 C5 Automatic Black


Joined: 11/6/2021
Posts: 67

Both sides of my headliner for the t top are bowed down on the corners..Is there a fix to this other than replacing both liners?

Thanks!

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Re: T Top Headliner Bowed (2/10)
 12/20/21 2:41am
73shark
Limited Member
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

Can you remove them and see why the retainers are not holding them up against the bottom of the T-top?



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1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: T Top Headliner Bowed (3/10)
 12/20/21 10:48am
Mark Laird
Former Member

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Milford, DE - USA

Vette(s):
1977 C3 Auto Coupe Lt Blue/Dk Blue Prev. 1968 C3 convertible 4spd Red 1984 C4 Automatic Silver 2000 C5 Automatic Black


Joined: 11/6/2021
Posts: 67

It looks like because they are bowed down so much that the velcro type  fasteners are not strong enough to hold them flush against the inside of the T Top. It is mainly only the inside corners. The rest of the velcro type fasteners are holding fine. Thought maybe some heat say from a hair dryer would make them soft enough to help bend them back? I'm not sure though.

Re: T Top Headliner Bowed (4/10)
 12/20/21 1:34pm
73shark
Limited Member
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

You could try removing them and placing them on a hard surface like a table or a countertop.  Then put some weight in the center of the back side and gently warm the corners and see if it would settle back to the original shape.  Due to its shape, you might have to play some spacers under some of the corners so that it sets close to level.

If it does, let it cool and then remove the weight and see if it retains that shape. If you don't have a heat gun, you can pick one up at Harbor Freight for around $10 to $12.



|UPDATED|12/20/2021 10:34:05 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


______________

1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: T Top Headliner Bowed (5/10)
 12/20/21 5:31pm
Mark Laird
Former Member

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Milford, DE - USA

Vette(s):
1977 C3 Auto Coupe Lt Blue/Dk Blue Prev. 1968 C3 convertible 4spd Red 1984 C4 Automatic Silver 2000 C5 Automatic Black


Joined: 11/6/2021
Posts: 67

Thanks.

Thats what I'm going to do. I have a heat gun. I hope it works! 

Re: T Top Headliner Bowed (6/10)
 12/21/21 12:36am
73shark
Limited Member
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

Let us know how it works out for you.



______________

1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: T Top Headliner Bowed (7/10)
 12/22/21 9:06pm
sdinino
Standard Member
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Rock Hill, SC - USA

Vette(s):
1977 White/Red


Joined: 8/2/2017
Posts: 59

They're made out of formed cardboard covered with vinyl wrap. If the heat doesn't work, you could try misting the back with a spray bottle of water (lightly, not soaking wet) and then weighing it down as you suggested above. It ought to retain its shape when it dries.



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Re: T Top Headliner Bowed (8/10)
 12/22/21 9:37pm
Mark Laird
Former Member

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Milford, DE - USA

Vette(s):
1977 C3 Auto Coupe Lt Blue/Dk Blue Prev. 1968 C3 convertible 4spd Red 1984 C4 Automatic Silver 2000 C5 Automatic Black


Joined: 11/6/2021
Posts: 67

Thanks

Re: T Top Headliner Bowed (9/10)
 12/24/21 10:51pm
Mark Laird
Former Member

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Milford, DE - USA

Vette(s):
1977 C3 Auto Coupe Lt Blue/Dk Blue Prev. 1968 C3 convertible 4spd Red 1984 C4 Automatic Silver 2000 C5 Automatic Black


Joined: 11/6/2021
Posts: 67

Work great! Took a heat gun to it with weight in middle. Took a while but got it back to 90%.

 

However, Some idiot before me decided to put a epoxy on all the velcro type fasteners and completely ruined the fasteners. Looks like they tried to fix it before. Now, I have to replace all the fasteners and hope they all hold on the headliner. Not to mention the t tops as well!



|UPDATED|12/24/2021 7:51:13 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Re: T Top Headliner Bowed (10/10)
 12/25/21 12:18am
73shark
Limited Member
Send Private Message

Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

I'm guessing the "Velcro" fasteners were really the white nylon ones w/ little spherical tips that interlock when pressed against another one.  No alignment is req'd and they just snap together.

Glad the heat method worked for you.  👍



|UPDATED|12/24/2021 9:18:08 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


______________

1973 L-82 4 spd

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