JBugs Video Series

1971 VW Super Beetle - Headliner Pad Kit Installation:

Upholstery

Video Overview:

Installing headliner padding, like the sound deadening we just installed, isn’t required to install a headliner but it does make a huge difference in not only the sound of your VW Interior, but more importantly the looks. The headliner padding helps to smooth out the body panels that the headliner is covering and gives the headliner a fuller, more tailored look. Installation is simple and doesn’t take much time or many tools, follow along as our tech shows you how.

Important note: 0:46
Roof pad installation: 0:59
Vehicle prep: 1:57
Lower rear window pad installation: 2:22
Upper rear window pad installation: 2:43
Quarter window pad important note: 3:12
Quarter window foam installation: 3:25
B-Pillar pad installation: 3:48
Upper door pad installation: 4:24


Video Tips:

Tools used in this video:

Masking Tape
Side Cutters
Scissors
Razor Knife
Plastic Sheeting
Cardboard

Video Transcript:

Hi! I'm Sam with JBugs.com
We're prepping our 1971 Euro Look Super Beetle restoration for the headliner install. 
In our last video, we installed HushMat sound deadening throughout the entire interior. 
Now, we're going to install our headliner pad kit which will help to keep the interior quiet, 
but more importantly, give our headliner a smooth and tailored look. 
The pad kit consists of a number of foam pieces that install at the rear, at the quarter windows, as well the doorposts, and above the door opening. 
It also has a large piece of fabric padding that will insulate and pad the roof.
We start with that large pad and after test fitting the material, 
we spray the back of it and the inside of the roof with fabric spray adhesive. We wait a few minutes for the adhesive to tack up then we start at the front of the car, pressing the pad against the roof at the front, then we work along the center of the roof to the back. We note from the test fit that we'll have to trim the pad for both length and width so we concentrate on getting the pad lined up at the front, and along the driver's side of the roof.
We leave enough room, along the driver's side rail, for the headliner bows to slide in place later 
and continue placing the pad into place against the roof. Once it is, we use a fresh razor blade to cut the material along the rear rail and along the passenger side roof rail. Again, along the side, we cut the material enough so that we have a gap for the headliner bows.
Next, we tape some plastic sheets at the rear and quarter windows to prevent glue overspray, as much as possible for the next few steps. 
This isn't necessary, and we'll pull them down before we install the headliner, but it is a welcomed if only temporary help. We also tape off the assist straps and the upper seat belt mounts on the B pillars so pulling the foam off here later will be easier.
We start below the rear window and spray the body and the semi-circular piece of foam with adhesive 
and then set it in place. Most importantly, we leave a gap between the edge of the foam and the window opening. The headliner will need to glue to the body at the inner metal edge of the window opening, so we leave a gap for it. Then we spray the sides and the top edges of the rear window opening. 
Since we won't be using the defogger for the rear window, the wires for it are cut. 
We spray the backs of the two "L" shaped pieces, noting the longer sides of each will meet together at the top of the opening. The "L" pieces are glued to the body and like before, we leave a gap at the window opening.
Once both pieces are in place, we can get to work on the quarter window openings. 
Before we start, we note that if we were going to use pop-out quarter windows, we would want to tape off the holes for the latch so that the foam can be cut out there later. We won't be using them, so after test fitting the pieces of the foam for the quarter window, the sort of waved shaped piece, and the wider foam piece that lines up with it. 
We spray the body and the backs of the foam 
and when the glue is ready, we set them in place, leaving a gap at the quarter window opening for the headliner. 
Once the foam pieces are in place, we cut them back at the roof rail for the headliner.
At the top of the "B" pillar, the foam is cut back from the grippers. 
Then, using a cardboard backer, we spray the "B" pillar and the long rectangular piece of foam. The "B" pillar foam is pressed in place on the back of the metal grippers down the doorpost. The foam is cut back for the lower seat belt mount, and the seat belt crossbar, the quarter panel openings, and the quarter window opening. At the window opening, we want to have an edge for the headliner to glue to later.
Moving forward, above the door opening we tape off the dome light opening, 
and very importantly we don't want to lose the wiring as we'll use it later when it comes time to install the wiring harness. We also tape off the metal grippers since the headliner will glue to them later. We use a cardboard backer and spray the roof and the short rectangular piece of foam with glue. Then, press the foam into place. 
We trim the foam at the edge of the grippers and behind the sun visor mount. 
Then, back along the side rail. 
The foam is cut back from the dome light opening 
and we also cut back the foam on the "B" pillar for the seat belt mount. 
The foam pieces on the opposite side of the car are installed in the same manner. 
Working from the back to the front and from the top to the bottom.
With the headliner padding installation complete, we can pull all the plastic sheets off 
and get ready for the next step, the headliner itself. That long video will be out next so make sure to click the like button below, click the subscribe button so you don't miss out, and until then, check out some of our other how-to videos, and when you need parts for your vintage VW, head over to JBugs.com