Slant Six Forum :: Headliner Advice

About 20 years ago I purchased a headliner kit from JC Whitney for a 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlas Cierra. It was a generic kit that came with 5 headliner bows I had to cut and install myself.

The bows were thick gauge wire that had slight curves present at each end. I be you could use thick brake tubing or fencing wire from a hardware store if you spent the time to curve it properly. The harder part will be fashioning the brackets that hold the ends of the bows. I can't recall exactly how the universal kit held the bows, but I do remember it was bit of a pisser to get them installed right.

Maybe you could find a universal headliner kit to adapt to your Dart? Have you gone to an upholstery shop and asked them if they could fabricate some bows and stays for you?

Author:	polara pat [ Sun Sep 06, 2015 10:04 am ]
Post subject:	Headliner Advice
When it comes to wagon only parts I feel like it might have been easier to build a Hemi Cuda. I can find a headliner for our '64 V-100 wagon but it does not come with bows and I can't say that I have all or any of the trip that "captures" the headliner material on the outside edges. Is there a question you ask? Does anyone have any good or bad experience with particular headliner vendors and where would one find wagon bows and trim? I feel like I need another parts car. Any headliner advice would be swell, I'm kind of dreading this job.

Author:	SlantSixDan [ Sun Sep 06, 2015 10:10 am ]
Post subject:
www.stockinteriors.com . Donno where you'd find the bows, though.

Author:	polara pat [ Sun Sep 06, 2015 11:37 am ]
Post subject:
Quote: www.stockinteriors.com . Donno where you'd find the bows, though. That has been the pickle thus far. I may end up making them.

Author:	wjajr [ Sun Sep 06, 2015 3:34 pm ]
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Off topic; sort of: Headliner advice... First thing the popped into my head: Tinfoil, use HD 18" Reynolds Wrap, works better than the finest woven Faraday Cage. Just be sure to run a ground strap down a pant leg to floor. LOL I would think one could fabricate some kind of bow that would work, or utilize another manufacturer's bow from a more plentiful model run.

Author:	Reed [ Sun Sep 06, 2015 3:59 pm ]
Post subject:
About 20 years ago I purchased a headliner kit from JC Whitney for a 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlas Cierra. It was a generic kit that came with 5 headliner bows I had to cut and install myself. The bows were thick gauge wire that had slight curves present at each end. I be you could use thick brake tubing or fencing wire from a hardware store if you spent the time to curve it properly. The harder part will be fashioning the brackets that hold the ends of the bows. I can't recall exactly how the universal kit held the bows, but I do remember it was bit of a pisser to get them installed right. Maybe you could find a universal headliner kit to adapt to your Dart? Have you gone to an upholstery shop and asked them if they could fabricate some bows and stays for you?

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Author:	polara pat [ Sun Sep 06, 2015 5:07 pm ]
Post subject:
Quote: About 20 years ago I purchased a headliner kit from JC Whitney for a 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlas Cierra. It was a generic kit that came with 5 headliner bows I had to cut and install myself. The bows were thick gauge wire that had slight curves present at each end. I be you could use thick brake tubing or fencing wire from a hardware store if you spent the time to curve it properly. The harder part will be fashioning the brackets that hold the ends of the bows. I can't recall exactly how the universal kit held the bows, but I do remember it was bit of a pisser to get them installed right. Maybe you could find a universal headliner kit to adapt to your Dart? Have you gone to an upholstery shop and asked them if they could fabricate some bows and stays for you? Local upholstery shops are a bust for helping with the install and bigger shops who will help want a mint. I'm confident that I can make something work, it's just one of those jobs that I'm not really into. Maybe that's why the wagon hos gone without for 15 years.

Author:	Reed [ Sun Sep 06, 2015 5:11 pm ]
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Can you post a picture of the interiror roof of your wagon? I have some ideas of how you might be able to build a totally custom headliner based on my experience with custom vans.

Author:	polara pat [ Sun Sep 06, 2015 5:18 pm ]
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Quote: Can you post a picture of the interiror roof of your wagon? I have some ideas of how you might be able to build a totally custom headliner based on my experience with custom vans. Definitely!! Won't be able to post shots til Tuesday though. Custom vans rule.

Author:	Reed [ Sun Sep 06, 2015 5:23 pm ]
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Here are my basic thoughts- I believe the Mopar wagons have support ribs running side to side across the roof to provide strength to the roof panel. You use these as anchor points for furring strips that run the length of the vehicle and then you can attach whatever you want to the furring strips. Plywood, hardboard covered in fabric to carpeting, lighting, whatever. Pretty easy to do.

Author:	sandy in BC [ Sun Sep 06, 2015 6:50 pm ]
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I replaced the headliner (fabric and bows) in my DeSoto with a composite headliner out of a 90s Buick wagon. I took 15 minutes to install....has built in sound deadening.

Author:	SlantSixDan [ Sun Sep 06, 2015 7:45 pm ]
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Speaking of Stock Interiors dot com...

Author:	Reed [ Sun Sep 06, 2015 8:27 pm ]
Post subject:
$104? Holy cats! I could do a furry leopard print headliner with lights for less than that. But could hardly be called original.

Author:	azray [ Sun Sep 06, 2015 10:58 pm ]
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Try desert valley auto parts (dvap.com) they show 64 wagon listed as 1964 Plymouth Valiant, picture shows most of the headliner hanging from the ceiling.

Author:	sandy in BC [ Mon Sep 07, 2015 8:31 am ]
Post subject:	Another option for those who are not Restoration Constained
If you want a far quieter and durable option..... Consider a later model style headliner. The best source would be an upscale mini van or SUV. Mine is from a Roadmaster Estate Wagon ....Last Ride Edition. The headliner weighs <5lbs but has substantial structural strength Measure the width of the roof of your car at the point where the headliner would meet the trim. Chose a headliner that has the same width. basic contour and colour as your car. Take the matching sun visors and trim and installation gizmos. Matching coat hooks support the rear sides of mine I got lucky and had a perfect headliner from a Buick hearse that was exactly the same width as my car. Even luckier I had an imperfect wrong colour version to mess up and hack and make a pattern from. I rocked the ugly one for months as I was still doing lots of dirty work on the car. The headliner I used is 1" thick in the centre and made out of a kind of fibreglass reinforced foam . This is covered with cloth headliner material (spray contact cement) My headliner fit my DeSoto best when installed backwards. You can cut it with Big Scissors , aviation snips , or knife, The stuff is strong enough to take a screw to hold it in place. Use appropriate upholstery washers. The sunvisors are what holds up the front. You will need to support the center usually using the dome lamp Dont cut anything till you have to....dont be afraid to make a cardboard one first Before you cut the foam,,,,peel back the cloth to your cutline. Cut the foam ....then restretch the cloth over the foam. An ugly foam edge can be taped over ....then reclothed. Make sure Homeland Security can figger out how to inspect under it without destroying it. And Man is it a lot quieter.....and stronger ....and easier to install .

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Author:	polara pat [ Tue Sep 08, 2015 11:43 am ]
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Thanks for all of the good advice. This car really does deserve some attention since it's been driven hard and put to bed wet it's entire life. Here ya go Reed.