The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Cardboard Headliner (again)

I've given up and ordered another cardboard heardliner for my 54. Fortunately their not too expensive. Anyone in the Seattle area know an upolstry shop experienced with putting these things in?

Chris, I can almost guarantee that none of the kids doing "wrap and tack" jobs today have ever seen an AD headliner. I gather from your post that this is your second attempt at installing the headliner. You now have 100% more experience with it than anyone at the upholstery shop.

About ten years ago I went looking for an upholsterer for some custom work. The only firm in Seattle that has maintained a rep for quality is Durham Upholstery; they were overbooked and expensive, so I decided to do the work myself. Others have been through this procedure, and written extensively about it here in the forums. You can do this, if you can summon enough patience.

Even though I drive an AD, and I've been doing upholstery for a decade, I've never done an AD headliner. Still, if you need an extra set of hands (and eyeballs), email me.

Hey, Chris

Can you describe what some of the difficulties are?

I'm gonna be doing mine this Spring/Summer ... I already have one in (not stock) ... I just plan on taking out what's in there, seeing how it was done, and then fabricating my own design and install.

If you guys do any talking about all this, PLEASE do it HERE -- I'm sure any discussion will be a help to the rest of us.

I did mine in the '37. I used one from Jim Carters and had terrible luck with it. It wouldn't bend at all. I used the amonia and water spray just like I was told to. I think the cardboard was to thick or something. I ended up going to the local dealer who sells cloth and leather to all the shops in town. They had sheets of black headliner material for dirt cheap, 4'x6' for $7.00 . I bought 3 of them figuring by the third one I should get it right. Well the first one went right in. It formed a lot easyer and stayed that way when dry. It seemed to be thinner and of a different material. Anyway it worked and wasn't that bad of a job. I check here in Kansas City for someone that could do it, and guess what, they haven't done it in years and didn't want to try again! My advise is to have a helper close by, you can use all the hands you can get in there! Joe

The problem is with all the compound curves. The back section went in OK. I tried "preforming" the front section in one curve by just laying it out with some blocks of wood for several weeks. It took the curve ok, but then I had to deal with other curve. Tried taking the back section out and putting both together on the center bow, but that didn't work to easy either. Maybe I'll try building a little form to try to prebend the new one, see if that works.

I'm gonna try using some PVC sheets ... they're about 1/8" thick and all the pro-interior guys seem to be using this stuff lately.

The cool thing about it is that you can shape it with a heat gun!

Help, I just got a cardboard headliner from Chevy Duty for my early (I think) '49 . I have the original center retainer but is there supposed to be another retainer for the rear? I have looked in several catalogs and none seem to have the rear retainer, one (Chevy Duty) has the screws for mounting but no retainer. After reading some of the posts about installation maybe I'll just send it back anyway....! :confused:

Thanks,

Kent

I used a cardboard headline from Bowtie Bits in my 52. Took about an hour to install it. I put the center retainer strip on the front half and just carefully worked it into place. Then the back section went into place very easily. No wrinkles or crinkles. Just be patient and work it into place. I did it with no help and I am sure if I can do it most of you can too.

Why screw around with card board? Spend a few bucks and get the fiberglass insert... looks great, is much more durable and you can paint it any color you want... fairly easy to install too.

Along these same lines: What have any of you used under the cardboard headliner as insulation and /or noise reduction. And related question which may already have been asked: is there a rear bow retainer? Mine is a late 49 with the floating center bow

I've got some already cut out of black ABS and am waiting for some warmer weather before I attempt them.

Rust Smuggler -- Nice ride, bro'!

What seats are those in the Toad? They look like a nice choice!

Got any pics of what you're doing with the black ABS?

rwise -- I hear a lot of guys using water heater insulation from Home Depot ... it has aluminum on both sides, is good for insulation and noise, too, from what I'm hearing. I think that's what I'm gonna use.

Where did you guys find those 1/8" sheet of PVC/ABS I would like to get my hands on some.

Thanks George

Hey, George

I haven't purchased any yet ... but I think they sell it at Home Depot.

If not there, then I'm gonna check with a local guy who does interiors and buy stuff from him.

Thanks Horvath .. Those seats are out of a Plymouth Voyager the drivers side is 8 way electric. I got the plastic from a shop that makes plastic knicky knacks. All I've done so far is make a copy of the paper ones. I'm not sure yet if that ABS will bend enough. To me honest I think is a little thinner than 1/8 maybe 3/32 or less maybe even metric. It's smooth on one side and textured on the other. The good thing about ABS is you can paint it and it will hold the paint. I could fone the guy and ask him who his supplier is ... and find out the exact thickness.

www.mcmaster.com Search ABS Sheets

I installed a headliner from Jim Carter, it looks great but a little hard
to install. My experience was about the same as afu45.

I staked the center bow to the front cardboard with a punch in 6 places. Make sure it is properly positioned and fully seated in the slot before punching. This is shown in the factory assembly manual, section 1, sheet 7, this helped a lot.

I could then push hard on the back edge without damaging the cardboard. The bow
also helped shape the front cardboard. The back cardboard followed easily.

For insulation, I used foam packing sheet that I got from U-haul - about $8 and enough
material to put in more than one layer. I lightly painted the metal with
contact cement and stuck the foam on, it sticks immediately.

I cannot recommend using the visor bracket template. The holes did not match up with the sheetmetal holes and I had to punch new ones. Lucky, the wrong holes do not show.

I have an extra center bow and maybe a rear bow if anyone is interested. You can have them for what I have in them.

Don, Kansas City

Thanks afu and 5-window. Helpful information. Sounds like I was going about it backwards. I also got my headliner from Carter. Did you need to do any trimming, or was the pattern correct?

Why put in cardboard? Simply for the challenge of doing a correct restoration. There may be easier and better options, but the challenge of researching, locating, and installing correct parts has been fun. Nearly done too after 5+ years.

I trimmed only a little, be careful.

Has anyone tried Roddoors abs headliner? I'm guessing they are preformed and will fit the exact area, being more durable ?
Zeke