Headlining repair and leaky roof.

So with all the rain we've had recently I want to try and sort some of the leaks that are soaking my headlining ... but the problem I have is a previous owner bolted the headlining through the roof panel, any way of fixing the holes in the headlining when I take it off, pretty sure the bolts going through the roof are part of the problem so I want to re-trim and fix the leaks at the same time.

What can I repair the headlining with? I've got no clue.

Thanks

I've stripped out my interior last week and ordered some new nylon headliner. Planning on removing the old material from the headliner backboard and using it as a template for cutting the new material. That will then be glued onto the backboard and then refitted. As for holes, I've got a few from when the car had police lights. Filled them with cheap rubber grommets but will most likely need to patch th m up with aluminium plates and rivet it up. Alternativrly i'd need someone to weld in the aluminium.

" the problem I have is a previous owner bolted the headlining through the roof panel"
Bolted the headlining through the roof! WTF! That's an epic bodge. Rivet a patch on with plenty of sealant.

Depending on the size of the holes in the headlining, you could fill with mastic and paint the repair to match the colour of the lining.

You could get some of the plastic studs, that normally hole the roof lining in place, cut them down a bit and then glue them in to the holes. Then it'll just look like a few spurious head lining studs. Instead of bolt heads

zeaphod said:

" the problem I have is a previous owner bolted the headlining through the roof panel"
Bolted the headlining through the roof! WTF! That's an epic bodge. Rivet a patch on with plenty of sealant.

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I know!! I keep finding epic bodges every now and again, stupidly this is my first defender so I didn't really know what to look for when buying. One place I didn't look atall was on the roof, they made a right mess of it!! Thinking of riveting some Ali plates to cover the holes like you said should be the neatest fix.

Al2O3 said:

You could get some of the plastic studs, that normally hole the roof lining in place, cut them down a bit and then glue them in to the holes. Then it'll just look like a few spurious head lining studs. Instead of bolt heads

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Well the plan was to re do the headlining in new material but if I struggle this could be an option, the previous owner bolted the headlining through the roof, then they re-lined it so I've got to pull the newer material off before I can take it down