55 Headliner Questions
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 61
Likes: 44
55 Headliner Questions
I'm on the final leg of a 10-year resto project. Getting close! The short list includes a headliner. Currently there's nothing up there except the screw hole holding it in place and the metal roof. I'm wanting to stay as OEM as possible so I've landed on a cardboard headliner from Dennis Carpenter. Don't know if the URL will come through but here's my best shot at it; https://www.dennis-carpenter.com/tru...0-headliner1-s. I'm just looking to find out if anyone out there has any experience with this unit. I had a headliner from LMC and returned it once I figured out it was an aftermarket product for a customized look. I'm old school with this one so that's how I got on to to Dennis Carpenter and the original cardboard look. Has anyone put one of these in your 53-56 F100? If so, I'm looking for any feedback on how it fits and looks. Oh, and any tips on installation are greatly appreciated. Looks pretty simple but that's usually when a 2 hour job takes 2 days! So any comments on this are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,378
Likes: 5,387
From: Central PA
Do you have a new rubber gasket that gets clipped above the doors and above the windshield with clips. If you recently bought a new one it
should have come with new clips If you have the old ones you can use some of them to help the rubber in place better .
Step 2: grow another pair of hands or get a helper. My wife helped me.
Some guys spray the cardboard with a mist of water to help it become more flexible. I did not and have a couple of creases .
Is your rear window rubber supple? You'll need to tuck the headliner into the window rubber .
I started at the passenger door and worked my way around. You should use a thin Phillips head to put through the center hole of the liner and the hole in the brace.
8 Pack recently put his in and posted his success. Search for his thread .
should have come with new clips If you have the old ones you can use some of them to help the rubber in place better .
Step 2: grow another pair of hands or get a helper. My wife helped me.
Some guys spray the cardboard with a mist of water to help it become more flexible. I did not and have a couple of creases .
Is your rear window rubber supple? You'll need to tuck the headliner into the window rubber .
I started at the passenger door and worked my way around. You should use a thin Phillips head to put through the center hole of the liner and the hole in the brace.
8 Pack recently put his in and posted his success. Search for his thread .
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 61
Likes: 44
Thanks so much for the helpful tips. I went ahead and placed the order with DC. Should get here in a week so looking forward to getting to work on this final project - I think :-). I did order the headliner seal as well as the clips, headliner and window trim strip to go below the rear window. It's new glass I put in last year so the seal is still flexible and shouldn't be an issue with tucking the headliner under it. I'll take your direction with starting on the passenger door and working around from there. As far as another set of hands go, my wife finished the replacement wood pieces for the bed last summer and we installed it together. 200+ fastener pieces and a couple days later, we got it done and our marriage survived intact. So I'm thinking after that, the headliner should be a cake walk! But we'll see. Thanks again for your reply.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 467
From: Mason City, Iowa
Just a dumb question as I am looking at a headliner change in the future and I am trying to decided which way to go. The one piece ABS or cardboard style.
The question is from starting at the passenger door did you then go to windshield side next or go to the rear window?
Thanks!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,378
Likes: 5,387
From: Central PA
Hey Stuart. You could start either side. I think I went first to the passenger side because the steering wheel limits your movement.
I did this back in 1999 so my memory could be clouded. I think I tucked it in above the windshield next but if you put it behind the rear window rubber that might hold the whole thing up better.
I did this back in 1999 so my memory could be clouded. I think I tucked it in above the windshield next but if you put it behind the rear window rubber that might hold the whole thing up better.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 467
From: Mason City, Iowa
Hey Stuart. You could start either side. I think I went first to the passenger side because the steering wheel limits your movement.
I did this back in 1999 so my memory could be clouded. I think I tucked it in above the windshield next but if you put it behind the rear window rubber that might hold the whole thing up better.
I did this back in 1999 so my memory could be clouded. I think I tucked it in above the windshield next but if you put it behind the rear window rubber that might hold the whole thing up better.
Thank You Abe!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,378
Likes: 5,387
From: Central PA
Your truck is stock looking, right? I'd go with the boring gray cardboard headliner then.
[img alt="This is my headliner after being in place for 26 years.
"]https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ford-trucks.com-vbulletin/1120x2000/pxl_20250614_173609222_mp_5779d3c40c41ec2db5d2b17f a03b5d86b0357f1c.jpg[/img]
This is my headliner after being in place for 26 years.
[img alt="This is my headliner after being in place for 26 years.
"]https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ford-trucks.com-vbulletin/1120x2000/pxl_20250614_173609222_mp_5779d3c40c41ec2db5d2b17f a03b5d86b0357f1c.jpg[/img]
This is my headliner after being in place for 26 years.
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Fleet Owner
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From: Central PA
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 467
From: Mason City, Iowa
Wow! That looks great Abe! Looks factory installed.
Yes sir, my truck is pretty much stock except for the drive train and bucket seats. I plan on replacing the buckets with a new TMC bench seat and mounting frame I have thats waiting in the box. The box makes a nice 2nd workbench LOL. Also will be bolting in a set of seat belts and harnesses. (My wife is requiring those!) The harness upper mounts I managed to get from Mid-Fifty just before they closed.
Yes sir, my truck is pretty much stock except for the drive train and bucket seats. I plan on replacing the buckets with a new TMC bench seat and mounting frame I have thats waiting in the box. The box makes a nice 2nd workbench LOL. Also will be bolting in a set of seat belts and harnesses. (My wife is requiring those!) The harness upper mounts I managed to get from Mid-Fifty just before they closed.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,527
Likes: 534
Click on my build thread in my signature. Post 384 explains most of it.
I STRONGLY recommend wetting the back of the panels as they suggest or you will crease
getting it balance side to side soling the front of the cab is tough and you will almost certainly need to trim that section. I thought I had been conservative in my trimming and went too far. Not a big deal as no one will probably notice but me.
The rear corners were tough and I got a crease which seems to be common. More water and patience.
This is a link to installing the rear panel section. There seem to be differing opinions on how to mount the bottom. I went the direction that seems logical based on the stampings on the panels.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post21560335
Feel free to reach out with any questions or tag me in your post so I see it.
I STRONGLY recommend wetting the back of the panels as they suggest or you will crease
getting it balance side to side soling the front of the cab is tough and you will almost certainly need to trim that section. I thought I had been conservative in my trimming and went too far. Not a big deal as no one will probably notice but me.
The rear corners were tough and I got a crease which seems to be common. More water and patience.
This is a link to installing the rear panel section. There seem to be differing opinions on how to mount the bottom. I went the direction that seems logical based on the stampings on the panels.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post21560335
Feel free to reach out with any questions or tag me in your post so I see it.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,527
Likes: 534
Wow! That looks great Abe! Looks factory installed.
Yes sir, my truck is pretty much stock except for the drive train and bucket seats. I plan on replacing the buckets with a new TMC bench seat and mounting frame I have thats waiting in the box. The box makes a nice 2nd workbench LOL. Also will be bolting in a set of seat belts and harnesses. (My wife is requiring those!) The harness upper mounts I managed to get from Mid-Fifty just before they closed.
Yes sir, my truck is pretty much stock except for the drive train and bucket seats. I plan on replacing the buckets with a new TMC bench seat and mounting frame I have thats waiting in the box. The box makes a nice 2nd workbench LOL. Also will be bolting in a set of seat belts and harnesses. (My wife is requiring those!) The harness upper mounts I managed to get from Mid-Fifty just before they closed.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 467
From: Mason City, Iowa
Thank You for all the great information 8pack. Yeah those harness mounts I was thinking were going to be interesting to get installed. I don't weld so they are going to have to be bolted in. And when the time comes, I was wondering how to mark the holes for drilling into the B pillar.
I will look at your build thread to learn how to handle the challenges.
Thanks again!
I will look at your build thread to learn how to handle the challenges.
Thanks again!
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,680
Likes: 1,251
From: Jefferson City, MO
I'm about ready to throw my headliner in the trash. I've tried a few times and just can't get it started. Reading this I wondered if lining up the screw hole and putting a screw in to hold it their might help.
I just can't get it started in the lip of the rubber, and the rubber is new.
I just can't get it started in the lip of the rubber, and the rubber is new.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,527
Likes: 534
I'm about ready to throw my headliner in the trash. I've tried a few times and just can't get it started. Reading this I wondered if lining up the screw hole and putting a screw in to hold it their might help.
I just can't get it started in the lip of the rubber, and the rubber is new.
I just can't get it started in the lip of the rubber, and the rubber is new.
You definitely need a second person to help hold it in place while you guide it in under all the rubber molding.
I found wetting the back made all the difference. Don't be too shy with the water, a misting is not enough. It needs to be more than damp but not soaked.