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

CAP11 · 01-10-2005, 03:25 PM

I want to install a headliner in my truck. It has never had a headliner in it so I also know that I need the plastic trim pieces for it also.

I have found one in a local wrecking yard that is in good shape but it is a tweed tan color. The trim pieces are also tan. My interior is silver/black, I am wanting the headliner to be black also. Could this headliner be dyed black?? I have never dyed anything before so any advise you might have would be appreciated.

I assume that the plastic trim could be spray painted either black or silver. Has anyone ever done this before? How did it turn out?

Or should I just wait until I can find a black/silver combination somewhere else?

cochino12 · 01-10-2005, 04:20 PM

I pulled the material off a headliner and just glued new material in its place. Looks stock and ony took about an hour or so.

CAP11 · 01-10-2005, 04:45 PM

cochino, good advise. I kind of hate to do that since the headliner looks to be in good shape but I guess that re-covering it would make more sense.

Anyone ever paint the plastic trim pieces before? Also any advise on installing the trim is appreciated. I assume some drilling will be involved.

Greenlee · 01-10-2005, 04:56 PM

I painted the plastic trim in my truck about a year ago be cause it was fading. So far, it still looks good. I used an interrior spray paint from the auto parts store.

With respect to the fabric for the headliner. On a previous truck I had, I bought the fabric at a fabric store. I believe the store was called Clothworld. There is also a similar chain of fabric stores called Hancocks I believe. I used 3m spray adheisive to glue the fabric to my old headliner board. It looked just like the factory headliner when I was done. I think this method would be easier than trying to dye the fabric.

**76sierraclassic** · 01-10-2005, 05:59 PM

There are all kinds of posts on the board about dying the interior trim pieces. SEM is one brand that comes to mind that is supposed to be good. I think you can get it at some local auto parts stores, and I know you can get it on line. Maybe someone who has actually done this will chime in....

Mike

rolson1039 · 01-10-2005, 07:48 PM

lol and i was looking for beige( tan) interior pieces i found white
ive used several times the spray can stuff you get in autozone or pep boys with no problem i just make sure ive cleaned the pieces thoroughly with a degreaser as well as like acetone or some kind of solvent to get any grease off them then i give it a couple of light coats and let it dry
I have a question tho for yall... does anyone know if the headliner from the front of a blazer will work in a standard cab truck??
also CAP11 if youre able to get the tan headliner and the material is in good shape i may be interested in it if it can be re used on a headliner

8t5Silverado · 01-10-2005, 11:43 PM

Stupid me, I tore my headliner backing to pieces getting it out of the truck.

Has anyone made one from something else? (like cardboard maybe)

CAP11 · 01-11-2005, 02:42 AM

Rolson, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the info on the interior paint.

Has anyone here ever installed a headliner in a truck that never had one? What exactly needed to be done?

Also, my 85 does not have a dome light. What are my options in adding a dome light? I assume that any headliner I get will have the cut out for the light. Anyone ever added this before?

Thanks for the help.

KShortell · 01-11-2005, 10:38 AM

I can't help you too much with the headliner board except to point you in the direction of one of the aftermarket folks like LMC, Golden State, Year One, etc.

However, if you have one or can even get a used one, the write-up I did from recovering my headliner in 2002 might help:
http://www.geocities.com/kevinshorte.../headlinr.html

Good luck!

Jonboy · 01-11-2005, 12:12 PM

I put a headliner in my 73 Custom, which did not originally come with a headliner. I also decided to ditch the visors and dome light to give it a cleaner look. If you are going to recover it anyway, just cover over the holes. Problem solved.

It sounds a little cheesy, but I used drywall screws when I put up my headliner. They start a whole lot easier than self tapping screws, and I liked the way the black looked as well. I used a cordless drill, and it went right up. Having a helper to hold the headliner is a good idea. Other than that, it is pretty straightforward.

jberkeley · 01-11-2005, 04:56 PM

i went to the bone yard, and found the headliner and trim pieces. headliner was a mess came out of burnt reck.. covered it with cheap cloth and installed the trim..looked great... there is a guy on ebay that sells the correct covering..any color you want.. i changed mine and to fix the liner it self i used duct tape on the back side...purchased the paint from azone thing turned out great...and was cheap compared to 150.00 for new liner and at least 100.00 for trim...so for about 75.00 you can't tell the differance....as far as interior light.get one from a junk make sure to get wire harness..while your at it get cargo lamp with harness.....i love junk yards....

01-10-2005, 03:25 PM	#1
CAP11 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Longview, TX Posts: 39	Headliner Help I want to install a headliner in my truck. It has never had a headliner in it so I also know that I need the plastic trim pieces for it also. I have found one in a local wrecking yard that is in good shape but it is a tweed tan color. The trim pieces are also tan. My interior is silver/black, I am wanting the headliner to be black also. Could this headliner be dyed black?? I have never dyed anything before so any advise you might have would be appreciated. I assume that the plastic trim could be spray painted either black or silver. Has anyone ever done this before? How did it turn out? Or should I just wait until I can find a black/silver combination somewhere else? Last edited by CAP11; 01-10-2005 at 04:41 PM.

01-10-2005, 04:20 PM	#2
cochino12 It followed me home? Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Yup Posts: 5,751	I pulled the material off a headliner and just glued new material in its place. Looks stock and ony took about an hour or so. __________________ Adam That's why they call it a shortcut Kyle, if it was easy it would just be the way. 86 c-10 SWB 85 CCSB 90 GMC K30 Crew SRW 1985 C30 Dually

01-10-2005, 04:45 PM	#3
CAP11 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Longview, TX Posts: 39	cochino, good advise. I kind of hate to do that since the headliner looks to be in good shape but I guess that re-covering it would make more sense. Anyone ever paint the plastic trim pieces before? Also any advise on installing the trim is appreciated. I assume some drilling will be involved. Last edited by CAP11; 01-10-2005 at 04:48 PM.

01-10-2005, 07:48 PM	#6
rolson1039 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 404	lol and i was looking for beige( tan) interior pieces i found white ive used several times the spray can stuff you get in autozone or pep boys with no problem i just make sure ive cleaned the pieces thoroughly with a degreaser as well as like acetone or some kind of solvent to get any grease off them then i give it a couple of light coats and let it dry I have a question tho for yall... does anyone know if the headliner from the front of a blazer will work in a standard cab truck?? also CAP11 if youre able to get the tan headliner and the material is in good shape i may be interested in it if it can be re used on a headliner __________________ so many trucks so little time!!!

01-10-2005, 11:43 PM	#7
8t5Silverado Mudslides 'r my specialty Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: STL Posts: 1,106	Stupid me, I tore my headliner backing to pieces getting it out of the truck. Has anyone made one from something else? (like cardboard maybe) __________________ Always on the lookout for old cars and parts...(20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, etc.) http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/500339

01-10-2005, 04:56 PM	#4
Greenlee Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: El Lago, TX Posts: 1,668	I painted the plastic trim in my truck about a year ago be cause it was fading. So far, it still looks good. I used an interrior spray paint from the auto parts store. With respect to the fabric for the headliner. On a previous truck I had, I bought the fabric at a fabric store. I believe the store was called Clothworld. There is also a similar chain of fabric stores called Hancocks I believe. I used 3m spray adheisive to glue the fabric to my old headliner board. It looked just like the factory headliner when I was done. I think this method would be easier than trying to dye the fabric.

01-10-2005, 05:59 PM	#5
76sierraclassic Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: White Hall, AR Posts: 316	There are all kinds of posts on the board about dying the interior trim pieces. SEM is one brand that comes to mind that is supposed to be good. I think you can get it at some local auto parts stores, and I know you can get it on line. Maybe someone who has actually done this will chime in.... Mike

01-11-2005, 02:42 AM	#8
CAP11 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Longview, TX Posts: 39	Rolson, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the info on the interior paint. Has anyone here ever installed a headliner in a truck that never had one? What exactly needed to be done? Also, my 85 does not have a dome light. What are my options in adding a dome light? I assume that any headliner I get will have the cut out for the light. Anyone ever added this before? Thanks for the help. Last edited by CAP11; 01-11-2005 at 03:01 AM.

01-11-2005, 10:38 AM	#9
KShortell Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 724	I can't help you too much with the headliner board except to point you in the direction of one of the aftermarket folks like LMC, Golden State, Year One, etc. However, if you have one or can even get a used one, the write-up I did from recovering my headliner in 2002 might help: http://www.geocities.com/kevinshorte.../headlinr.html Good luck! __________________ Semper Paratus

01-11-2005, 12:12 PM	#10
Jonboy Slots go on anything! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 5,957	I put a headliner in my 73 Custom, which did not originally come with a headliner. I also decided to ditch the visors and dome light to give it a cleaner look. If you are going to recover it anyway, just cover over the holes. Problem solved. It sounds a little cheesy, but I used drywall screws when I put up my headliner. They start a whole lot easier than self tapping screws, and I liked the way the black looked as well. I used a cordless drill, and it went right up. Having a helper to hold the headliner is a good idea. Other than that, it is pretty straightforward. __________________ 1974 Jimmy- 5.3/4L80e/NP241

01-11-2005, 04:56 PM	#11
jberkeley 86 chevy k-10 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: nashua, nh Posts: 121	i went to the bone yard, and found the headliner and trim pieces. headliner was a mess came out of burnt reck.. covered it with cheap cloth and installed the trim..looked great... there is a guy on ebay that sells the correct covering..any color you want.. i changed mine and to fix the liner it self i used duct tape on the back side...purchased the paint from azone thing turned out great...and was cheap compared to 150.00 for new liner and at least 100.00 for trim...so for about 75.00 you can't tell the differance....as far as interior light.get one from a junk make sure to get wire harness..while your at it get cargo lamp with harness.....i love junk yards....



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