The Lotus Grand Tourers

The thing that surprised me when I removed the rear section from the roof was....

The foam was still glued to the roof. It was the coloured covering that had seperated from the foam. It looked like a hammock in the end.[/quote]

This is typical of flame bonded Nylon, the glue used in the first place is still doing its job but unfortunately as in most cases the flame bonding has 'let go'. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do with it either, it has to come out, roof cleaned and new headlining material in.

Is it not possible to lighty glue the material back on to the foam?

Mine is only sagging slightly (at the moment) and I was hoping it would be easy to remove the B and C pillar trims (which won't need recovering) pull back the material, apply the adhesive and stick back up.

If I went and replaced lining (with the Woolies Brushed Nylon I guess?) then I would have to do the lot to get a match and that seems a bit excessive for a slightly sagging headlining.

The reason that your headlining as 'let go' is the foam has degraded. It will now be very soft and sticky and as soon as you put any pressure on it ie, a glue brush, the foam will ball up and compress giving you a very uneven surface, a very messed up glue brush and a situation worse than it was when you started.
Wherever you buy your Headlining material from beit Woolies, us (N Fulcher Coachtrimmers 01603811993) or other reputable trimmers make sure the material has not been folded, the creases will stand out like a sore thumb once you get the headlining up.

Regards

Steve.

Wingnut wrote:Mine is only sagging slightly (at the moment) and I was hoping it would be easy to remove the B and C pillar trims (which won't need recovering) pull back the material, apply the adhesive and stick back up.

If it's anything like my car, once it starts to go, the whole lot goes within a year! There I was, wondering why everyone was talking about saggy headlinings .. and then ...

Oh well, never mind, should be fun doing it anyhow

Anybody know how much of a match this http://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/pc-1361-9 ... ining.aspx would be to avoid doing the trim panels?

Fulch, if you can help out with product do you wanna PM me? Cheers.

This is the one I'm using.

http://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/pc-1359-9 ... ining.aspx

Hope to get it finished this weekend.

Thinking about replacing the headlining, is probably more difficult than actually doing it.

The good thing about Lotus, is that these cars were designed to be built and put together by hand, so anyone can do reasonable job.
And with a little care it can look better.

I had stupid bits of foam trim stuck over joins, and with only a small amount of persuasion, I avoided having the sew joins on the front moulding. If I could figure out how to upload direct, I could show you, but the Company spyware, stops me accessing any photo/social sites.

There's an old thread somewhere on how I did it.

Keep an eye out, the person who did it will probably have put his name on the back!!


Terry

Here is a good 'How to' by Chris Wright:

http://www.benani.co.uk/articles/headlining.html

There are a lot of different colours of headlining used in Excels to match the rest of the trim. If you ask Woolies or other providers, they will gladly send you samples in different colours and fabrics to check the match with existing trim and the texture. Some of the newer linings are quilted, meaning that you don't depend on the foam to keep it up. Having said that, the foam in new materials is probably easily good for 20 years. Cheers, Chris

It's going back in....

Only the sunroof to do now.

Looks very nice indeed....... how's the head?

chrisw2811 wrote:....... how's the head?

Was feeling quite dizzy at times....

I spoke to a guy from Woolies at the Classic car show last Saturday. He gave me a sample that looks a good match for my beige interior and a brochure. Part no 285a

http://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/p-1361-br ... ining.aspx

If anyone need beige ask for a sample of the above to be sent to you and check it out,

Cheers,
Phil

Its's done........













The hardest part turn out to be what I'd thought would be the easiest

The sunroof
It took two goes and lots of swearing.

Where it laps round overthe screws and then the rubber trim pushes in was glued. I've dry jointed which means I can remove the sunroof, should I need to, without damaging the headlining.

The sunroof to roof has plenty of guttering sealant in. This does not dry hard but remains flexible. Should be no more leaks there then.


Now it's back to driving for a few weeks.

It stood in a rainy wet works car park all day today.

Still dry inside so the sunroof has sealed OK.