Question: T-Top Inner Liner

[Vette79]

I had a problem with my passenger side T-Top Latch and decided to remove the inner liner to get a better look. It was very hard removing the inner liner and after removing it it was obvious this was the first time it has ever been removed. There was glue in between all the black round T-Top Fastners. Half of the fastners that were attached to the inner liner came off. And most of the fastners have this really hard 30 yr old glue still on them. Before I move forward with trying to clean them up and hopefully repair the damage, does it make more sense to just buy new fastners and inner liners? The inner liners are way expensive at $200 a piece. Anyone have any idea how to reattach the metal piece to the inner liners? What is the inner liner made of? I actually did the drivers side to...:eyerole

 

[76okievette]

The ones on my 76 are a dense foam material coved in vinyl. Mine just snapped off they are held on with a velcro type fasterners. I cleaned mine up with general purpose adhesive remover and painted them with vinyl paint and they look great. I did not use new fasteners just cleaned up the old ones.
Sounds like someone glued yours on which may cause you problems, I don't believe there was supposed to be any glue used at least not on the 76 model.

 

[Vette79]

The ones on my 76 are a dense foam material coved in vinyl. Mine just snapped off they are held on with a velcro type fasterners. I cleaned mine up with general purpose adhesive remover and painted them with vinyl paint and they look great. I did not use new fasteners just cleaned up the old ones.
Sounds like someone glued yours on which may cause you problems, I don't believe there was supposed to be any glue used at least not on the 76 model.

No way it's ever been apart. There's no foam here. It's like a mix between wood and cardboard. I guess I'll try cleaning off the glue off the fasteners and re-attaching the fasteners. Are the the screws on each side on the insert used at all?

 

[Phill]

they do make a cheaper version of the liners that run around $195 a pair. there made of black ABS plastic(Corvette T-Top Headliners, Replacement, 1978-1982).

 

[Vette79]

they do make a cheaper version of the liners that run around $195 a pair. there made of black ABS plastic(Corvette T-Top Headliners, Replacement, 1978-1982).

WOW, those are something ugly....I'm going to see what I can do with what I have first....

 

[Vette79]

The ones on my 76 are a dense foam material coved in vinyl. Mine just snapped off they are held on with a velcro type fasterners. I cleaned mine up with general purpose adhesive remover and painted them with vinyl paint and they look great. I did not use new fasteners just cleaned up the old ones.
Sounds like someone glued yours on which may cause you problems, I don't believe there was supposed to be any glue used at least not on the 76 model.

Mine look like this:

 

[76okievette]

Mine look like this:

Yours are a lot different then mine, I do not have those metal parts that the fasterners are hooked to, mine attach directly to the liner, but it seems like you should be able to get them cleaned up ok and repainted. I use general purpose adheisve remover to clean up the glue and lacqure thinner to clean off the painted parts. I then repainted them to match the rest of the interior using spray paint that is made to paint vinyl, I can get the name of the paint if you need it.

 

[Vette79]

Any ideas on what to use to remove this old petrified glue from the pads?

 

[Larry G]

The metal brackets are glued to the pressboard liners. Any two part epoxy should do. The plastic velco pads on mine were glue to. They must start falling down. I replaced my pads and pop rivet the new ones on. I had to drill the pads and metal brackets a little larger for the rivets I had. Worked great once complete. You are right about the cost of the pads being high but cleaning the old ones would have been impossible. Good Luck

 

[Vette79]

I tried some lacquer thinner today with a wire brush and that glue will still not budge! I will purchase some new pads for the t-top's but it looks like I will really have to work at removing the old glue from the brackets. I should have left well enough alone....

 

[76okievette]

I have used a producted call "General Purpose Adheisve Remover" I get it a the local hardware store "Ace Hardware" but I know Home Depot also sells it. It works pretty good but not 100%, hope it helps.

 

[Dream Ride]

The plastic velcro looking round tabs unscrew and you can buy new ones for pretty cheap.

 

[Vette79]

The plastic velcro looking round tabs unscrew and you can buy new ones for pretty cheap.

Yep, bought some new tabs for the t-tops. Very easy to replace. The liners are a different story. I'll just have to spend a lot of time cleaning them and reattaching some of the brackets back on the liner. I have a lot going on with the vette so this project will be on hold for a few weeks.

 

[Evolution1980]

Any ideas on what to use to remove this old petrified glue from the pads?

Any way of carefully using a dremel and some type of sander/buffing pad/wire wheel?

 

[Vette79]

Any way of carefully using a dremel and some type of sander/buffing pad/wire wheel?

If I'm having a hard time with Lacquer Thinner and a wire brush I'm not sure if anything else would be any better EVO. This definitely will be a task. To bad those pads on the liner are not removeable like the ones on the t-tops. I could drill them out and have them reattached with the right screw and nut combination or riveted back on?

 

[Evolution1980]

If I'm having a hard time with Lacquer Thinner and a wire brush I'm not sure if anything else would be any better EVO.

I'm essentially talking about grinding off the glue with power tools and not trying to get rid of it solely with chemicals & elbow grease. That's why I emphasized the "carefully" part. Basically, take a die grinder or sanding wheel and carefully reduce the glue until it's flush with the liner surface. You don't necessarily need to remove all traces of the glue, just get it flush enough to give you a fresher/flatter/cleaner surface to work with.
...if I'm understanding what exactly you are trying to do. (Your pics aren't coming up at work here, so I'm giving somewhat blind advice. )

 

[mkapp7879]

Do the connectors you already bought for the top connect together? Maybe just use another set of them on the liner.
Mkapp(aka KapsSA)

 

[Vette79]

The connectors on the liner are riveted on. The glue is on the black round interlocking connectors preventing one connector interlocking with the other. Glue has to be removed with care not to interfere with the pad itself. I'll take another pic.

 

[Art Jett]

Mine had contact cement on them. I just used a pick and carefully worked the glue out a little at a time. It worked great!

 

[mkapp7879]

But can't you drill out the rivits on the liner 'velcro' pads and pop rivit a set of the top pads in their place?
Basically the same thing, aren't they?