There are a couple of things that most people don't want to do to their cars, such as transmission rebuild, paint and body. Surely towards the top of this list is the headliner, as there's some myth that it is the one of the most difficult job in any restoration. Now, granted, it is difficult, but not impossible for someone at home to tackle themselves. There's really no special tools needed or any classroom-learned skilled necessary--although experience certainly is on the side of Octavio Gutierrez, owner of Octavio's Kustom 1 Upholstery shop in Orange, Calif., a secret source of not only great custom and classic interiors but for overall restorations. For an example of his work, check out the feature of Santos Lagunas's 1963 23-Window Bus we showed you in the November 2003 issue of this magazine. Truly remarkable talent.
Based on this, it was logical to take our Super Beetle (part of this magazine's Super Project '71) to Octavio and have him show us how to install a headliner. This procedure shouldn't be taken lightly; though it is possible to do it yourself, it isn't easy, as it takes skill, experience and know-how. But, don't worry, we'll show you how it is done.
Tools necessary for this job is a pair of sharp scissors, a heat gun (a strong hair dryer will help), razor blade and upholstery adhesive. Start by laying out the large headliner in the sun for a couple of hours, as this is one job that is better done on a hot day to keep the vinyl malleable. There are a multitude of options for a headliner, from leather and vinyl to wool and cloth, but we chose a stock standby TMI headliner from BFY Obsolete Parts. Another step you should consider is to sound proof the top if you plan on ever getting caught in the rain. Two sheets of sound deadening material such as Dynamat will do the trick in keeping out a lot of Mother Nature's noise. Like a Band-Aide, these have a film that pulls away exposing the adhesive side.
Conclusion:
Like we said above, it isn't easy, there's a lot of steps, but it isn't impossible either. There is a certain anxiety one feels whenever glue is applied to anything, feeling as though you'd better hurry before the glue dries and then you'll be out of luck getting it to stick. Well, that just isn't so with upholstery glue as its tackiness depends on heat and time. Sure it will set up after a few hours, but for 30 minutes or so, it is free to work with. By taking your time and proceeding thoughtfully, you will have a professional looking headliner to be proud of. However, if you still think this is out of your range of possibilities, call Octavio. He'll be glad to do it for you.