The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors One piece headliner review for 41 Chevy truck

Gentlemen,

Looking for some reviews on either an ABS or fiberglass one piece headliner. If any of you have recently bought one from the many vendors, could you provide your thoughts on item quality, fit and finish and ease of installation?

I recently asked a similar question in regards to the fiberboard headliner and took a considerable verbal beating about others subjective thoughts on aftermarketers concept of quality and installation success. I don't want to repeat that again so please if you would, objectively let me know which company provides a decent product that does what it is supposed to do. JC is out for me as they have sufficiently p***ed me off with their poor customer service.

Need to make a decision soon and move on with the project.

Thank you in advance, and I look forward to hearing about your experiences.

Paul

I too am looking for a good headliner that is easy to install. I haven't come across any reviews on any of the headliners avaiable. I'll keep watching your post. Thanks

Nothing???

It seems easier to get information about Jimmy Hoffa.

Paul,
The following may help.

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...ds=insulation&Search=true#Post163820

Paul I can't help with a 41 but I did install a 1 piece fiberglass headliner in my 52 and some of what I learned may be helpful.
First of all the shipping was almost as much as the headliner- over $100 as I recall. It was the same cost for shipping from the midwest as more locally but both vendors claimed it was not being drop shipped from the manufacture.

I ended up trimming a little from each side and took too much off. I blame my wife- usually my last choice for a helper but what can you do. We didn't have it fully compressed into its final resting place. That is not especially easy to do short of having the cab turned upside down. The fiberglass does bend somewhat but until it is actually in its exact place it is easy to feel you need to do some trimming. I had to add some metal trim above the door window to hide my mistake and help hold the headliner in place. In retrospect I think the headliner may have fit without trimming but it would have been difficult to install it that way.

The fiberglass needs to be painted. I went rogue and painted mine to match my seat and door panels. I didn't want gloss paint and had the paint store add flattening agent to the paint. It came out shiney anyway.

A couple of pics showing my results.
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l286/Hookalatch/Chevy%20Truck%20Finished/IMG_3016JPG.jpg


http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l286/Hookalatch/Chevy%20Truck%20Finished/IMG_3008JPG.jpg

I went the fiberglass route because of all the problems I heard about the fit and finish of the cardboard pieces. If I were to do this again I would at least try the cardboard. On the other hand I am quite happy with mine and it will probably still be in good shape long after I am not.

Chuck

Gentlemen,

Thank you for the information. It is interesting to read that guys were mangling/destroying cardboard headliners for years. From what I have gathered, either the fiberglass of ABS headliner are much easier to install with satisfactory results. Are there any characteristics that make the fiberglass version better than the ABS, or visa-versa?

Thanks again...getting closer to a decision.

Paul

I am looking for one for my 39 truck. I've tried the cardboard, without much success. I know that the ABS is less expensive to ship than the fiberglass. My question on the ABS, I think they are black, can they be painted just using a regular spray can of paint with good results?
tom

You would probably want to use plastic paint, or the interior trim paint like you can get for any vehicle. I think the ABS would be more forgiving to install.

SEM makes a flexible coating that they claim could be used on surfaces like this.

I bought one for my 41 after destroying the old fiberboard trying to install one of those!!! The fiberglass one-piece went in with minimal effort and looks great. There will be minor trimming and take your time to line it up before SLOWLY marking and drilling holes. The one thing I wish they had done is predrilled the holes but then again that might have further complicated the install trying to line up each hole. All in all, good product and mine fit well and looks good.