The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors cardboard headliner

Someone must have had an experience trying to mold a new headliner for the cab of their restoration project! I have a '36 low cab, and thought I might try this exercise. Ordered the parts from Jim Carter but got no instructions. The headliner is in two parts and I am told I must spray a vinegar solution to soften the material and then form it. Sounds to me like I get one chance to do it right. Could anyone share their horror stories with me - perhaps they will help me avoid a monumental headache!

Try doing a search on headliners, as there has been a lot of discussion in the past regarding installing these.

After doing my two piece by myself, I say find a friend, have him bring a few chilly beers and a can of patience. It took me quite a while to get everything lined up..and it still did not turn out perfect.

Spraying everything and then trying to install will add quite the twist to yours.

I've done two and neither one was perfect. It takes time and I might try it again one of these days.

Ask a friend to help,(you will need a couple more hands) a small can of patience. Take your time,don't force it. Walk away when you want to hit it.I have done a couple this way and it worked for me. Turned out OK. DON

Thanks for all the comments......I appreciate the need for patience, but no one has actually offered a technique for forming the cardboard. Perhaps I am not visualizing just what needs to be done, but I envision using something like a bowling ball or my fist to help form the curved portions. Any other suggestions? Also regarding the metal bar that rides across the center of the roof - is that supposed to show and be painted thereby supporting the two pieces of headliner or is it supposed to be hidden with some sort of screw/washer gizmos to hold the liner in place? I simply have no photos to refer to.

Thanks fellas!!

The bar is hidden and is used to support the headliner by three "screw/washer gizmos" as you deduced. I originally went the cardboard route and made a perfect mess of the cardboard and myself with the water and ammonia. The end result was horrible. I never thought of the bowing ball idea although my fist and temper came into frequent play.

After getting some input here on the 'Bolt I ordered an ABS one. It went in fairly easily and looks great. The ABS may fail the purity test but is sure looks good.

Don

Don,

What supplier did you purchase your ABS headliner from and was it already molded in the color that you wanted?
Thanks

Brian

Brian - I ordered the headliner through Chevs of the 40's who in turn had it drop shipped to me from QuietRIDE Solutions. The price is the same either way -- $169.

The headliner that I received was black. It was sprayed with a close match color of the hammertone brown that the rest of the interior is painted with prior to installation.

You can view a description of the product here.

Interestingly, both the description in Chevs of the 40's and on the Quietride site state that the headliner is furnished with a "Quality Heat Shield." Mine didn't come with one, but since I had already installed heat shielding on the interior cab roof it didn't pose a problem. You might want to inquire about that if you order one.

Don

Thank-you Don for all of the info you have provided. I figured that I may as well go the easiest route and save the time and grief. Your truck is a jewel. Nice work.

Brian

Brian - I just put a few photos up of the headliner installation. You'll no doubt get a kick out of the double-footed single hand method of installation. I'll post some more photos of the completed installation tomorrow but for now take a look at these.

Basically, what I did was the following:

• First I took the center bow down, placed it against the "head side" of the headliner, and insured that the hole locations as pre-marked were correct - they were.
  
  
• I then mounted the headliner inserting the center bow screw first. See the double foot single handed installation tip. You could really use an extra set of hands here.
  
  
• Next I installed screws and the garnish molding across the rear. The rear portion of the ABS headliner has elongated holes for ease of screw hole location.
  
  
• At this point I installed the front valance (the piece that covers the windshield wiper motors) working it under the headliner. Forcing the headliner back towards the rear I then inserted the center screw through the garnish molding. The headliner was now supported front, center and back.
  
  
• Next I removed the center support screws and worked the headliner the best I could to port to starboard and fore and aft, trying to minimize the amount of trimming necessary.
  
  
• Using a dremel tool I then trimmed up the areas above the door jams. I then secured the back garnish moulding and marked the overhanging headliner for trimming. What I mean here is the portion of the headliner extending beyond the outside perimeter of the garnish moulding. The rear garnish moulding was removed and the dremel tool was used to trim off the excess headliner.
  
  
• After again installing the rear garnish moulding (using a router bit in the dremel tool to make the screw holes) I then reinstalled the three center support screws.
  
  
• The left and right garnish mouldings and the door windlaces were then installed.

Note that the color rendering in the photos is off. The headliner was painted a matching color of the trim and interior.

Don

Thanks for going into the details from all of us that are in the midst of this PITA part of the project.

Brian

my '52 shows no evidence that it had a headliner,did a '52 have a headliner? There was a center support with a trim pc w/evidence of cardboard on my 49 parts unit that I want to switcn over. It showed cardbd from center to rear, was thewr also a pc from center to windshield?

Down 2,
Great tutorial on headliner! If I ever got my feet up there.....Wouldn't be any blood for the brain!!!!!!!!
Dan

My '52 had/has a full headliner with a floating center strip, making the headliner a 2 piece afair.

Dave

Just a note. Check out ROD DOORS web site. They make ABS door panels, mostly for streetrods. They also make interior parts for classic trucks. Such as formed headliners of ABS and back panels for Chevy and Ford early trucks. Mel

Try ammonia and water, spray more where the curve is greatest but dont oversaturate. Keep the edges dryas you can and take your time.

Another thanks Don. That ABS sure looks like the way to go. Did you use a one or two piece headliner?