vacuum bagging headliner

[135sohc]

Time to redo the headliner again... Backer board is all there and if I am super careful it could probably survive another round of removal and reinstallation maybe. But the wheels are turning inside and I have the idea what about a layer of fiberglass on either side to encapsulate and reinforce the board ? Sure there is the weight penalty but maybe if nothing else it might dampen the road noise slightly. For putting on the new fabric i really want to vacuum bag it so the fabric will suck down nice and tight into the corners.

questions, comments, ideas ?

[cordes]

I thought it would be cool to do a CF headliner, but didn't look into the idea more because I think it's a pretty big project considering I never look up. I'd love to hear more about this though.

[going4speed]

Fiberglass 2" wide in strips on the back makes a heck of a difference to board strength and retaining shape. I think if you put fiberglass on the inside it would show through as bumps through the headliner material. That is unless you fiberglass the whole thing but that would be serious work.

[GLHS60]

I saw one with paintable, spray on rubberized rockguard.

Comes in black or tan, or paint, seemed to hold up nicely and absorb noise.

Thanks
Randy

[bigbarneycars]

In my GT Scamp, I fiber glassed the whole backer board on the upper side, then went with 3/16" thick dense white foam sheeting and used my right angle 2" 80 grit sanding wheels to trim and taper all the upper edges. Then went with black rattlesnake vinyl headliner material and glued it down on the backer board with my favorite 3M spray rattle can glue. A little tough getting the side and windshield molding screws in but I'm way happy with the results. PITA YES, worth it YES. Do it once and it'll last longer then I will, and you'll be way happy with the result. BTW, If you do this, go to your local drug store and buy a couple hypodermic needles to suck out the trapped air bubbles between the backer board and the vinyl before you start the project, Jer

[ajakeski]

I've bonded steel rods to the board before. Rods similar to cloth headliner bows.

[contraption22]

I thought it would be cool to do a CF headliner, but didn't look into the idea more because I think it's a pretty big project considering I never look up. I'd love to hear more about this though.

But you're closer to the headlinder than we'll ever be.

[135sohc]

Fiberglass 2" wide in strips on the back makes a heck of a difference to board strength and retaining shape. I think if you put fiberglass on the inside it would show through as bumps through the headliner material. That is unless you fiberglass the whole thing but that would be serious work.

If fiberglassed I would do both sides 100% coverage. Liking the idea of vinyl :nod:

[cordes]

But you're closer to the headlinder than we'll ever be.

True. My head rubs it in some of the cars.