8 replies to this topic

[wile e coyote]

How do folk.... after some suggestions as to how to remove the now 40 year old glue leach left by the factory - that with the passages of time has gone from an off browny yellow which I could just about ignore to dark brown patches which are now doing my head in especially as the principal "patch" is around the rear view mirror mount.....

 

The headliner is the creamy white late 70's one with thousands of uniform holes and is otherwise in pristine and still pliable condition so I'm after some experience driven ways of removing the mess.......my starter for ten is dilute acetone - nail varnish remover... which I may give a whirl in a subtle out of the way place...... but if anyone else has a better idea that guaranteed won't cause damage I'm all ears...

 

Before anyone pipes up - I'm not concerned with lessening the hold of the glue used - after such a time I really don't think it does much in a built car!

 

Many thanks....

[colinf1]

I'd try a magic sponge first off, acetone or nail varnish remover may melt the vinyl.

 

https://www.tesco.ie...ducts/281512569

[stuart bowes]

depending how widely spread 'around' the rear view mirror mount.. make a small neat plastic / painted metal / 3d printed surround-base kind of piece that covers up the messy bit ?

 

doesn't solve the problems elsewhere obviously but if that's the most annoying bit it's a good start 

Edited by stuart bowes, 07 September 2023 - 02:07 PM.

[Ethel]

Had similar that turned out to be from bitumen anti drumming sheets stuck, or rather not, to the roof skin.

[mab01uk]

I remember a friend of mine bought a brand new Russet Brown Mini 1000 in the late 1970's and it had glue stains on the headlining when delivered......the BL Dealer told him not to worry they would fade over time but of course they never did.

[wile e coyote]

Thanks Colin & Ethel  - never considered it'd be bitumen - but makes perfect sense......guess I'm off to Tesco - will have a go with the magic sponge wotsit and report back - my main concern is not to be in any way destructive as the prospect of ruining it and needing to fit a new headliner gives me nightmares - a job done once for someone else - and never again... never known so much faffing about as that particular job needs and managed to break a brand new screen in the process!!!

....besides in throes of divorce a few years back my ex thought it'd pi** me off to splatter impact adhesive all over the interior - she was right it did.... so have over years kept the car in a very very hot garage and very very gently removed the glue - thanks to heatwave now down to last tiny traces....the headliner being the worst of the job!!! so ruining it now would be a crushing defeat!

[wile e coyote]

A quick conclusion  - the leaching was indeed bitumen and solution to removal was the cheapest poundland special acetone based nail polish remover  - to ensure concentration & potential hazard to headliner was low! -  repeated gentle wiping over a few minutes took the horrible residue 95% off....what remains is inside the pierced holes.....I'm ok with that!

 

The Magic sponge did a bit though although not half as effectively but was a good call as a safe option to start with - now pressed into use in the kitchen

[sonikk4]

A quick conclusion  - the leaching was indeed bitumen and solution to removal was the cheapest poundland special acetone based nail polish remover  - to ensure concentration & potential hazard to headliner was low! -  repeated gentle wiping over a few minutes took the horrible residue 95% off....what remains is inside the pierced holes.....I'm ok with that!
 
The Magic sponge did a bit though although not half as effectively but was a good call as a safe option to start with - now pressed into use in the kitchen

If the headlining is still up you will fight a loosing battle cleaning it as the bitumen will have drooped. Plus the age of the lining means it will be quite brittle and easily damaged. I cleaned all of the bitumen off and will use sound deadening liner instead.

I had this issue with Paddy and he is a 74 clubby. The lining tore very easily and so it’s in the bin now.

[wile e coyote]

Thx - certainty of more in future but somehow the liner has remained - although dirty in very good pliable order - my car is very fortunate to have been garaged it's entire life - it's only now at the tender age of 43 that the old thing needs any welding at all  - and that's mainly pre-emptive - and a bit of paintwork... less fortunately as garaged it's had the odd storage dink ..... 4 years since she last ran other than a monthly start and run up to keep things lubed and working -  the last week has been a load of no fun giving it some tlc - getting the electrics reliably working and the fuel system cleaned out has been a particular pain in the rear....got to love historic status a quick day's insurance and I've had some fun.....