targa top headliner repair

Goof off or MEK to remove old sticky adhesive... Use 3M 77 adhesive spray to reattach the headliner.

Good luck

 

I tend to use naphtha for such projects - it's strong enough to remove the adhesive but is mild enough not to damage anything. MEK and goof off are excellent but can both damage plastics which may or may not be an issue in this case, I don't know. If you use them, be sure to try a bit of the stuff on an unseen corner of the headliner material to be sure there is no harm/discoloration to the headliner fabric.

Be sure to get all the adhesive off in places where the liner has fallen. Adhesives generally do not adhere well to previously applied adhesives (other than hot hide glue applied to previous hide glue but that's certainly NOT the adhesive for this application! )

 

FYI...

3M 77 is not meant for headliners. It will let go if the interior gets hot.
3M 08090 / 8090 is designed for headliners and landau tops. It is available at auto parts stores and upholstery stores. Test effect on old fabric first before full use.

Best...

 

Any tips or insights on how to take apart the headliner? On mine, the panel over the drivers seat is sagging and I've been trying to figure out how to safely remove just that section, if possible, and fix it.

 

I assume you'e working on a GTS?

There are about 9 components that make up the headiner (not including the targa roof itself), and in order to remove to roof section above your head nearly all of the parts need to be removed first. It is easy with some patience... as I remember it it went something like this...
1. Remove B pillar covers
2. Remove side quarter windows, seals and all.
3. Remove heat shield for bulk head - same bolts as hold fuel line tubes
4. Remove nuts for vertical sloped fiberglass piece under window from engine bay (3 of them I think)
5. Remove nut from small center strap on flat shelf section from engine bay as well
6. Drill out rivets holding shelf pieces in side window frame area
6. Carefully remove parts, center strap, left & right shelf section (might be nuts here as well), vertical piece under window
7. Remove small squarish pieces at end of window
8. Remove upper headliner
9. Done

Install is basically the reverse

I'm sure I've left out a few details and whre all the nuts, bolts, and rivets are but they are pretty self evident once you start the job.

Use the cord-in-the-seal technique to re-install the side windows, makes installing a breeze.

Good Luck!!!

 

Thanks for the summary - very helpful as I'm tentatively planning to remove all those pieces and have then re-covered sometime, hopefully soon. In the meantime, I was wondering about the targa top itself, which is sagging on the drivers side. The sagging section looks like a panel set within a frame, but it's hard to tell what's going on and I don't want to just start tugging on it..

Also, what is the cord in the seal technique?

thanks!