Installing Headliner Trim - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Travis Byrne · 08-26-2002, 12:37 PM

What all is involved in istalling the headliner and trim in a truck that did not come originaly with a headliner? Thanks Travis.

Gene · 08-26-2002, 12:51 PM

Hey Travis, I was thinking about installing trim in my truck but after finding it at a salvage yard and re-chroming(not actually chrome) the trim I found out it was more trouble than it was worth. Don't get me wrong but you would have to find a truck that came equipped with it and cut slots in your truck to exactly match those in the trim. There are slots on the front and sides and only I believe 2 screws that hold it all in. It is possible so if you decide to do so good luck. Gene

Mudder · 08-26-2002, 01:10 PM

Came out very nice and have had no problems. I bought new trim, broke the tabs off and used screws to attach. Just be very careful and use short screws so u dont go through your roof. New trim comes with screw holes in it already. I bought a very nice headliner in KC for 50 bucks and painted it black.

Travis Byrne · 08-26-2002, 01:29 PM

What lenth of screw should I use? Did you drill your holes in the roof first? The trim I have has screw holes at the conection joints. SHould I ad more?

Mudder · 08-26-2002, 01:36 PM

12 screws. I also use a 2 sided tape to help hold th eheadliner up while I put the trim on. Duct tape worked good for holding trim in place while you work with it. DO NOT USE anything longer than 1/2 inch! Be careful!

Travis Byrne · 08-26-2002, 01:55 PM

Thanks for the info. I will give it a try. and be very careful.

Gene · 08-26-2002, 01:57 PM

Good idea, didnt even know it was available new I still have the headliner. Guess i'll take another stab at installing it.

Mudder · 08-26-2002, 01:58 PM

the screws out and drilled holes once i got everything stuck up there. Carelessness='s hole in the roof LOL.

Gene · 08-26-2002, 02:00 PM

You do still have to glue the actual headliner in thought dont you? I know the salvage yard one had glue on it.

johnnyp · 08-26-2002, 02:03 PM

Yes, you have to glue the headline in also or it will sag. Use the strongest glue you can find, like contact cement. I tried a spray-on adhesive and it let go the first time the truck set in the sun for a few hours.

Mudder · 08-26-2002, 02:20 PM

that is used for side (outside) trim may work pretty good. Mine doesnt stay stuck very well but it doesnt sag either, that is noticable.

*Gee_Emm* · 08-27-2002, 01:18 AM

hehehe, I made all of those little oval holes in a cab that didnt come with a headliner, to do this you need a cab right beside you that had the headliner option, little files, a drill and ALOT of patience.

slam33 · 08-27-2002, 01:38 AM

Sport Truck Mag, Jan 2001. Tape the trim to the headliner and the whole thing to the cab roof. Be sure to mark where the tabs are on the tape. Transfer those marks to the roof. The tabs are about 1/4 inch long, mark the holes for a 1/2 long so you have some play. The holes are centered in the raised roof line. Use a 7/32 drill and dill the hole at each end of your marks, don't go thru the roof. Cut out the metal between the holes with a cut off wheel. Check all the holes of the tabs to make sure the tabs will fit. Glue the headliner in, install the molding the drill the screw holes and put in the screws. Getting ready to do this one myself this weekend.

Travis Byrne · 08-27-2002, 05:41 AM

how well will 3m spray 90 adhesive work to hold the headliner in?

Jeff M. · 08-27-2002, 08:38 AM

Travis, my stock headliner saged for years. I finally took it down and used the 3M Spray Adhesive. Sprayed both the roof and the headliner. Stuck up there and looks great. This was about 2 years ago and it's still flat on the roof even in this 100+ degree weather.

johnnyp · 08-27-2002, 04:50 PM

Travis, the spray-on adhesive I used was made by 3M but it wasn't the "90" (must of been 45, LOL) If Jeff's been on for two years, it must work ok.

Billy Porter · 08-28-2002, 08:49 AM

2" velcro will keep it in place even without the trim pieces

08-26-2002, 12:37 PM	#1
Travis Byrne Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Corydon, IN Posts: 82	Installing Headliner Trim What all is involved in istalling the headliner and trim in a truck that did not come originaly with a headliner? Thanks Travis. __________________ 1972 Custom/10 Longbed In the works

08-26-2002, 01:10 PM	#3
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	I did it! Came out very nice and have had no problems. I bought new trim, broke the tabs off and used screws to attach. Just be very careful and use short screws so u dont go through your roof. New trim comes with screw holes in it already. I bought a very nice headliner in KC for 50 bucks and painted it black. Last edited by Mudder; 08-26-2002 at 01:26 PM.

08-26-2002, 01:29 PM	#4
Travis Byrne Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Corydon, IN Posts: 82	What lenth of screw should I use? Did you drill your holes in the roof first? The trim I have has screw holes at the conection joints. SHould I ad more? __________________ 1972 Custom/10 Longbed In the works

08-26-2002, 01:36 PM	#5
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	I used 12 screws. I also use a 2 sided tape to help hold th eheadliner up while I put the trim on. Duct tape worked good for holding trim in place while you work with it. DO NOT USE anything longer than 1/2 inch! Be careful!

08-26-2002, 01:55 PM	#6
Travis Byrne Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Corydon, IN Posts: 82	Thanks for the info. I will give it a try. and be very careful. __________________ 1972 Custom/10 Longbed In the works

08-26-2002, 12:51 PM	#2
Gene Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Muskogee, Oklahoma Posts: 2,914	Hey Travis, I was thinking about installing trim in my truck but after finding it at a salvage yard and re-chroming(not actually chrome) the trim I found out it was more trouble than it was worth. Don't get me wrong but you would have to find a truck that came equipped with it and cut slots in your truck to exactly match those in the trim. There are slots on the front and sides and only I believe 2 screws that hold it all in. It is possible so if you decide to do so good luck. Gene

08-26-2002, 01:57 PM	#7
Gene Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Muskogee, Oklahoma Posts: 2,914	Good idea, didnt even know it was available new I still have the headliner. Guess i'll take another stab at installing it.

08-26-2002, 01:58 PM	#8
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	I spaced the screws out and drilled holes once i got everything stuck up there. Carelessness='s hole in the roof LOL.

08-26-2002, 02:00 PM	#9
Gene Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Muskogee, Oklahoma Posts: 2,914	You do still have to glue the actual headliner in thought dont you? I know the salvage yard one had glue on it.

08-26-2002, 02:03 PM	#10
johnnyp Keepin' It Stock Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Grand Island, Nebraska, USA Posts: 554	Yes, you have to glue the headline in also or it will sag. Use the strongest glue you can find, like contact cement. I tried a spray-on adhesive and it let go the first time the truck set in the sun for a few hours. __________________ 72 Sierra Grande - Maych Forget about "do it right the first time". Do it wrong the first time to learn how, then do it right the second time.

08-26-2002, 02:20 PM	#11
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Tape that is used for side (outside) trim may work pretty good. Mine doesnt stay stuck very well but it doesnt sag either, that is noticable.

08-27-2002, 01:18 AM	#12
Gee_Emm Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 3,991	hehehe, I made all of those little oval holes in a cab that didnt come with a headliner, to do this you need a cab right beside you that had the headliner option, little files, a drill and ALOT of patience.

08-27-2002, 01:38 AM	#13
slam33 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Long Beach, Ca Posts: 1,432	Sport Truck Mag, Jan 2001. Tape the trim to the headliner and the whole thing to the cab roof. Be sure to mark where the tabs are on the tape. Transfer those marks to the roof. The tabs are about 1/4 inch long, mark the holes for a 1/2 long so you have some play. The holes are centered in the raised roof line. Use a 7/32 drill and dill the hole at each end of your marks, don't go thru the roof. Cut out the metal between the holes with a cut off wheel. Check all the holes of the tabs to make sure the tabs will fit. Glue the headliner in, install the molding the drill the screw holes and put in the screws. Getting ready to do this one myself this weekend. __________________ 71 LWB 350/350still working on it but it's going tp be sweet. www.geocities.com/stevemau/slam33page.html " TARGET=_blank>http://www.geocities.com/stevemau/slam33page.html?1004806705410 </A>

08-27-2002, 05:41 AM	#14
Travis Byrne Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Corydon, IN Posts: 82	how well will 3m spray 90 adhesive work to hold the headliner in? __________________ 1972 Custom/10 Longbed In the works

08-27-2002, 08:38 AM	#15
Jeff M. Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Pixley, Ca. Posts: 486	Travis, my stock headliner saged for years. I finally took it down and used the 3M Spray Adhesive. Sprayed both the roof and the headliner. Stuck up there and looks great. This was about 2 years ago and it's still flat on the roof even in this 100+ degree weather. __________________ 69 C-10 CST Short Fleet, Factory Air, BB427-400 Auto-2400 stall-tilt-cruise-Tach & Vac Gagues, 4/6 drop, power one piece side windows, Eaton posi.



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08-27-2002, 04:50 PM	#16
johnnyp Keepin' It Stock Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Grand Island, Nebraska, USA Posts: 554	Travis, the spray-on adhesive I used was made by 3M but it wasn't the "90" (must of been 45, LOL) If Jeff's been on for two years, it must work ok. __________________ 72 Sierra Grande - Maych Forget about "do it right the first time". Do it wrong the first time to learn how, then do it right the second time.

08-28-2002, 08:49 AM	#17
Billy Porter Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Petersburg, Virginia Posts: 178	2" velcro will keep it in place even without the trim pieces __________________ 71 GMC Stepside 250/350 Turbo better known as "Fred Sanford 77 240 Mercedes Benz 92 300E Mercedes Benz 70 Firebird 400 85 600 Ninja

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