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When I got this car("71 142E), the vynil headliner, although intact, was badly stained in large brown patches, particularly, all around the edges. Painting it with SEM vynil paint made it look like new again. (I liked the SEM paint better for this job than the Plasti-Kote because it is not as glossy.) Closer inspection after the paint job, with a brighter light, showed the headliner to be sort of lumpy where those brown spots had been. A finger tip examination revealed various substantial staches of acorns -- mice. That explained the brown stains -- tannic acid from the acorns seeping through. I'd like to remove the acorns without damaging the headliner. I believe the edges are reinforced with a stiff cardboard strip that is locked behind a metal lip attached to the body -- not sure though. Before I start experimenting, and ruining a perfectly good headliner in the process, does anyone know of a way to open up that headliner in strategic locations so I can vacuum the acorns out?
Another topic. While I'm waiting for various brake parts to arrive from sundry sources, I installed the seatcover kit I got from Autocraft -- autocraftseatcovers@msn.com. They make these covers according to patterns specific to car. The end result depends a lot on how carefully you install the covers -- I used a combination of hog rings, contact glue, and hand stiching and worked at it for about three days, with time-out to go get supplies. They are seatcovers, in other words, they fit over the old upholstery. I'm quite pleased with how the job came out. Sure, it's not exactly what you get as a re-upholstery job from a good professional shop -- about 80% of that, I'd say. Price: $200 - 300, depending on type of material and whether you want quilting or not. A pro job would be, at least twice, if not three times, that. It sure spruced up this old road warrior.
Bob S.
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