'41-'46 Headliner - Need Some Advice/Opinions - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

mylow53 · 03-12-2010, 01:27 AM

dan if you have the bucks my upulstry shop in hollywood can do any headliner for under 1k. they did mine for $750 out of black swade. I'm sure there are cheeper guys and materials out there.

63 & 64 Bowties · 03-12-2010, 09:30 AM

Do you have enough of the old one left to use as a template? If so, fiberglass resin used with the fiberglass cloth may work. Don't know if you've ever used it before, but you can build it up as thick as you want. The cloth gives it strength just like using re-bar in concrete.

weldvair@embarqmail. · 03-12-2010, 09:43 AM

I've had the sam e problem. My solution was to make my own. Car guys are amazed at how it turned out.

I used 3/32" ply & bent it to fit & screwed it in place. I then fiberglassed the areas where is was bent...some areas I had to cut & paste.

I then removed it & glued headliner matereial & carpet to it & reinstated.

Don

**Dan in Pasadena** · 03-12-2010, 02:19 PM

Thanks guys.

I've been looking around online and I found a guy on the Stovebolt website who said he'd made his own headliner using ABS sheet. I did a search and came up with this source:

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/ite...3013&catid=715

It says it's heat form-able so I am wondering if I can just cut it to approximate size and use my heat gun to gently form the corners. I guess I don't care if I heat it enough to lose the texture because I can always use spray adhesive to face it with Naugahyde. I think my fall back position will be fiberglass but having little experience with it, I think it would be a real challenge for me.

Let me know if any of you have experience with heat-working sheet ABS. I know NOTHING about ABS other than ABS drain pipe!

The thought did occur to me that if this works I might be able to use ABS pipe glue and a thicker sheet stock to make an overhead console. I'm not sure I LIKE an overhead console but I'd like having the option. Your thoughts?

weldvair@embarqmail. · 03-12-2010, 02:44 PM

Tryed it...did not work.

**Dan in Pasadena** · 03-13-2010, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weldvair@embarqmail.

Tryed it...did not work.

Really? Did it crack or what? I ask because there is a guy on another boardthat claims it works on his '46. I'm wondering if the roof line of the '41-'46's are easier to work or what? His thread has links to pictures, but there are no details.

HOw did you try to form it?

**Dan in Pasadena** · 03-13-2010, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weldvair@embarqmail.

Tryed it...did not work.

Really? Did it crack or what? I ask because there is a guy on another boardthat claims it works on his '46. I'm wondering if the roof line of the '41-'46's are easier to work or what? His thread has links to pictures, but there are no details.

How did you try to form it?

weldvair@embarqmail. · 03-13-2010, 03:28 PM

No it did not crack, but there were severe wrinkles in it. There was just too much plastic material & I could not shrink it with a heat gun. I made 2 attemps & gave up.

I then used luan plywood & fiberglass. It took some work, but I am very pleased w/the results.

If you can not do that or buy a insert I would suggest a upholstry shop.

Don - mech engr

03-12-2010, 01:27 AM	#1
mylow53 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: thousand oaks, California Posts: 732	Re: '41-'46 Headliner - Need Some Advice/Opinions dan if you have the bucks my upulstry shop in hollywood can do any headliner for under 1k. they did mine for $750 out of black swade. I'm sure there are cheeper guys and materials out there. __________________ Greg 1953 chevy 1/2 ton 5 window, chevy 350 330 horse 700r tranz, lowering spindels mustang 2 frount. ford 9", airbags on 4 corners . purchased in 1983 for $325 while in high school http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=215079&page=5

03-12-2010, 09:30 AM	#2
63 & 64 Bowties and a few others Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of VA Posts: 5,638	Re: '41-'46 Headliner - Need Some Advice/Opinions Do you have enough of the old one left to use as a template? If so, fiberglass resin used with the fiberglass cloth may work. Don't know if you've ever used it before, but you can build it up as thick as you want. The cloth gives it strength just like using re-bar in concrete. __________________ Bill US Army Vet -193rd Infantry BlueRidgeMuscleCars.com “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” Gandhi

03-12-2010, 09:43 AM	#3
weldvair@embarqmail. Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: st cloud, fl Posts: 266	Re: '41-'46 Headliner - Need Some Advice/Opinions I've had the sam e problem. My solution was to make my own. Car guys are amazed at how it turned out. I used 3/32" ply & bent it to fit & screwed it in place. I then fiberglassed the areas where is was bent...some areas I had to cut & paste. I then removed it & glued headliner matereial & carpet to it & reinstated. Don Attached Images

03-12-2010, 02:19 PM	#4
Dan in Pasadena Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora, CA Posts: 6,336	Re: '41-'46 Headliner - Need Some Advice/Opinions Thanks guys. I've been looking around online and I found a guy on the Stovebolt website who said he'd made his own headliner using ABS sheet. I did a search and came up with this source: http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/ite...3013&catid=715 It says it's heat form-able so I am wondering if I can just cut it to approximate size and use my heat gun to gently form the corners. I guess I don't care if I heat it enough to lose the texture because I can always use spray adhesive to face it with Naugahyde. I think my fall back position will be fiberglass but having little experience with it, I think it would be a real challenge for me. Let me know if any of you have experience with heat-working sheet ABS. I know NOTHING about ABS other than ABS drain pipe! The thought did occur to me that if this works I might be able to use ABS pipe glue and a thicker sheet stock to make an overhead console. I'm not sure I LIKE an overhead console but I'd like having the option. Your thoughts? Last edited by Dan in Pasadena; 03-12-2010 at 02:24 PM.

03-12-2010, 02:44 PM	#5
weldvair@embarqmail. Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: st cloud, fl Posts: 266	Re: '41-'46 Headliner - Need Some Advice/Opinions Tryed it...did not work.

03-13-2010, 03:28 PM	#8
weldvair@embarqmail. Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: st cloud, fl Posts: 266	Re: '41-'46 Headliner - Need Some Advice/Opinions No it did not crack, but there were severe wrinkles in it. There was just too much plastic material & I could not shrink it with a heat gun. I made 2 attemps & gave up. I then used luan plywood & fiberglass. It took some work, but I am very pleased w/the results. If you can not do that or buy a insert I would suggest a upholstry shop. Don - mech engr



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.