Headliner Issue

[kwmech]

Got a new headliner for my 69 GMC p-u along with new trim. I know the trim alone will not hold it up so did some spray adhesive. Been messing with this for a couple of months now. It will not stay in place. What gives?? As soon as some hot sun hits the cab for a few hours it falls out. Suggestions?

[Grumpy old man]

Use some clear silicone in a caulking gun , apply some beads where you have contact with the roof and brace it flat overnite to dry .

DON"T use anything like liquid nails that will never come off if needed .

[Richard]

No off the shelf spray on adhesive will hold on the hot interior of a vehicle. Contact adhesives may hold for a while but will still fail. The heated adhesive used by upholsterers is really the only thing that will last in real world conditions. Guessing that grumpy old man has used the suggested silicone. So try that if no upholstery places near by.

[va72longhorn]

Liquid nails, or gorilla glue, on some Velcro strips would be my go to.

[Hotcorner]

Originally Posted by va72longhorn

Liquid nails, or gorilla glue, on some Velcro strips would be my go to.

I have the pleasure of needing to clean ungodly crusty old adhesive from the ceiling of my 69 before I put up a new headliner.

I’m not sure if this is the right call, but 3M makes a very good high bond double sided tape. Anyone try that with success?
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[Grumpy old man]

Ok , Here are the reasons to use 100% clear silicone caulk.

1) It's cheap and easy to find at any dollar general store

2) It's semi permanent , If you have to remove or replace the headliner it can be cleaned off the painted surface without destroying the paint and if your really careful the headliner it's self . Yes it's still a PITA .

3) When first applied it gives you time to align the panel , You don't get that with tape or hot glue . installation is a "one and done" with those

4) It will withstand the heat once cured , No more droopy headliner .

Just like steel wool liquid nails has no business in your garage .

[72c20customcamper]

Never tried silicone but have never had a problem HHR weldwood Landau and trim adhesive . Done many a headliner with it

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Never tried silicone but have never had a problem HHR weldwood Landau and trim adhesive . Done many a headliner with it

Yep , Great stuff , I started doing auto trim for a living in the early 70's way before any shops started spraying glue thru a gun . We would use a quart can of Can't leak glue and a brush to install carpets and vinyl tops back then . it's a contact cement and once you stick it ,it's stuck . I've probably used over a 1,000 gallons of it over all these years and I have a gallon of it in my garage . it used to be about $20. for 5 gallons , Now it's over $130.00 ! I still spray it thru a cheap harbor freight gun . It's a solvent based glue and can destroy painted surfaces . It has some serious fumes and that probably explains a lot now that I'm getting old .

[va72longhorn]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Ok , Here are the reasons to use 100% clear silicone caulk.

1) It's cheap and easy to find at any dollar general store

2) It's semi permanent , If you have to remove or replace the headliner it can be cleaned off the painted surface without destroying the paint and if your really careful the headliner it's self . Yes it's still a PITA .

3) When first applied it gives you time to align the panel , You don't get that with tape or hot glue . installation is a "one and done" with those

4) It will withstand the heat once cured , No more droopy headliner .

Just like steel wool liquid nails has no business in your garage .

I can see your point. I’ll change mine to silicone on the back side of two pieces of Velcro strips. I’d like to know when I want it to come down, it’s going to come down without destroying the backing on the headliner.

[Bearhawg]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Ok , Here are the reasons to use 100% clear silicone caulk.

1) It's cheap and easy to find at any dollar general store

2) It's semi permanent , If you have to remove or replace the headliner it can be cleaned off the painted surface without destroying the paint and if your really careful the headliner it's self . Yes it's still a PITA .

3) When first applied it gives you time to align the panel , You don't get that with tape or hot glue . installation is a "one and done" with those

4) It will withstand the heat once cured , No more droopy headliner .

Just like steel wool liquid nails has no business in your garage .

I am installing mine next week and I love the silicone caulk idea. I did a small amount of research and some of the brands say not for use on metal. I don’t plan on ever removing the headliner and I’m not worried about damage to the paint. So sounds like I ignore the product specs and just use a good quality product and be done with it.

[Bearhawg]

Originally Posted by Bearhawg

I am installing mine next week and I love the silicone caulk idea. I did a small amount of research and some of the brands say not for use on metal. I don’t plan on ever removing the headliner and I’m not worried about damage to the paint. So sounds like I ignore the product specs and just use a good quality product and be done with it.

I finished installing my headliner this weekend. After doing a ton of research, I decided to go with Gorilla Glue double sided mounting tape. I used the black heavy duty stuff on the fiber board areas and the clear tape on the vinyl around the edges. I going home this afternoon and taking down the jig I used to hold it in place overnight. I'm hopeful its up there for good

[HO455]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Just like steel wool liquid nails has no business in your garage .

Hijack alert!
I'm curious as to your dislike of steel wool?

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by HO455

Hijack alert!
I'm curious as to your dislike of steel wool?

Steel wool accelerates the rusting process ,Micro filaments of raw bare steel embed themselves into the chrome or any surface your cleaning . Bronze wool doesn't do that and bronze wool works just as good and is self lubricating . and doesn't ever rust . try it you'll never use steel wool again . you'll see it used in fine cabinetry refinishing and the marine environment . Buy it from Lowe's / Homedepot / Amazon

[Dieselwrencher]

I used 3M spray adhesive on my Longhorn headliner and it came down with in 3 months. It's been that way since. I didn't want to ruin the trim taking it back down.

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

I used 3M spray adhesive on my Longhorn headliner and it came down with in 3 months. It's been that way since. I didn't want to ruin the trim taking it back down.

That is exactly what I used---twice--- stuff was crap.

I'm kinda liking the silicone idea, plus it will give me a little time to move it around and get it exactly where I want it. I really want to get this truck wrapped up this year. Trying to thin the herd so-to-speak. Calif is killing me on registration fees and insurance. Gonna thin it down to this truck (69 flatbed dually) my 91 'burb and my 87 toyota 4cy pu. Will eventually sell both my 68s (even though that is my favorite year)

[dz1087]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

I used 3M spray adhesive on my Longhorn headliner and it came down with in 3 months. It's been that way since. I didn't want to ruin the trim taking it back down.

Same exact thing here. Been that way for about a year now. Of course, the headliner was also that way for about 20 years before I broke the old trim trying to get it off to repaint the interior. Don't want to break that trim again.

[YellowK5]

Plus one to silicon...Best way to go

[YellowK5]

With Silicon if you want to avoid the stink get some at the fish tank/pet store. almost no bad smell..

[mkmc69]

Originally Posted by YellowK5

With Silicon if you want to avoid the stink get some at the fish tank/pet store. almost no bad smell..

Good idea. But I think I would rather smell the silicone

[StingRay]

Originally Posted by YellowK5

With Silicon if you want to avoid the stink get some at the fish tank/pet store. almost no bad smell..

Silicones are not all the same. Cheap silicone is acetoxy as in acetic acid or basically vinegar cure. Neutral cure silicones are methoxy. Not only are they not offensive in odour but they are not corrosive like acetoxy can be. Personally I'd go with a urethane or MS polymer myself. Silicones come with a load of issues they can cause down the road.

[YellowK5]

Originally Posted by StingRay

Silicones are not all the same. Cheap silicone is acetoxy as in acetic acid or basically vinegar cure. Neutral cure silicones are methoxy. Not only are they not offensive in odour but they are not corrosive like acetoxy can be. Personally I'd go with a urethane or MS polymer myself. Silicones come with a load of issues they can cause down the road.

Exactly why I recommend fish tank store..one way to know for sure its non toxic..I know what to look for but that is the easy way

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by YellowK5

Exactly why I recommend fish tank store..one way to know for sure its non toxic..I know what to look for but that is the easy way

I promise , I won't let my fish anywhere near the headliner in the truck !

[FL71C10]

So just clear silicone caulk, like bathtub caulk?

[YellowK5]

Try to find GE pure silicone But any of the silicone caulk will work.

[NorCalC20LWB]

I have put two new headliners on mine, one before paint, then one after paint. Tore up the first one pretty good pulling it off again for painting the interior, so bought another.

Put me in the category of putting it up there for good, what a PITA it was installing the plastic trim. So, for that reason I put the last one up with Gorilla Glue, permanent fix.