Headliner or Headliner Material?

[NO 5 OH]

I just recently bought a bone stock 86 SVO with 33,000 miles on the odometer. Overall the car is in great shape, but needs a little TLC. One of the things I'm in need of is a new headliner, as mine is coming down pretty much all over. I've went to several area trim shops and they tell me they can no longer get the material I would need, which is the vinyl type material found on all sunroof cars. Does anyone know where I might be able to get a headliner or the material for a sunroof car... or will I have to resort to putting in a non original cloth headliner in it? I appreciate everyone's help in advance!

TIA

[SVOPaul]

Unfortunately at this point in the game, you are going to have to go with a non-original cloth replacement headliner. The vinyl material is no longer available....I had to do the same thing on my SVO...

The problem is that the vinyl material shrinks with age and the glue deteriorates...so re-using the original material that fell down and having it look right is just about impossible.

[richsvo]

Yep, that's true...nearly impossible. Mine is in the same condition. I thought that maybe a fabric store might have something at least similar, but haven't found anything yet. Haven't looked that hard either! You might want to give that a try!

[NO 5 OH]

Thanks for the information guys... I was thinking that it was gonna be a futile attempt at finding the material, but I knew if I wanted to know for sure this was the place to ask I was hoping someone would reply to my querry... me being a new guy here and all

Paul, I've cruised through your website many times, and there are a few other parts that I need that I thought I'd ask you about. Eventually I'm gonna replace the headlights, inner marker lights, tail lamps and the body mouldings on the sides of the car. I was lucky that everything was on my car when I got it... but the exterior needs a little TLC. If you can help me out on some info about any of the above I appreciate it very much.

[SVOPaul]

Unfortunately all the lights are obsolete, I do have a few RH headlights left and I just put a pair of inner markers on Ebay but that's about it. I have had a few discussions with others in the parts vendor world about reproducing lights...I can tell you that a bumper cover is in the works but no lights as of yet(I am pushing for it though). Body side mouldings can be found used(I am pretty sure I have some) or you can use a very similar replacement from the auto parts store.

[svojoe]

Headliner fabric

I replaced mine on my '86 - I took the old one out, peeled off what I could, then used a wire brush to get off the remaining foam and glue off the pressboard. Then got some high temp spray glue (made just for headliner repair from a automotive company off the internet - I can't recall the name, just do a search on headliner fabric) and got the new headliner fabric from Joan Fabric of all places (wife found it). It was a very close match grey with the 1/8" foam backing stuck to it already. Just sprayed both surfaces, applied and wa-la - new headliner (also used the same material to re-do the visors)... Hoped this gave an idea or two...

[richsvo]

SvoJoe,

Are you saying that you found material similar enough at "JoAnne Fabrics"? I have been there several times looking myself...maybe different stores carry different material?
Please advise, as I would love to not have to look for this stuff anymore! I don't want to go to the cloth, because as you know, that's like riding in a 5.0! I like the fact that the SVO's headliner is different!
Let me know if this is right, if so I will ask JoAnne's to search other stores. If I find it, I will post info here!
Thanks a bunch!

[SVOPaul]

JoAnne's fabric carries a similar cloth material...not the vinyl. SVOs came with cloth in the non-sunroof cars and vinyl in the sunroof cars.

[indiana dave]

Try a boat repair shop for the vinyl.

That's all they use.
Oh, and beware of cheap prices at the top & trim shops... I paid 100 bucks for a new headliner, and it lasted maybe 1 summer and the shop closed, so my lifetime waranty was no good!

[svobud]

um....I paid $25 for my 'replacement" headliner and it still looks as new as it did 3 years ago.

[madadder]

Well Im just glad to finally see on one of these boards that they really are different. I had my nose tweeked by a guy yesterday who said they were the same as all other stangs. I too am looking for a headliner. Mine was in mint shape till is started sagging two years ago. At least now I have a lead.

I know there is a headliner in the junk yard two miles away from me. The SVO has a sunroof but I'm not sure if it was factory its also fallen. The car has been down there about 4 years and I am not sure what shape it is in. Mine is not a sunroof car,but it had the vinyl.

[GT350R]

Not much help, but all of the Capri's I have seen in the junk yards have had the vinyal headliner. Its a shot in the dark , but mabey you could find a nice one.