'Bolters helping 'Bolters is a beautiful thing!

          In the heart-warming style of Stovebolt Chivalry, Jason Howard picked up a few great tips for installing a cardboard headliner. And, being the humble and gracious gentlemen he is, Laroke wanted to be sure the Jason got some credit for doing a outstanding job of copy-editing his tip!! Larry gets a bit carried away when it comes to Billy Bob, so Jason by-passed all the schmoozy lingo and kept with the meat of the matter! Thanks to both of you for showing us all how to perform a ...

Cardboard Headliner Installation

(08 April 2008)

Write up by Jason Howard
1953 Chevy 1/2-Ton
Info (with permission) from Larry Kephart
"Laroke"
Bolter # 349
1955 1st 3100 Chevy -- BillyBob

Patience plus Persistence = a nicely installed headliner!

          (Editor's Note: Thanks guys!! This is one of the all-time best Tech Tips!!!)

          Cardboard Headliner Installation for 1947-1953 Chevy Trucks (Advance Design). There does not seems to be a difference in how the headliner bow is attached.

1. The two pieces of headliner cardboard were unrolled (the way they ship) and weighted down flat to straighten them out.

2. Allow some time to make reasonably flat. (A week isn’t irrational)

3. Prepared by taking the rear view mirror off the top of the windshield. Take off all interior trim as well.

4. Use a plastic glass installation stick and run it between the top of the windshield frame and the windshield gasket because the leading edge of the headliner cardboard goes here.

5. The headliner bow is S-shaped in section, the lower recess points forward and upper facing rearward.

6. Lay out the flattened front headliner cardboard on a work table and work the rearward edge into the headliner bow recess.

7. If you have to, use some duct tape on the backside to keep it in the slot.

8. Mist the back of the cardboard with a 50 / 50 water / ammonia mixture to make it pliable.

9. Get it wetter in locations where it has to curve the most and kept the cardboard dry at the edges.

10. Begin to work the leading edge of the cardboard under the windshield gasket with the assistance of the glass installer stick.

11. When you have all the leading edge under the gasket, work it as far forward as you can under the gasket before snapping the bow up into place. Figure #1

12. Began to work the leading edge of the smaller rear cardboard panel into the upper slot of the installed bow.

13. Use some caution -- you might have to slightly wet down this piece, as the compound curves are not as radical as the front.

14. This panel has slots in the rearward edge where the trim strip screws are located. Place the panel, inserted in the bow recess, as far as it will go.

15. Scribe a line and trim it with heavy-duty scissors. Rear slots can be a good quarter inch or more off from exposing the screw holes

16. Remember that this edge is not straight -- It is curved slightly

17. If necessary, use a box-cutter to trim the other slots enough to expose the remaining holes

18. Now place the trim piece back on -- be cautious to not lose any screws

19. Finally, finish up by trimming off any small amounts of cardboard sticking out behind the rear trim piece. Figure #2

20. Reinstall mirror and inside trim.

21. Time for several beers.

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A free truck is the "gift that keeps on costing." ~ Irwin Arnstein