My DC cardboard headliner got delivered today and I have been all over here and the internet looking for installation tips and steps. I looked at the seal and am assuming that would be installed first then somehow slip the headliner into it. I did see a lot of guys used water or ammonia and water on the back to soften the headliners. From what I have read from other posts I know it’s not easy and can end up with a crease if things don’t go well. Any tips or tricks would be helpful. The instructions from DC aren’t very clear or detailed
Thanks Mike.

 

Yes, the rubber goes on first, then the headliner slips into the extra flap of the rubber.

I did not use water nor ammonia in a spray bottle, didn't know about it then, maybe I should have used it.

Must important: get an extra pair of hands.

 

Thanks Abe for confirming the rubber goes on first. I think a saw a previous post of yours about an extra set of hands. My wife will be back on Monday so I’ll get her out in the garage. As I look at it it reminds me of putting in a windshield. How do you pull the flap back to tuck the headliner in? I was thinking of something to lubricate the flap like you do on a windshield but don’t want to stain it.

 

Did you get a new rubber? It will be pliable. If not get and mount a new rubber.

 

Yes I got new rubber and the rear window rubber is new also so I’m hoping I don’t have too much trouble tucking the headliner into that. It’s a complete rebuild and the headliner is my last piece

 

I made these hook tools to use when installing the headliner in my 1954. The ends are rounded and a slot to help guide the rubber. The plastic tool came from LMC. It took 3 attempts to put in the headliner. I ended up trimming 3/8” off of the sides above the doors. Damping the card board helped a little bit. My son in law helped from inside the cab and my grandson held up the headliner thru the back window from the outside. Good luck! It take patience.

 

Thanks, I was thinking that I would need something to help pry the rubber back and slide the headliner in.
There’s another couple questions that came to mind as I read the instructions.

When do you put the screws in the center? Before or after sliding the headliner into the rubber. Mine is a 55 but has 2 screws in the center. Must have been made later in 55

Do you put the main part, the center, of the headliner in then swing out the part that goes over the doors or do you work it altogether?

Thanks for all the help so far. I’m trying to get me homework done and plan how to tackle this.

 

54 had one screw, installed a longer screw to center the head liner. Installed rubber retainer, then found the center of front measuring above windshield opening. Also found the center of the cardboard headliner and pencil marked the headliner. This was a guide to help when lifting the liner. With two people in the cab the marks were a good reference.

We installed the front edge first then worked around to the sides.

Sproket, sent pm

 

Here is how it came out. I’ll call it so so. I ended up with same wrinkles over the door that everyone says they end up with. Here is how I tackled it after getting information from a couple people here on the forum. I hope it’s a helpful example even though it’s not perfect.



The center section had 2 holes so I used a caliper/divider to set the distance from the center hole of the rear view mirror to the screw hole for the headliner. I marked the center of the cab with a pencil line on a piece of painter tape. I also measured and found the center front of the headliner and put a faint pencil mark on it.



Installed the seal on the inside of the cab.



Then lightly sprayed the back of the headliner with water then wiped off the excess so that it didn’t get too wet. We (this is where you go from I to we) put the headliner in place and used a longer sheet metal screw and washer to keep it in position. The longer screw gives you a little more wiggle room without losing center.



Then we followed DCs instructions tucking the headliner behind the seals lip. A hook tool is needed to pull the rubber out from behind the seal like in Oscar 55s picture. Before we did the back (the rear window in place) I sprayed and whipped down the back of the headliner. It is a new rear window seal and went smoothly.



Everything so far went smoothly. That’s all about to change.



I installed seatbelts on my 55 so there are brackets is the rear corners where the headliner would normally go.



The end panel was wet down as before and started working from the rear window forward. The headliner was flexible but still did not fit. At this point I marked and cut the corner piece to length to fit the seatbelt bracket. I then trimmed and fit it several times cutting a little off and rewetted each time I tried to fit it. I ended up taking 1/4-3/8 of an inch off each side. Very time consuming and tedious and still ended up with wrinkles.



I removed the long sheet metal screw and put the original one in. Then used the caliper to locate the hole in the front. Used an ice pick to pierce the headliner and find the screw hole and installed the other screw.

 

I think it looks good, Mike.

 

Thanks Abe. I decided to grab a friend and get done before my wife got home. He’s much easier to work with.

 

The headliner looks great. One difference in our installs, the back window was not installed in the truck when h liner installed. It helped when we fit the lower panels between the door and back window.