#### Headliner Install
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Michigan
#### Headliner Install
Bought 53-55 original gray cardboard headliner for my 55 from Carpenter and installed it today. What a mess. Thing doesn't fit worth a damn, had to butcher the side pieces to fit and not happy with how it turned out. Anyone used one of the ABS headliners and if so how did the install go? Did you paint it or leave black?
Fred K.
Fred K.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Valley Center, CA
Several of us have used the Rod Doors headliner. 'fenders even wrote a very detailed article about it with pictures. You can see several pix of mine in my gallery including the overhead console. It was very hard to install correctly. The three piece approach is tough to get centered. However, I understand that Rod Doors now makes their unit out of one piece so that installation is much easier!! Good luck, John
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Michigan
John,
Your headliner appears to be a fabric surface. Am trying to keep my resto near to stock factory as possible and my 55 is a standard cab that came with the gray cardboard. Hence the Q about painted ABS. Thanks for the reply. Your liner looks good.
Fred K.
Your headliner appears to be a fabric surface. Am trying to keep my resto near to stock factory as possible and my 55 is a standard cab that came with the gray cardboard. Hence the Q about painted ABS. Thanks for the reply. Your liner looks good.
Fred K.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Valley Center, CA
Fred, yes mine is abs covered in material, but the install is the same whether you put material over the plastic or not. I have never seen anyone paint one, but I did see a couple that were just left the original shiny black. Good luck, John 
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Iowa
New paints for plastic/ABS are pretty good. I think you could paint it gray with decent results. It won't look like the stock cardboard though. I also heard the new style Rod Door liners are much easier to install. Can't say that I have installed one though.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Santa Clarita
The original cardboard kits are difficult to install because they are cardboard. Not much flexibility. The headliner itself is tough, no matter what you use. I personally prefer a professional upholsterer doing that job. No matter how many times I do it. It still won't come out as nice as a professional installation. And it's really not expensive to put in. I prefer the cloth or vinyl standard headliner vs. cardboard or the pattern ABS headliners.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 317
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From: Lancaster SC ,
I seem to remember reading an article that said to soak the cardboard headliner in a weak ammonia solution and it makes the liner pliable but does not stain the color. I believe it was in one of the magazines. I'll try to dig the article up. Course you have to let the truck air out for a day.
Anybody else remember reading this?
Bubba
Anybody else remember reading this?
Bubba
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Breckenridge, Minn.
If you wish to color the ABS headliner there are two routes to go. PPG puts out a color system that uses a primer base then the color that is to be applied. You can put on just the color but no gaurantee that it will hold. Dupont puts out the Vinylcolor system and that one is a one step system. Either one you must use the prep products to clean the mould release agents from the plastic and any other contaminents. Prep is the key and then use the color agent of your choise. Good luck.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Lancaster, So Carolina
Agreed the cardboard headliner is a bugger to put in, but it is possible. I remember having to shave about 1/8 off the above window area on both sides.
Its clearly a 2 person job. I asked my bride-- funny how women seem to have more patience for this kinda situation..............
Its clearly a 2 person job. I asked my bride-- funny how women seem to have more patience for this kinda situation..............
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Michigan
Appreciate all the replies. Wish I had known about the ammonia bit before, oh well. After jockying it around (2 of us) detaching one side and cutting, looks fairly decent and not many people look at the headliner anyway. Will pursue an ABS one after driving this beast for a year or so.
Fred K.
Fred K.
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