Homemade headliner

64shortie · Post by **64shortie** » November 19, 2010, 1:16 am

Here's some pics of the new headliner in my 64. First time I've ever done one on my own. I was driving home from the local park one afternoon and spotted an old office cubicle divider leaning against a dumpster with this fabric on it. Lucky me I was driving the truck and could haul something. I tossed it in and took it to the shop. When I stripped back the fabric I found the inner layer was some real nice 1/8 inch masonite. I ended up stripping down the whole thing. It was 5' x 5' with fabric and masonite on both sides. Total of 50 sq. feet of fabric. I used the old pieces of the headliner as patterns, cut and formed the masonite and contact cemented the fabric onto the new pieces. The color blends with my interior perfectly. I formed the curves and bends in the masonite by dampening it with a little water, laying them on some boards laid across some sawhorses with a gap between them. I laid the old pieces under the new ones and put round solid steel weights on top until the new pieces curved to match the old ones. Then left them to dry overnight. Ended up with a near perfect match. Just flexed them into place while installing. I added up what the materials would have cost to buy and I figure I saved well over $200. Had enough fabric left to cover the door panels (upper and lower), visors as well as the armrests. The arm rests are from a 62 Mercury Monterey I restored years ago. They were extras and for the back doors. I painted the bases to match the truck.

Post by **foodstick** » November 19, 2010, 1:24 am

Dang, that looks GOOD !

Max · Post by **Max** » November 19, 2010, 5:36 am

Yea, real nice job putting that material together like that!

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » November 19, 2010, 6:01 am

thats SWEEEET!!! we have thrown out a lot of those cubical walls and I have never thought of using them... what an idea....

jjim7 · Post by **jjim7** » November 19, 2010, 6:29 am

Looks great

69supercj · Post by **69supercj** » November 19, 2010, 7:58 am

Thats about the slickest, pun intended, job of recycling that I've seen in a LOOONG time. Awesome job my friend.

slick4x4 · Post by **slick4x4** » November 19, 2010, 8:18 am

nice job... color is just right too

azjake · Post by **azjake** » November 19, 2010, 8:36 am

That looks great! Good job!!!

Jake

ezernut9mm · Post by **ezernut9mm** » November 19, 2010, 8:53 am

excellent job man. i love it

Post by **Casey 65** » November 19, 2010, 9:05 am

Very nice! Great looking interrior

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » November 19, 2010, 9:10 am

Great work, absolutely top shelf!!

Post by **foodstick** » November 19, 2010, 10:39 am

I bet he could build a nice stepside box with an old rolling dumpster, and a couple 55 gallon drums !

64shortie · Post by **64shortie** » November 19, 2010, 2:41 pm

foodstick wrote:I bet he could build a nice stepside box with an old rolling dumpster, and a couple 55 gallon drums !

Now there's an idea for ya! Maybe I can use the same dumpster I found the material next to

. Comes from growing up dirt poor. When I was a kid in high school I would never have had anything if I didn't figure out a way to make it from something else. Not so poor now but have developed a passion for creating from others waste. I love the feeling of building from scratch. Thanks guys for your kind words and support. I'm thinking this forum is the best thing to happen to my Slick in a long time. Has me inspired again. Now I'm on the prowl for something to cover the seat with. I've never done a seat either and am looking forward to figuring it out. My neighbors wife has a sewing machine that will sew heavy materials and is willing to let me use it and teach me sewing techniques. Another aspect of this I like a lot is ending up with a one off result.

slickmainer · Post by **slickmainer** » November 19, 2010, 7:35 pm

man that looks good, and maybe you can get a "Green" tax break for recycling! well done!

Post by **Greg D** » November 19, 2010, 9:02 pm

That is very cool!

Michelle · Post by **Michelle** » November 19, 2010, 9:29 pm

Darn good looking if you ask me. Looks a lot better than factory.

ProStreet66 · Post by **ProStreet66** » November 19, 2010, 10:14 pm

That looks great. I love when that happens. To have something like that come out great and not have a dime in it. Great job.

macgiobuin · Post by **macgiobuin** » November 20, 2010, 1:12 pm

Nice job!

Brian Taylor · Post by **Brian Taylor** » November 20, 2010, 3:34 pm

Now can you make one for each of us??????????

TxSlick66 · Post by **TxSlick66** » November 21, 2010, 12:11 pm

Super... You gonna sell the patterns?

On a related note... I figured out a way to keep the screws in the chrome trim from collapsing the trim.

Just fill the back side of the trim with Bondo around each hole. Redrill the hole through the Bondo. Then you can tighten the screws up tight without fear of dimpling the trim. ANd it will never show, and probably does a better job of clamoing the headliner down, too.