Hello, I have a Ford Ranger XLT Supercab 78 I tried to replace the headliner but now i have an issue, someone know how to stick the roof reinforcement again, since the steel cross from the ceiling came off, I tried to put silicone but with the movement it takes off again. Beetween ceiling and the cross there are like a plates of glue, but i don´t know exactly is.

 

Looks like the bow (support) is bent. You might have to take it out, hammer out the kinks and get it back into the bowed shape again.

I would think that bow is supporting the roof and not the other way around..... If you glue (somehow) that bow to the roof, the roof might sag down to meet it...

 

Mike.....Does the left/right bow slide out? How is it removed? I've been thinking about adding a second l/r bow for more support.

Thanks

 

I'm not exactly sure.... I hope some super cab owners will chime in. I was just making an observation.....

Is it maybe spot welded at each end?

 

It all should bow up starting on the outer edges. And then get and use some newer automotive body panel adhesive. Stop by you local auto body shop and ask them what is the best to use. You never know, they might have 1/2 a tube already opened and you never know how that might wind up in your hand.

One time I was at my local dealership getting some TRV and they wanted way to much $ got a long tube of Ford RTV for my 3rd cab light. I was talking to the service manager...and a tech walked up and said here we use some a minute ago and will have to just have to throw the rest sway. I got a brand new 1/2 length tub just opened. That Ford service place tech made a friend for life.

 

I haven't seen one in years but I thought it was just a pad of the type of tar paper felt that was stapled on top of the supports. Not exactly bonded to it, just a type of support.

 

I'll give my 2 cents.
I agree that it looks like it is sagging in the middle.
Check the outer contour of the roof to see if it is good.

I would be afraid of wrecking the whole assembly getting it out and back in.

I think you've got 2 options

1. Use a Jack and a post/2x4 and slowly push it back up. It probably won't stay, and honestly I wouldn't try it. But you never know.
2. If outer contour is good, just glue in some strips of plywood or such as shims.

 

There should be a gap between the brace and the skin of the roof. They are not designed to have a tight fit. You want to roof to be able to expand when it gets hot, shrink when it get cold. ( yes just like your do-hickey does) You want to put a seam sealer that will stay flexible to allow this movement. Same kind of stuff used between a hood skin and the hood bracing. Your Auto Paint supplier will have what you need.

 

I'm glad you chimed in before he had a chance to use either one of my pennies.

Mental note made.

 

I would agree with the seam sealer or some other flexible adhesive. I do have a question though......how did you get the old headliner out? Without breaking it?
The headliner on my ‘77 SuperCab is sagging. I want to drop it so that fix the sag but I‘m worried that’s it may crack. Now I didn’t take out a tape measure yet, but dropping it and getting out the door of the cab in one piece seems like a long shot so I thought I’d to see if anyone has any experience doing this in a SuperCab.

thx

 

May have been installed through the windshield opening at the factory. Just a guess.

 

A few things.........one, unless someone has been jumping on the roof of the truck, those braces are NOT bent. So, please do not take a jack and force them up where they're not supposed to be. As others have stated, there is supposed to be a gap, with flexible seam sealer between, to allow for the natural contraction and expansion of the sheet metal. As for the headliner itself, sagging is a natural occurrence with the introduction of moisture over time. These liners were originally made of some sort of pressboard material, and they will absorb moisture eventually and deform. If I recall, the headliner material can also be perforated, and non-perforated from the factory.........regardless, they all will eventually sag with enough ambient humidity. Now, to get the liner out, you remove the support screws just left and right of center (the holes are on the lateral support brace). Next, you remove the trim pieces (do NOT bend them.....as you'll have very little luck replacing them). Once the trim pieces are out, you can carefully maneuver the liner out the door of the truck........but, in my particular case, there were no seats in the truck yet, so it gave me room to move.

I'm not entirely sure where you're going to be able to find replacement material for the liner if you want to re-make it. As the liner is in excess of 48" square, you can't just go buy a 4'x8' sheet of anything, as it will be short in one dimension. I do know that some guys have obtained 1/8" plywood in a special oversize, and then they had to steam the heck out of it to make the compound bends in the corners. Myself, I went with 1/8" ABS plastic, and used a support rib of ABS to glue two 4'x8' sheets of ABS together, to give me the size necessary. I used the old liner as a template, and cut the new liner out of ABS. I then did a number of test fits in the cab to make sure I trimmed it down to the correct size. The important thing there is that you want the liner to be just a hair oversized, as when you push it up in place and secure the trim ring, the natural behavior of the ABS will be to bow upward and naturally support itself under tension. I still installed the support screws where they belong just for correctness, but I'm pretty sure it would stay up there anyway. Once I had the fit, I then had an upholsterer put down a 1/4" layer of foam, and covered it with black vinyl. Once it was all finished, that liner never looked better. Also, due to the addition of foam and fabric, i'm sure it also helped with sound deadening (as I also put Dynamat on the roof under the liner).

The link to my original write-up doesn't work anymore, but if you go to this thead, I posted the pictures and a basic description there...... https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...adliner-3.html

 

I need to replace the gasket on the rear sliding window. While I have that out, would I be able to remove the headliner out that way? Looks like it should fit.

Also, I would like to install his/her sunroof while it is out. Thats why the extra bracing.