Now THAT was easier than I thought...

RJM62

RJM62

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Jun 15, 2007
Messages
13,157
Location
Upstate New York
Display Name
Display name:
Geek on the Hill
I replaced the headliner in my new old car. The previous owner had torn it down because it had separated from the substrate in some places.

Being cheap, I decided to do it myself; and being cheaper yet, I used a $14.99 "micro-fleece" blanket from Target as the fabric, and attached it using a heavy-duty aerosol adhesive (cough, gag, wheeze, "say, why is the whole world spinning?").

Considering that I had no idea what I was doing, I'm pretty satisfied with the outcome. I got lazy with the visors, though, and only attached the fabric to one side, so I'll probably re-do them.

I saved myself about $210.00 on this deal.

-Rich
 

Attachments

  • DSCF3117.JPG
    DSCF3117.JPG
    209.3 KB · Views: 64
  • DSCF3118.JPG
    DSCF3118.JPG
    229.6 KB · Views: 57
Okay... well, I guess if I'm in a burning car long enough to worry about that, I'll have other things to worry about as well.

-Rich
 
RJM62 said:
Okay... well, I guess if I'm in a burning car long enough to worry about that, I'll have other things to worry about as well.

-Rich
Click to expand...

It couldn't be any worse flammability-wise than the fake fur, fringe and shag people were putting in their vans in the '70s...
 
dmccormack said:
Burnt to a crisp!
Click to expand...

Figuratively or literally?

spicoli.jpg
 
RJM62 said:
Okay... well, I guess if I'm in a burning car long enough to worry about that, I'll have other things to worry about as well.

-Rich
Click to expand...
Right. The flames usually start from the bottom and work their way up. So if you must have a fiery crash, be sure to come to rest wheels-down. :D
 
Trapper John said:
It couldn't be any worse flammability-wise than the fake fur, fringe and shag people were putting in their vans in the '70s...
Click to expand...

I tried to light some of the leftover material just now, and I couldn't get it to ignite. It kinda melts and shrivels, sort of. Didn't try sniffing for fumes, though; I'm still recovering from the glue.

-Rich
 
rottydaddy said:
Right. The flames usually start from the bottom and work their way up. So if you must have a fiery crash, be sure to come to rest wheels-down. :D
Click to expand...

Thank you. I'll try to remember that if the event transpires... God forbid...

-Rich
 
You know, the streetcorner upholsterer was going to charge me $200.00 plus materials. If they're all as easy as this one was, maybe I should set up shop... now that I kinda have some vague idea how it's done.

-Rich
 
I did that job once in an old Cadillac I owned. Halfway thru I was wishing I could turn the car upside down and set it on it's roof for awhile.

That, and tinting windows are two things I will leave to the pros from now on.
 
Mason said:
I did that job once in an old Cadillac I owned. Halfway thru I was wishing I could turn the car upside down and set it on it's roof for awhile.

That, and tinting windows are two things I will leave to the pros from now on.
Click to expand...

The pros just pull the headliner shell out of the car; use a wire brush on a drill to scuff off the old material and prepare the substrate for the glue; apply the glue and roll eth fabric on with a rubber roller.

Ba Da Bing!

---

Nice job, Rich!
 
SCCutler said:
The pros just pull the headliner shell out of the car; use a wire brush on a drill to scuff off the old material and prepare the substrate for the glue; apply the glue and roll eth fabric on with a rubber roller.

Ba Da Bing!

---

Nice job, Rich!
Click to expand...

Thanks. That's basically what I did, except I used my palm instead of the roller. I was tempted to pay the streetcorner upholsterer to do it, but I decided it would make a nice project.

For the benefit of those who don't know what a "streetcorner upholsterer" is, in New York City, there are certain streets (usually in not-so-great ineighborhoods) where craftsmen ply their trades (semi-legally, at best) on the sidewalk. Car mechanics are the most common, but if you look around you can find all sorts of tradesmen.

Technically, none of this is legal, but the city looks the other way for the most part. It's something that's been going on for generations, and I guess they figure it's part of the fabric of the city.

-Rich
 
RJM62 said:
Thanks.

Aren't blankets supposed to be flame-retardant?

Or maybe that was just pajamas...

-Rich
Click to expand...

No, actually, they aren't. All that "Micro fleece, Polar Fleece... whatever synthetic fleece" is all made out of recycled milk jugs and burns readily, and when it does, it will rain flaming hot globs of molten plastic on you and whomever happens to be beneath it.
 
Henning said:
No, actually, they aren't. All that "Micro fleece, Polar Fleece... whatever synthetic fleece" is all made out of recycled milk jugs and burns readily, and when it does, it will rain flaming hot globs of molten plastic on you and whomever happens to be beneath it.
Click to expand...

That's comforting...

I couldn't get the stuff to ignite with a match. Maybe it was treated somehow. I imagine with higher temps it would ignite, like with burning gasoline... but then I would have other things to worry about.

-Rich
 
RJM62 said:
That's comforting...

I couldn't get the stuff to ignite with a match. Maybe it was treated somehow. I imagine with higher temps it would ignite, like with burning gasoline... but then I would have other things to worry about.

-Rich
Click to expand...

The only real concern is your dome light, because you glued the stuff up with really flammable crap. If the domelight shorts you could set the rig on fire, but that doesn't hold high likely hood. I have seen ashtray fires get stupid before though.... It's not a major worry, but if you do have a fire go, just get out and let the car burn.
 
Henning said:
The only real concern is your dome light, because you glued the stuff up with really flammable crap. If the domelight shorts you could set the rig on fire, but that doesn't hold high likely hood. I have seen ashtray fires get stupid before though.... It's not a major worry, but if you do have a fire go, just get out and let the car burn.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Good advice.

-Rich
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top