How to Re-attach Cabin Headliner to the Ceiling?

[FTL_Alan]

2008 350 SS, the center headliner board is falling down. Its not that the liner is sagging, rather the board that attaches to the ceiling is no longer attached at one end, the end that starts just as you enter the cabin. The bow end is still attached. I've read other posts about the headliner sagging, but my problem is not the material, rather it's the headliner board itself. Are there clips that have come unattached? .. or are there screws that have loosened? Should I try to use some type of bonding glue? Job for the pros? First three pics are the port side. Last pic is the starboard side.

 

[tpenfield]

The headboard is typically screwed into the cabin ceiling (i.e. underside of deck) in the areas of the light fixtures. . . at least that is how my 330SS is done.

Take off the lenses for the ceiling lights in the effected areas. The lens should come off with about a 1/4 turn (not sure which way, but see which way it wants to turn). You should then see a couple of screws holding the light onto the headboard. Unscrew those to allow the light fixture to hang down by its wiring. There may be another set of screws that is supposed to hold the headboard up tight to the cabin ceiling. If those have pulled out, then that is most likely the cause of the sagging. Repair the holes (epoxy) and see if you can re-attach the headboard. Be careful about the screws, make sure to use the original ones, because you are screwing into the underside of the deck.

If you don't see that the headboards are connected in this fashion, then take some pictures for what you expose, as that will help.

 

[FTL_Alan]

Posting a few more photos to illustrate the problem with my cabin headliner. The piece is attached to the ceiling by 3 screws, one screw under each of the three lights. The headliner is sagging because the first two screws have failed. The #1 screw is still in the white backer board but is no longer attached to the ceiling, as shown in the first two photos. In the third photo, the #2 screw is still attached to the ceiling, but the white backer board has broken under the screw, likely because I let the problem with the #1 screw go too long w/o fixing, and the weight of the headliner was too much for the #2 screw, but the failure was the white backer board which cracked while the screw held. Tpenfield had some great ideas how to re-attach using the existing screws and adding a couple more screws of the same length for reinforcement. Will be calling TAG tomorrow to get more info regarding the amount of tightening of the replacement screws that will prevent any damage to the bow exterior.

First two photos are of screw #1 nearest the cabin door. Photo 3 is screw #2 showing the broken white backer board. Last photo shows the screw length, about 2 inches.

 

[tpenfield]

Hopefully, you will get the headliner board attached in short order. If I upgrade to a 350 SS in the future, I guess I'll check the headliner screws as part of the initial go-through.

 

[FTL_Alan]

With excellent guidance from tpenfield and TAG, completed the repair today. Used a toothpick to measure the depth of the existing hole to determine max depth that the screw should penetrate the ceiling. TAG confirmed that there is a 1-inch space designed-in between the headliner and the ceiling, which was my primary concern, whether to attempt pushing the headliner flat against the ceiling or leave a space. TAG confirmed it needed the space to avoid puncturing the bow deck, as shown in the first photo. I also added a second screw for added support.

 

[tpenfield]

It is interesting that Formula designed the headliner to 'hang' an inch down from the ceiling via the screws. I know there is some wiring that runs along between the light locations, but you would think they'd put some sort of spacer in there to give them the 1" offset and hold the headliner boat a bit more securely ???

When I repaired/installed the headliner board on my 330SS, I cannot recall if the screws had a similar exposure. I think I just tightened them until the board slugged up to the outer sections of the headliner.

 

[Formula Tenn]

Mine is the same way as far as the board/spacing is concerned. I'd think the spacing not only allows for wiring but also for air circulation.

 

[Fossil Fuel]

I believe the decks have balsa core. 1" standing on end. So punching through would take some effort. As long as you are good in the first layer of fiberglass that's were your bite is. The balsa would not be much to bite into.....