JBugs - 1971 VW Super Beetle - Headliner Installation

[@joshcosta423]

I've seen some beetle headliner videos on KZbin and I think all of those DIY'ers needed this video in their life before they put their wrinkle job on the internet! Great job Sam👍🏼

[@earlt_vw]

This scares me more than any other resto work. I have seen many bad installs. Your video is very helpful I will watch it about ten more times. Thanks!

[@Sam_Mebane]

It isn't so bad, especially the conversion styles. They aren't as inexpensive as they used to be, but even buying two isn't as bad as paying someone else to do the install. If you don't like the results of the first one, hopefully you've learned some tricks and the second one will be much better.

[@michaelnelson9140]

I’m not doing a headliner, but I did learn how some things are attached, that have come off.

[@DroidzandBrix]

I will say: if you manage to install a beetle headliner, be it an original style headliner, an easy install headliner, or a makeshift piece of carpet (as is my case) you’re probably the most patient person in your group

[@Sam_Mebane]

I'll agree with that! Although patience comes in many forms, I am patient with some things and not so much with others!

[@MarioMartinez-tb1lh]

Your videos have been a lot of help me and my son are rebuilding a 65 VW bug thank you and keep it up

[@clayton19931]

My first bug was an old cal look from the 80’s, it had a grey velour headliner that looked really good

[@Sam_Mebane]

Ah, the good old days when velour was as good as it got!

[@58Repairables]

That is an excellent video! I have a ‘71 Super and need to do this same thing this winter. I’ll be watching this a few times. Thank you!

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

Stop and think about it...VWs factories were literally pumping out thousands of Beetles per day and each one needed a headliner installed. The folks doing this on the assembly line must have been AMAZING at their jobs

[@Sam_Mebane]

We've thought that many a time! Then again, if your ONLY job was to install a headliner in a Beetle, I'd have to think you be pretty good at it too, it's all relative.

[@t2stu]

Thank you so much for this. Your video was perfectly paced for someone who hasn't done this before. Did my first headlining today. Not professional but I've seen worse so I'm happy.

[@Endfloat]

Fantastic video, thanks. I'm attempting this job myself and filming my progress. I mentioned your channel in my video.

[@Sam_Mebane]

I’ll take a look when I’m back in town. I’m out hanging with the snowbirds, vagabonds and van life folks in Quartzsite til Tuesday.

[@Endfloat]

@@Sam_Mebane the video isn't live yet. I'm not finished the job yet. Enjoy your break!

[@donalddenning2383]

Nice progress. Interesting color choice. Snap trim is a smart tool option tool.

[@mfeijo]

It looks awesome! Thanks! And what a tip on the snap trim!

[@farwestsidesti]

Graeat video for reference. I think it was on my phone for the entire day while installing ours! Vinyl was definitely not as nice to work with.

[@Sam_Mebane]

A heat gun is a necessity when working with a vinyl headliner, for sure.

[@GT.Bugger]

This video is great, I'm watching it over and over to build up the confidence to do it myself. Anyone know the exact same headlining they use here as I want the same!

[@Sam_Mebane]

It is a conversion style headliner from TMI as linked in the SHOW MORE above.

[@Sam_Mebane]

www.jbugs.com/search.html?q=20-1103

[@GT.Bugger]

@@Sam_Mebane but which material? Tweed? Valour and what colour? Issue is they won't ship outside of the US and I'd really like the same in my car.

[@Sam_Mebane]

@@GT.Bugger It's TMI's Uni-suede. You may try ordering it from them directly.

[@GT.Bugger]

@@Sam_Mebane what a legend, thank you. How do you know? Have you got the same?

[@lehuadefiesta7986]

do you have a video on rear carpet installation? want to see how you connected at the rear window.

[@Sam_Mebane]

It starts here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKLCiKyPr7ekhpo and gets finished here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWjdoY2mqbJkY7s

[@nathanhueser5774]

Excellent video!!

[@Sam_Mebane]

Glad you like it!

[@AndyLPK247]

This video is super helpful. Thanks so much!

[@chrisdavis21915]

great diy i have a 74 with a moon roof is it basically the same as this 71

[@Sam_Mebane]

If you're using a conversion style headliner, the installation is more or less the same, yes. The sunroof housing requires the use of headliner bow springs to hold the bows in place over the housing as the bows can tuck into the upper channel. The springs hook into the channel and drop down to give the bows a place to sit in. Otherwise, the install up to the point of cutting in the sunroof opening is the same. Once the headliner is completely installed, then the opening in the roof can be cut and glued into the roof. Then the sunroof cables and sliding roof panel can be installed. Finally the bottom "skeleton" panel can be covered and snapped into place on the bottom of the sliding sunroof.

[@FixinBugsNStuff]

Great work. You made that look easy.

[@Sam_Mebane]

Thanks! Headliners aren't TOO bad, especially cloth ones. Vinyl headliners take a little bit more work, a heat gun is pretty much a necessity when doing them.

[@lehuadefiesta7986]

I purchased the crush grain vinyl easy install headliner, '68 for my '67 bug. (Because I want to pull the headliner into my windshield).Do I need to use the quart can headliner glue? and if so, use the glue in the same areas as you did the cloth headliner? DO NOT USE "spray glue"? or, is there a spray glue that I could use for the vinyl headliner?

[@Sam_Mebane]

Search for Landau Top Glue, there are some sprayable options available.

[@lehuadefiesta7986]

@@Sam_Mebane thank you!

[@FernandoelChachi]

Wonderful job.

[@stevebennett6593]

Great vid, thanks.

[@Sam_Mebane]

Absolutely, it was and is my pleasure!

[@stevebennett6593]

@@Sam_Mebane interested to know about whether the padding behind the vinyl (Say on the door pillar) is always used? My headliner kit didn't come with instructions and certainly didn't include any . I am a novice in car restoration :)

[@Sam_Mebane]

@@stevebennett6593 sorry for the delayed response. The padding is just 3/8" foam, nothing fancy.

[@DonnaSparks-dm1kt]

Do your headliner kits come with the snap on trim or is it purchased seperately?

[@Sam_Mebane]

No, the snap on trim is a "tool" for lack of a better term, to help while installing the headliner.

[@GT.Bugger]

What adhesive are you using/ do you recommend? And roughly how much snap on trim did you need to do this job. Tia...I've got my new headliner ordered and want to get everything I need to complete the job for its arrival. Also, what foam kit did you use.

[@Sam_Mebane]

Since I installed a cloth headliner, I just used general trim spray adhesive which is fine for sticking cloth to metal. If you are installing a vinyl headliner make sure to use a glue that is made for sticking vinyl to metal. The snap on trim can be used in segments so as little as probably 6 to 8 feet would work but double that would make it easier most likely. I used our headliner pad kit which we've since put on a terminal back order as we try and locate a new foam supplier. For the roof we use a 1/4" jute padding and we use 3/8" foam padding everywhere else.

[@GT.Bugger]

@Sam_Mebane thank you for the reply. I've recently order the exact same headliner in this video from tmi.

[@Sam_Mebane]

@@GT.Bugger awesome, that should look good with your (Guards?) Red paint.

[@GT.Bugger]

@Sam_Mebane it's listed as Tomato Red, and I think so, too.

[@GT.Bugger]

​@Sam_Mebane having a bad time with this. You make it look easy. I put the b pillar pieces in place and now my doors won't shut!

[@joserafaelguzmanramos6215]

Saludos desde Maracay, Venezuela, fantástico trabajo en ese escarabajo bonita la combinación de colores, muy bien explicado como hacerlo, voy a restaurar una brasilia pero con este video ya tengo idea como hacerlo, gracias por compartir sus conocimientos

[@Sam_Mebane]

¡Me complace ayudar, buena suerte en su restauración!

[@lehuadefiesta5953]

Can I pull the headliner into my front windshield, as you shown in this video, on my 67 bug?

[@Sam_Mebane]

If you get a conversion style 1968 and later headliner (like we install in this video), then yes. A 1967 headliner is designed to tuck in above the windshield so it wouldn't be able to be installed through the opening.

[@mattlee007]

Great video i liked and subscribed after this ... thank you ... where do you buy the headliners and foam like this... I'm from New Zealand and have a 1966 beetle.. cheers for your response in advance

[@Sam_Mebane]

Click the "SHOW MORE" above for all the parts we used in the video. Keep in mind we don't ship internationally so you'll need someone in the States to purchase and forward for you.

[@daisyduck8758]

Does anyone know where I can get the snap on trim stuff that he used to hold the fabric to the windows while it cured?

[@Sam_Mebane]

Right here - www.jbugs.com/product/113-131B-BK.html or most any local auto fabric & trim store. It is just "snap on" trim.

[@daisyduck8758]

@@Sam_Mebane thank you so much!

[@sevenoaksbrewing]

The problem with DIY on this job is that most likely it will be your first attempt and you'll have to live with it, however it turns out. I would gladly save up my money and pay a professional for this one. You did a great job, though, Sam!

[@Sam_Mebane]

You've got to start somewhere, I wasn't born knowing how to restore VWs or install headliners! The money saved by doing it yourself would usually MORE than pay for another if you don't like the way it turned out the first time, you can buy another and you'll have even more experience once it is installed.

[@joeradenmacanddevin6149]

excellent video, how much vinyl do I use to do the same job?

[@Sam_Mebane]

Our headliners are pre-made, not bulk material. We don't manufacture them in house but if we we're to guess on material yardage needed, it would probably be 3 to 4 yards.

[@Its_about_that_time]

Howany snap on trim do I need to buy for the whole car when doing the headliner

[@Sam_Mebane]

Snap on trim isn't needed to install the headliner, but it does make it a little easier. 10 feet or so usually does the trick.

[@99tmsmith]

Do you guy have a video of a headliner install with a factory sunroof?

[@Sam_Mebane]

Not as of yet, no. The installation is pretty much the same, except once it's all done, you cut a big hole in it! Then that gets glued to the inside of the sunroof opening and another piece of material gets glued and wrapped around the sunroof "skeleton" panel.

[@my95buick]

I have to do this in a beetle with a full cage...

[@Sam_Mebane]

Never a fun job, I've seen people pull the body off to make it easier....if that could be considered easier!

[@sinteckwah9123]

Nice👏👏👏

[@yrm9538]

Do you have a link to this specific headliner kit ? Can’t seem to find it

[@rochellepuente3181]

What price range does this usually cost to take it to a shop and do this?

[@Sam_Mebane]

We have heard of shops charging over $1k, the guy in our headliner installation video was charging $300 if memory serves when he retired about 15 years ago. It really depends on the experience of the shop. Typically, the more experienced shops don't need to charge as much since they know what they are doing.

[@esequielking2054]

What color is this?

[@Sam_Mebane]

Whiskey

[@yrm9538]

@@Sam_Mebane is this color still available?

[@Sam_Mebane]

@@yrm9538 it is still listed on TMI's website, so I would guess yes. Whiskey Saddle UniSuede #7078

[@yrm9538]

Do you have a link to this specific headliner kit ? Can’t seem to find it

[@Sam_Mebane]

You will have to contact TMI directly for the Whiskey Uni-Suede headliner.