Thought I would post a couple of pics of my PVC headliner in my 52 GMC burb. Thanks to Mark S for the idea. Sourced the sheets here in Phx. Not cheap! $60 ea. Took 4 sheets because of the size of the panels needed. Have plenty left over for side panels and maybe door panels. We'll see. Chose the white to go with my color scheme. Really like the pebbley/wrinkle texturing. Was a REAL pain installing though! Sitting on the floor looking up all the time while making poster board patterns, crawling in and out a hundred times back and forth to the work table. Would have been a little easier 10 years ago. Trimming, testing fitment, trimming again... You know what I mean. Only took about a week of actual work, stretched out over a couple of weeks. Thanks to my son for the extra hands in installing. Not a perfect/professional job but it's mine, I did it, and I'm happy with the results. Hey, the car turns 71 in April, wasn't perfect when it left the factory I'm sure. Anyway, thanks for looking. Can see some light at the end of the tunnel, barn door install next.
azcornman
~ Richard 1952 GMC Army Ambulance "Building the Dream" The story begins here in the DITY Gallery Follow the build in the Project Journals (If you can't wait, the "final pictures" and details are in Panels & Burbs) First vehicle-1967 Chevy short bed pickup. Sold when got married | 1953 Chevy pickup restored-sold to purchase Toy Hauler trailer | 1964 GMC long bed Pickup 305 big block V/6 bought to restore with son and his 14 yr old son
I couldn't say about the 40's truck. But I'm guessing that it has a smaller cab, more rounded, etc. If it were just a "patch" in the center, should be easy. But would depend on how far it goes down toward the windshield, back window, and the door edges, etc. What I'm saying is, it is fairly stiff and difficult to fit into compound curves, corners, etc. My rear panel was the worst one. Curves side to side, back to front, and tapered front to back. That one took 2 days, several patterns, and 2 tries with the pvc sheet. I had a pattern from the Truck Shop for the front one which gave me a good head start. Didn't finish off the front edge, waiting to get the windshield glass in and the inside trim pieces.
Richard
~ Richard 1952 GMC Army Ambulance "Building the Dream" The story begins here in the DITY Gallery Follow the build in the Project Journals (If you can't wait, the "final pictures" and details are in Panels & Burbs) First vehicle-1967 Chevy short bed pickup. Sold when got married | 1953 Chevy pickup restored-sold to purchase Toy Hauler trailer | 1964 GMC long bed Pickup 305 big block V/6 bought to restore with son and his 14 yr old son
Thanks for looking and your comments. There is a large plastics company here in Phoenix. I can get the name if you want it. It is PVC. Exact specs I don't recall, but it's called 1/8 inch. Has a pebbled texture on one side and smooth the other. Quite expensive. $55 per 4x8 sheet in white. Black is a little cheaper. Problem was, the dimensions of the burb panels were such that it took 4 sheets to complete the project with considerable waste. I was able to do the side panels under the windows and have more for the door panels and then some. As far as heating... we tried that on the rear panel. More waste... It has so many compound curves we tried everything to get it to fit. Heat gun did soften it but couldn't get enough area heated to have time to install it. (cooled too fast) Heated it more and it GREW. (warped badly) Very ugly and costly experience. Also it isn't as flexible as the cardboard liner so you can't make your pattern out of poster paper and expect it to fit the bow radius. I put this job off for a long time, knowing it was going to be a PITA. And it was. Sitting inside that car, neck crained looking up, large pieces of material, etc. My son was very gracious helping me complete it. It does take 4 hands at least. But I'm happy with the outcome. I may need to put a couple of white screws with the cupped washers into the ribs between the ones with the arched bows if it looks like it might sag or rattle. We'll see.
Richard
~ Richard 1952 GMC Army Ambulance "Building the Dream" The story begins here in the DITY Gallery Follow the build in the Project Journals (If you can't wait, the "final pictures" and details are in Panels & Burbs) First vehicle-1967 Chevy short bed pickup. Sold when got married | 1953 Chevy pickup restored-sold to purchase Toy Hauler trailer | 1964 GMC long bed Pickup 305 big block V/6 bought to restore with son and his 14 yr old son
No. It's ABS. You'll see a lot of it in aftermarket stereo companies. Radio adapter panels and such. Vent housings for automotive aftermarket heating and cooling.
I like those pics Mark. Looks great. I was just trying to get the liner up tight to the radius of the ribs.
Richard
~ Richard 1952 GMC Army Ambulance "Building the Dream" The story begins here in the DITY Gallery Follow the build in the Project Journals (If you can't wait, the "final pictures" and details are in Panels & Burbs) First vehicle-1967 Chevy short bed pickup. Sold when got married | 1953 Chevy pickup restored-sold to purchase Toy Hauler trailer | 1964 GMC long bed Pickup 305 big block V/6 bought to restore with son and his 14 yr old son
For what it's worth... They are now offering new pre-cut ABS headliner kits for the burbs that are compatible with all of the original headliner bows....
Don't think I am allowed to post a direct link to them ...but you can search eBay using.... "Headliner for 1947-1953 Chevrolet, GM Suburban ABS Plastic".
Great job Azcornman! I went the same route, however I bought the kit that MT posted a pic in his previous response. HOWEVER that pic is a headliner kit for a Panel truck and not a 47-54 Suburban. I informed the company and they have yet to actually make a Suburban version and yet they continue to market the incorrect kit as a Suburban kit when it is not. Buyer beware. Look closely at the kit and the pieces included with it. Another Stovebolter here went through the same company recently and they are still not making the correct kit.
~ Phillip 1949 GMC Suburban - 10 year project 1952 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible straight 8 hydramatic 1945 GMC half ton truck - Driver 1946 Chevy COE - Might restore one day... 1959 GMC Half ton long bed NAPCO
As far as I am concerned nothing beats the original look, but with the ABS I know it will last forever. I used SEM paint and it turned out perfect. I also used the left overs for the side body trims too.
~ Phillip 1949 GMC Suburban - 10 year project 1952 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible straight 8 hydramatic 1945 GMC half ton truck - Driver 1946 Chevy COE - Might restore one day... 1959 GMC Half ton long bed NAPCO
Philip and MotherTrucker, those are beautiful interiors! I'm impressed. Philip, what is SEM paint? Did you paint the carboard?
Mother.Trucker, do you have more pics of your burb? Where? How much snow'd you get in Skull Valley this week?
Richard
~ Richard 1952 GMC Army Ambulance "Building the Dream" The story begins here in the DITY Gallery Follow the build in the Project Journals (If you can't wait, the "final pictures" and details are in Panels & Burbs) First vehicle-1967 Chevy short bed pickup. Sold when got married | 1953 Chevy pickup restored-sold to purchase Toy Hauler trailer | 1964 GMC long bed Pickup 305 big block V/6 bought to restore with son and his 14 yr old son
Trimming, testing fitment, trimming again...
| 1953 Chevy pickup restored-sold to purchase Toy Hauler trailer | 1964 GMC long bed Pickup 305 big block V/6 bought to restore with son and his 14 yr old son
