Disaster struck this morning

[rtaylor]

Woe is me. I had two fold-up picnic tables come tumbling down from my rafters in my garage right on to the roof of my car. I heard a noise in the garage went out and almost puked. Luckily it is a dent and not a creased dent. I'll take her over to the dentmaster and see if he can straighten the panel.

Now to research headliner removal.

[WingZr0]

ouch. Is it a dent you can push out by pushing up with your feet from the inside? Thats how my friend pulled the roof dent out of #1678.

[motorman7]

Wow, major bummer! I would feel the same if something fell on mine. Hopefully you can paintless dent removal that out.

I went through my small garage where I usually keep the '70 and figured I'd try and make it earthquake proof since I live here in So Cal. I roped up some items (bikes), added front panels to some of my shelves and moved things away from the car best I could. Still have doors and stuff up in the rafters. If I were smart I'd toss those.

[EScanlon]

Randy;

Check with the Paintless Dent Removal guy before you remove the headliner. He may not need you to remove it.

Removing the Headliner is a major PITA, especially with the early style you have (perforated and textured). The method involves literally scraping it off the roof metal AFTER prying out the edges from underneath the roof and windshield supports.

FWIW

E

[Arne]

Randy;

Check with the Paintless Dent Removal guy before you remove the headliner. He may not need you to remove it.

Removing the Headliner is a major PITA, especially with the early style you have (perforated and textured). The method involves literally scraping it off the roof metal AFTER prying out the edges from underneath the roof and windshield supports.

Yup, if you end up having to remove the headliner, try to find the loosest corner and start slowly peeling it off the roof. Have some sort of scraper handy to try cut or scrape the foam off the roof to keep the foam on the vinyl as much as possible.

[rtaylor]

Thanks Guys. I have an appoinment with the dent remover on Saturday. I sure don't want to have to remove a perfectly beautiful headliner. Nice to hear from you Enrique!

[cbudvet]

I would agree with the advice not to remove the headliner. When I was prepping my car to go to the body shop, I tried in vain to get the bits of foam off the metal under the headliner. I then assumed that when the car was dipped to remove the paint that any remaining foam would be removed. They had to media blast off the rest and warped the roof significantly. Good luck with the dent!

carl

[geezer]

What a stroke of bad luck! I can only echo what has been said. I wish I never removed my headliner. I am afraid it is going to show through where the foam was separated from the vinyl. Heres hoping it can be fixed without removing it. Good luck!

[MikeW]

My body guy straightened out years of waves in my roof (someone sitting on it, etc.) with a 2x4. I watched him pound away from the inside - through the headliner - thinking there's no way that's going to work. It worked beautifully. As far as I know my roof is perfect with no filler to speak of.

[Kathy & Rick]

My body guy straightened out years of waves in my roof (someone sitting on it, etc.) with a 2x4. I watched him pound away from the inside - through the headliner - thinking there's no way that's going to work. It worked beautifully. As far as I know my roof is perfect with no filler to speak of.

Amazing what they can do, isn't it, Mike? And even with the state-of-the-

art advancing and new equipment and techniques evolving, I don't think

anyone can beat an old-timey auto body repairman. I was top graduate in

my class in auto body repair, and I couldn't begin to hold a candle to those

guys. They smack and beat and look and smack and beat and look some

more, and smack and beat and bend it a little and tweak it. And then they

smudge in a tiny drop of lead or body filler, file and sand a little, and it's

ready for primer. I have watched them in complete awe, and I guess you

could even say in disbelief, except I SEE THE FINISHED PRODUCT, SO I HAVE

TO BELIEVE WHAT I SAW!

Sadly, they are a vanishing species, as are real good mechanics. What we

have today (with rare exception) are parts replacers. It's all economics.

It's cheaper to buy a new whatever than to pay the hourly rate for a skilled

guy to straighten or repair the original.

I hope that you guys with dents in your Z can find such a guy if you aren't

one yourselves, because I don't have to tell you, a lot of Z panels and parts

are also getting hard to find in any reasonable condition.

All Z Best,...................................Kathy & Rick

[rtaylor]

From what I am hearing from you guys, I ain't taking the headliner of. I have so many minor dents on the car now that if he can get most of the dent out, I'll live with it until I hit the lotto and get the exterior done. Ill report back.

[CarolinaTZ]

So, how did it go? It's been a while so hopefully you were able to get it resolved. I have several wavies in my roof and I'm hoping the paintless guy will be able to do the trick.