Head Liner for 1953
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 345
Likes: 23
From: WACO
Head Liner for 1953
Hello all. Smokie is restored original. But. Not completely. So I have some leeway to work with. Some opinions on a head liner ,please. Stock panel board? Or? Three piece ABS headliner. I bought some kick panels from Mid Fifty. The material is not the same as original. That makes me skeptical of buying the stock panel board head liner. Thanks.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,644
Likes: 55
From: Moro Bay, AR
The 3 piece headliner from Mid-Fifty is a Rod Doors product. I put one in my 53 and am not really satisfied with it. The fit is OK except for the front corners, the material is a little short here. Since I plan to install an overhead console for the stereo, this will cover the problem area.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 825
Likes: 3
From: Michigan
I bought an original gray panel board for my 55. Forgot where from.
It is a PITA to install, especially around the interior light which mine doesn't have, but the mount is there.
Suggest having a pro install whatever kind you get. My side panels match original style.
It is a PITA to install, especially around the interior light which mine doesn't have, but the mount is there.
Suggest having a pro install whatever kind you get. My side panels match original style.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA
I installed the ABS headliner from Rod Doors. It didn't fit perfectly, and is rather difficult to get in & out, but it was really nothing I didn't expect from an aftermarket part. Once I got it fitted and installed, I like the way it looks, and it is holding up well.
There are pictures of it in my galleries.
There are pictures of it in my galleries.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,352
Likes: 1
From: Waleska, GA
Peecubed. Actually, I asked something different and then I saw your Gallery. I like the looks of the headliner. Also, did you make your own door backer boards or did you buy them from somebody? Thanks.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,776
Likes: 2
From: springfield il
i've just been entertaining the idea of using some flexible wooden luan or ????? and make my own and cover them in the same white and green metalflake vinyl i'm gonna use in the interior inshing that a: doesnt look right i.e wrong materials or whatever....... and or b : doesn't fit right as in the rod doors stuff . just an idea .
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA
The door panels and kick panels are home made by my father. We bought ~1/8" sheet ABS from TAP Plastics and transfered a stencil onto it. Once the first one was all trimmed up and fitted nicely, the second one was a piece of cake (for both the door and kick panel). Saves a bit as opposed to buying from mid fifty/rod doors.
Oh, and to be clear, my gallery titled 'Headliner' was my first attempt at creating a headliner from scratch using flat abs and creating curvature. It was getting pretty tedious and would have woorked had I wanted to invest a bunch of time, but I decided to scrap it and move in a different direction. I ended up buying the formed one from rod doors, which is shown being upholstered in the gallery 'Headliner Upholstery'.
Oh, and to be clear, my gallery titled 'Headliner' was my first attempt at creating a headliner from scratch using flat abs and creating curvature. It was getting pretty tedious and would have woorked had I wanted to invest a bunch of time, but I decided to scrap it and move in a different direction. I ended up buying the formed one from rod doors, which is shown being upholstered in the gallery 'Headliner Upholstery'.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,352
Likes: 1
From: Waleska, GA
Peecubed, OK- I thought the first one looked like it was sheet material, and then I re-read your post saying it was bought from a supplier. So, I suppose you'd highly recommend skipping the homemade option? Thanks!
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA
If you like making stuff from scratch, or just want to save some money, I'd say go for the home made approach. I didn't make it to the point of actually upholstering the panels, so I can't say how they were going to look completely finished, but I think they would have turned out just fine. The only downsides to going with that approach is:
1. It will take significantly more time than preformed/cut panel that you just have to trim to fit
2. I didn't see any way of creating my own panels where I could eliminate all visible fasteners. A 1 piece panel was going to be near impossible to fabricate, so I ended up splitting the headliner down the middle and I was going to use an aluminum strip down the middle to hold them in place.
3. Theres alot of trial and error in trying to get correct cuts in the abs so you can bend/glue it into the complex corners of the cab. There will likely be messed up/scrapped material at that point.
Its always a decision of time or money. When I started, I had way more time than money, and by the time I got serious about the headliner, it was exactly the opposite.
1. It will take significantly more time than preformed/cut panel that you just have to trim to fit
2. I didn't see any way of creating my own panels where I could eliminate all visible fasteners. A 1 piece panel was going to be near impossible to fabricate, so I ended up splitting the headliner down the middle and I was going to use an aluminum strip down the middle to hold them in place.
3. Theres alot of trial and error in trying to get correct cuts in the abs so you can bend/glue it into the complex corners of the cab. There will likely be messed up/scrapped material at that point.
Its always a decision of time or money. When I started, I had way more time than money, and by the time I got serious about the headliner, it was exactly the opposite.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,352
Likes: 1
From: Waleska, GA
If you like making stuff from scratch, or just want to save some money, I'd say go for the home made approach. I didn't make it to the point of actually upholstering the panels, so I can't say how they were going to look completely finished, but I think they would have turned out just fine. The only downsides to going with that approach is:
1. It will take significantly more time than preformed/cut panel that you just have to trim to fit
2. I didn't see any way of creating my own panels where I could eliminate all visible fasteners. A 1 piece panel was going to be near impossible to fabricate, so I ended up splitting the headliner down the middle and I was going to use an aluminum strip down the middle to hold them in place.
3. Theres alot of trial and error in trying to get correct cuts in the abs so you can bend/glue it into the complex corners of the cab. There will likely be messed up/scrapped material at that point.
Its always a decision of time or money. When I started, I had way more time than money, and by the time I got serious about the headliner, it was exactly the opposite.
1. It will take significantly more time than preformed/cut panel that you just have to trim to fit
2. I didn't see any way of creating my own panels where I could eliminate all visible fasteners. A 1 piece panel was going to be near impossible to fabricate, so I ended up splitting the headliner down the middle and I was going to use an aluminum strip down the middle to hold them in place.
3. Theres alot of trial and error in trying to get correct cuts in the abs so you can bend/glue it into the complex corners of the cab. There will likely be messed up/scrapped material at that point.
Its always a decision of time or money. When I started, I had way more time than money, and by the time I got serious about the headliner, it was exactly the opposite.
OK...it looks like I'll be buying mine pre-formed. Thanks for the info!
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