how do i install a headliner in a non headliner truck

[mike63078]

well guys the subject has it all. how do i do it?

[kballan]

www.classicindustries.com, and www.lmctruck.com both have headliners that are designed for trucks that didn't originally come with a factory headliner. Hope it helps.

[Jonboy]

I went to the pick a part, and got a headliner board and all of the trim. IIRC, that was about $25. I recovered the headliner ($40) and held it in with black oxide drywall screws, about 1 1/4 long. The drywall screws have black heads, and are self tapping.

[InlineIsFine]

I installed a headliner in a headlinerless 1984. What I did was go to the junkyard and find a vehicle from the same series '81-'87 and unscrew the retainer brackets and the headliner dropped out. I found the donor, an '85 with just the cab, stacked up on top of two other crushed vehicles. This was in July and the vehicle had auto windows and there was no way to roll them down, so I sweated like a fish during the process. The '85 had a dome light, but otherwise, it was not difficult removing the board at all.

Everything removes with a Phillips head screwdriver. There are 2 rear headliner support panels, one behind each door; there are two front pillar panels that screw into the windshield pillars; there are two side metal brackets that go above each door, and there are two metal windshield brackets, one for the front and one for the real windshield. Once you unscrew all of these, then GENTLY pry the headliner board away from the ceiling. Keep all of the screws, or get self tapping ones about 1 1/4 inch long. For all of this, the junkyard only charged me $10.

I took the board to a headliner recover shop, got a suitable foam cover, (about 1/4" thick, foam, much better than the original cloth) that cost $40 more.

You can use gray primer to prime the metal and plastic supports, then use standard interior spray paint matched to the color you want. I used about 2-3 coats to cover the ugly brown supports from the '85 to change it to blue to match my '84. You will have to unbolt your coat hook on the passenger side and then rebolt it in once you put in the headliner supports.

Getting the headliner in place by yourself is tricky, but it can be done. Put the front and rear plastic pillar supports in first. The self tapping screws will go into the metal but not through all the way. Then put in the front and rear metal windshield supports, and stretch the headliner into place as you go. I put the metal side door supports in last. Two plus years later, it still looks good as new. I saved at least $300 doing it myself and so can you.

This is a good "upgrade" to your vehicle and will cut down on noise to some extent as well.