Crew Cab Headliner Question

[crewcabsquared]

I have a 86 K30 crew. It currently has the inner steel panels screwed and spot welded to the roof in place of a headliner board. I have all the moldings and a board to put in a fabric headliner, and would really like to.

Questions:
1. Can I remove the steel liners and install the board/moldings, or am I going to screw up the roof braces? I have spotweld drillbits and all. I would like to go this route so I can attach some fatmat or dynamat to the roof underside to help with insulation.

2. If not has anyone adhered the headliner material straight to the metal panels and installed the moldings? I have the headliner material and adhesive and plenty of experience installing h-liners.

Thanks in advance for any input!

[ozark]

I'm confused. My 88 the headliner boad went up against the inner steel panel of the roof, it was not open like a suburban. Are 86 crew cabs different?

Never mind I reread and now understand

I wouldn't cut the panels out.

[crewcabsquared]

This is my first time adding a headliner to one of my crews, all of them have had the steel interior panels (custom deluxes) I was thinking that the Silverado's were like high end Suburbans that do not have the steel painted inner roof, the headliner board goes up against the roof braces and is held up with the perimeter moldings. The spotwelds and screws are where the roof braces are I believe. Did your headliner board go over the steel panels? Looks like it would make the board to low?

[ozark]

My 88 was a silverado and it had the inner roof panels the headliner went up against it.

[bilfman]

My buddy and I just did headliners twice. His had a bare metal roof and my headliner was a mass of rotted fabric. We just cleaned up the old moulded headliner and glued new fabric to it, it turned out great. For his we found an old beat headliner from a wrecker, cleaned it up glued some fabric and put it in his truck. I assume the previous owner threw out your old headliner if you have all the trim strips.

Ez mode to glue it down is to set it up on some saw horses, lay your fabric on on the headliner. Fold half the fabric back over itself. Spray the exposed half of the headliner and the folded fabric. Pull it over onto the glue and press together, repeat same proceedure for the other half. The one in the pics cost a total of $42 including the adhesive.

[cochino12]

Originally Posted by bilfman

My buddy and I just did headliners twice. His had a bare metal roof and my headliner was a mass of rotted fabric. We just cleaned up the old moulded headliner and glued new fabric to it, it turned out great. For his we found an old beat headliner from a wrecker, cleaned it up glued some fabric and put it in his truck. I assume the previous owner threw out your old headliner if you have all the trim strips.

Ez mode to glue it down is to set it up on some saw horses, lay your fabric on on the headliner. Fold half the fabric back over itself. Spray the exposed half of the headliner and the folded fabric. Pull it over onto the glue and press together, repeat same proceedure for the other half. The one in the pics cost a total of $42 including the adhesive.

How did you get it out of the truck? Seems like it would be tough getting it out without messing it up

[esbstuff]

Originally Posted by cochino12

How did you get it out of the truck? Seems like it would be tough getting it out without messing it up

It is possible, but windshied removal is required not to damage or crease it...

[crewcabsquared]

Ok, thanks for the info. I didnt know the crew headliner board would go over the inner roof panels. I've got the board and material and have done plenty of h-liners. I guess seeing the suburbans with no inner panels under the board just had me worried. Guess i've got my plans for the weekend!
Again, thanks, that's what makes this the best forum I've been on.

[BLE 'BURBAN]

Originally Posted by esbstuff

It is possible, but windshied removal is required not to damage or crease it...

Or you can pull the front and rear seats. Then with a bit of careful wrangeling get the headliner twisted and pulled out the rear doors without damaging it.
Done that a couple times inna past.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by cochino12

How did you get it out of the truck? Seems like it would be tough getting it out without messing it up

I've been wondering this as well. I was hoping the glass didn't have to come out. Sounds like if you're doing the whole interior & the seats are out anyway, it's worth a shot trying to 'wrangle' it out.

[mikev]

What's the best way to source a headliner board?

[bilfman]

We got ours in and out through the passenger front door, wasnt a big issue.

[crewcabsquared]

Originally Posted by mikev

What's the best way to source a headliner board?

Thats where I am, can't find a board(thought I had one found but no luck after all). They make them for suburbans, blazers, and pickups, but no crew cab everywhere I have looked. I have heard you can splice together the front 3/4 of a suburban board and the back part of a pickup board.

[Jonboy]

I was thinking the driver's rear door would be the easiest, since you will be going out the direction the door is pointing.

[bilfman]

Well having actually doing it 3 times in the past 4 months I can tell you the passenger front door is the only one it will go out without damage. It totally helps to have 2 people to do it. One helping from the drivers side and the other working outside the passenger door.

I did find a crew cab headliner supplier after a bit of a google search but it was $475.00 ish. Way too pricy for my liking. Our reglued units turned out as good as new for $50ish. My buddy bought the actual foam/cloth headliner material. He ordered a piece from a local fabric place. It was about $50. I just bought some dark blue stuff that looked 'headlinerish' for $30 both turned out great.

[yousesteers]

I need a board and am getting ready to swap my back window for asliderwould it fit through the back window.

[crewcabsquared]

Scored yesterday . On my way home I spotted a crew cab dually in the weeds behind a paving shop. Stopped and got ahold of the owner. Long story short, he let me take anything I wanted off of it for $100.00! Got h-liner board, some more interior moldings, dome lite and wiring, sill plates, cargo lite and wiring, super nice 3+3 emblems, and a good cab band w/clips.

[mikev]

Holy crap, that's awesome!

Take measurements of the headliner board!!!!

Did it have power windows/locks? I'll pay ya to get em and the wiring harnesses for me

[crewcabsquared]

I may try to make a mold from this one. And no luck on the power windows/locks. But we have a pic a part locally that has 5-6 suburbans with them. I think I am going to leave mine manual, less headaches!

[Stew_Magoo]

Originally Posted by bilfman

Well having actually doing it 3 times in the past 4 months I can tell you the passenger front door is the only one it will go out without damage. It totally helps to have 2 people to do it. One helping from the drivers side and the other working outside the passenger door.

I did find a crew cab headliner supplier after a bit of a google search but it was $475.00 ish. Way too pricy for my liking. Our reglued units turned out as good as new for $50ish. My buddy bought the actual foam/cloth headliner material. He ordered a piece from a local fabric place. It was about $50. I just bought some dark blue stuff that looked 'headlinerish' for $30 both turned out great.

What did you do to prep the old headliner board? Was it that molded insulation looking ****?

[mckustomfab]

Been lurking on this board for a while (lot of great info) but thought i would add something i found for the headliners. I think im going to go this route, the price is not outrageous and i'm having a hard time finding a board that's not just shot. http://www.classictruck.com/product/...n_Kits_Crewcab

[crewcabsquared]

I looked at those, I think they are held up by bows like an older car headliner. Might be a good alternative for you though. When I called and asked them about the kit, they informed me of the bow installation.

[LOW1TON]

When I redid mine I just pulled out the back window. Took about 5 minutes, pulled headliner, glued new suede on and reinstalled it followed by reinstalling back glass, only took about an hour and a half to do. No seat removal required.
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[mckustomfab]

Well that's some good info on the bow style head liner, saved me some trouble. I guess the search continues for a headliner.

[carboncrew]

Does anyone know if the crew cab headliners and headliner trim are the same from 73-91? Or did things change in 81 etc...?? Thanks