Thread: Bought a 1997 Tdi today

Welcome to the forum Dave. Good luck with the tidy up. Plenty of advice and ideas here.
Don.

You've come to the right place.
Learn how to use the search function bottom left of page.
There is a wealth of information in here on the D1's....but ask away.

G'daye Dave.
FWIW, two piece relined headliner cost me about $350 cash. Really good local mob, close to original colour. Quoted much less if I did the removal and scraping off and dissolving the horrible glue stuff left from the old liner. So I took 'em out (fiddley, but easy), but was happy to pay them good $ to prep.
The heat in the roof space I think is the main reason these things let go, so line the ceiling with aircell/foil purpose-built insulation (aircell up) while you're at it.

Aother tip I reckon is to run a few spare wires front to back through the roof while you've got it out - heavy twin power wires from battery down to cargo wing area/s, and lighting/signal wires (eg simple trailer wire) from under RH dash area to cargo wing area/s via centre lighting spots - makes it easy to add interior, exterior, reverse, auxilliary lighting and power.
Cheers.

Originally Posted by DrDeath

G'daye Dave.
FWIW, two piece relined headliner cost me about $350 cash. Really good local mob, close to original colour. Quoted much less if I did the removal and scraping off and dissolving the horrible glue stuff left from the old liner. So I took 'em out (fiddley, but easy), but was happy to pay them good $ to prep.
The heat in the roof space I think is the main reason these things let go, so line the ceiling with aircell/foil purpose-built insulation (aircell up) while you're at it.

Aother tip I reckon is to run a few spare wires front to back through the roof while you've got it out - heavy twin power wires from battery down to cargo wing area/s, and lighting/signal wires (eg simple trailer wire) from under RH dash area to cargo wing area/s via centre lighting spots - makes it easy to add interior, exterior, reverse, auxilliary lighting and power.
Cheers.

You must have been reading my mind as I have just been searching the forum for this information. I contacted a local headlining place and they say they don't 'do' Disco's so I'm guessing it's a fiddly business. I noticed the headliners are available for $300 odd delivered from America but, from the posts that I have seen on here I recon I will try the doityourself route and use non standard roof liner.

I love your idea about foil and extra cabling through the roof, thank you!

Thanks also to Don and Edddo for your welcomes to this forum - I know I'm going to like it here and I look forward to contributing.

Dave

Originally Posted by SoCalDon

I contacted a local headlining place and they say they don't 'do' Disco's so I'm guessing it's a fiddly business. I noticed the headliners are available for $300 odd delivered from America but, from the posts that I have seen on here I recon I will try the doityourself route and use non standard roof liner.
Dave

Thanks Dave.
New one may have the same problems: the fabric shrinks and the glue lets go.
Only difference with the Disco's as far as I can tell is they're a bit fiddly to get 'em out.
Base material's the same as any other (? compressed, plasticized, cardboardy stuff from memory).
Maybe the local mob feel a bit daunted that Sir (thx Tony) Prince Phil used to drive 'em round the Estate ?
DYI would be my pref if your local mob's a bit useless.
Just make sure you scrape and dissolve the ghastly glue stuff off properly, and choose a non-shrinking fabric (mine's a beaut coarser, furrier 'Velcro' sorta stuff, straight outta their standard stock) and the right new glue (I'll ask my mob what they use if you like).
Love to hear the outcome.
Cheers mate.

Originally Posted by DrDeath

Thanks Dave.
New one may have the same problems: the fabric shrinks and the glue lets go.
Only difference with the Disco's as far as I can tell is they're a bit fiddly to get 'em out.
Base material's the same as any other (? compressed, plasticized, cardboardy stuff from memory).
Maybe the local mob feel a bit daunted that Sir (thx Tony) Prince Phil used to drive 'em round the Estate ?
DYI would be my pref if your local mob's a bit useless.
Just make sure you scrape and dissolve the ghastly glue stuff off properly, and choose a non-shrinking fabric (mine's a beaut coarser, furrier 'Velcro' sorta stuff, straight outta their standard stock) and the right new glue (I'll ask my mob what they use if you like).
Love to hear the outcome.
Cheers mate.

It's easy to DIY with paint as well, looks great, is far easier and less fumes, and it is not dependent on how thermally stable your glue is (I don't think it will even peel). You need a couple of primer coats, but the top coat can either be textured acrylic, or if you want to get fancy, kiwigrip acrylic antislip.

There is a how-to in the relevant section.

It took me about 4 hours actual work time.

Damien

Originally Posted by damienb

It's easy to DIY with paint as well, looks great, is far easier...

There is a how-to in the relevant section.

Damien

That's an interesting idea, thanks Damien. Could you point me in the right direction for the how-to please - can't find it

Thank you to everyone for your suggestions, I really do appreciate it.

Dave

Here it is - Sagging head liner repair - Painting the board

Some purists scoff at a painted headliner, but they've never needed to clean caramel slice out of the carpet smeared there by a 5 year old.