A headliner catastrophe

[oshima]

I was humming along the interstate yesterday with the windows open, being very excited about my engine’s newfound efficiency after intake manifold replacements (from 380deg on cylinder 3 at 60mph to 275deg) when suddenly a HUGE gust of wind blew in. I don’t have a rear window in the vehicle (for reasons that will quickly become apparent, don’t do this if you have your windows open), so a huge volume of air went into the bus, got up under my mint-condition OG headliner, and very unceremoniously yanked it down with a BANG!

Aside from going through the stages of grief, I was quite terrified (and couldn’t see very well). I managed to very carefully remove the glue around the windowsills and disconnect the headliner without too much damage. I put the rods back into their channels and got everything back to the way it was.

Now I need to glue the headliner back into the windowsills, and patch a couple of places that ripped when I was removing it (ugh).


So two questions: 1. What is some good glue to use to hold the edges of the headliner in place in the windowsills, and 2. What is the best way to patch some small tears in the headliner?

[vwwestyman]

Holy moly, that would be startling for sure!

I'm interested in the info for patching, because the OG headliner in my '73 has some tears. That said, I'm afraid that over the years it has shrunk a little and is brittle so I don't have a lot of hope for patching mine.

What is your Bus model? Sounds like a passenger bus with cloth headliner?
_________________
Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing

[oshima]

It’s the passenger model with the vinyl headliner. I really want to keep it in good condition because it’s so rare to have them doing as well as mine is.

[skills@eurocarsplus]

I hate to tell you, but you're not gluing anything and expecting it to look good is just not going to happen.

the headliner is glued then TUCKED under the windows where it's glued onto the pinch weld. only way to do it proper is to remove the windows. I am willing to bet it's torn to shit where it went under the seals. it is usually brittle where it gets tucked
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[oshima]

Fortunately, I have new seals in hand and have removed the windows already. The headliner under the windows was actually salvagable for the most part! I picked up some shoe glue and clamps and I’m going for it. Will report results later.

[Shaggysix9]

Nooooo......
Go to an upholstery shop and buy a little cup of weldwood contact adhesive... brush a little on each surface...
Let dry a bit and put the headliner back in place...

[Amskeptic]

[raygreenwood]