Headliner from RockAuto?

[Daveo91Burb]

Today I discovered that RockAuto carries headliners for squares. Plastic instead of cardboard/fiberboard, similar to what LMC covers. The one I was looking at was uncovered - you could paint or cover as desired. I was thinking of just painting. I was all set to pull the trigger based on the $355 list price for the full 2-piece suburban set, but then I ran a shipping quote: $150 for the cheapest option - ouch. Still seems like the most cost effective option I've run across for these, but I'm curious if there's any experience on here before I pull the trigger.

Any cheaper/better options out there that folks know of? I've got the classic drooping cloth, but I think the fiberboard backing is shot as well. I just want to rip the thing out of there and do a full replacement. No messing around with re-gluing, etc.

 

[ali_c20]

It's from Acme Auto, LMC is on their list off online vendors.

http://www.acmeautoheadlining.com/onlinevenders.html

I guess it's ok quality. I'm sure you will have to fiddle with it to make it fit perfect.

 

[Goldie Driver]

I think I would go this route if I did it over :

https://www.gmsquarebody.com/thread...-your-square-lately.3435/page-666#post-579865

The one I got from Classic Industries is not the exact style of the original.

Since it was just the material, shipping was not insane but for 150 bux I would hope a trim shop could make you a backing.

Good Luck !

 

[yevgenievich]

I went the glue route with new material when doing headliner on 91. Worth taking it out and taking a look first to see if backing is good. Otherwise shipping is currently expensive

 

[idahovette]

My Bride did the headliner for Kooper's S10 and it came out very good !! Still not in the truck, we are waiting for the visors to be done.

 

[rpcraft]

Seeing this makes me wonder how much a large sheet of thin ABS would cost. If you alread have a heat gun you would probably just need a helping hand or 2 (meaning the tools not a person) to hold in place while you heat the corner and edges and shape/trim it, then stuff the backside with a thin layer of some cushion material, like felt to ensure it doesn't flap around and make noise if there are slight gaps. The more you heat the area and shape and trim it the better it will fit. Trucks would obviously be a lot easier than a suburban but I suppose with the Burb you could maybe make it up into a couple of pieces, and if you wanted it covered in cloth of some type you could glue it up. Seems a lot better than shelling out a few hundred bucks...

 

[rpcraft]

24 x 48 sheet at home depot is 17 bucks. Buy 2 or 3 with some ABS cement and make it into one 4 x 6 sheet for less than 75 bucks. Just need some wax paper to lay underneath the joints and scrape off afterwards.

 

[75gmck25]

I bought the headliner for my K25 from Rockauto about 6 months ago and it was $180 for the headliner and $33 shipping. Total delivered, with tax and discount was $213.

The ABS liner with perforated vinyl covering is really nice quality. However, the ABS does not flex or give, so getting all the holes to line up for the visors and the dome light was a challenge. Once my wife and I got it aligned, the rest was easy.

 

[OEMBent]

Seeing this makes me wonder how much a large sheet of thin ABS would cost. If you alread have a heat gun you would probably just need a helping hand or 2 (meaning the tools not a person) to hold in place while you heat the corner and edges and shape/trim it, then stuff the backside with a thin layer of some cushion material, like felt to ensure it doesn't flap around and make noise if there are slight gaps. The more you heat the area and shape and trim it the better it will fit. Trucks would obviously be a lot easier than a suburban but I suppose with the Burb you could maybe make it up into a couple of pieces, and if you wanted it covered in cloth of some type you could glue it up. Seems a lot better than shelling out a few hundred bucks...

What about Kydex? Can you find a big piece of it? It responds well to a little heat.

 

[rpcraft]

What about Kydex? Can you find a big piece of it? It responds well to a little heat.

I'm more familiar with ABS personally and it's usually easier to work and find in thin sheets but I suppose kydex would be similar just so long as its thinner,. I'm used to seeing it in thicker sheets so I am thinking if it were thicker it may be tough to shape to the curve of the roof.

 

[Daveo91Burb]

Thanks for all the input. I think I'm going to do some more inspection on the backing to see how bad it is before I pull the trigger on this. Maybe I could get some material and reuse my fiberboard. Or the ABS idea as discussed in the thread.

 

[idahovette]

@Daveo91Burb In a past thread someone used a spray of some kind to build up the backing. My Bride and I did that on the S10 for Kooper and it strengthened it considerably. Can't remember exactly what we used but it was a clear spray and we put a couple of coats on it. Maybe check the GMSB library???.....headliners??

 

[Daveo91Burb]

@Daveo91Burb In a past thread someone used a spray of some kind to build up the backing. My Bride and I did that on the S10 for Kooper and it strengthened it considerably. Can't remember exactly what we used but it was a clear spray and we put a couple of coats on it. Maybe check the GMSB library???.....headliners??

I might have to check that out. I was checking out the front section in the burb tonight - the backing might be salvageable, but the foam pad has deteriorated I think. In the cargo area I'm pretty sure it's the backing that's shot so I may have to end up replacing that. Probably just need to get it all out and see what I'm working with

 

[idahovette]

@Daveo91Burb That thread had a ton of info about cleaning all the crusty foam backing from the board, really a lot of good info. We got some headliner material off of the internet that had the thin foam backing on it, worked very well.. Lightly "scrubbed the backing and cleaned and prayed the adhesive, about 2 coats, on the board and the material let it set a few minutes then carefully set the material on to the backer board and gently worked it from the center out. It was a small headliner, I don't know if I would have the patience to do a larger one!!...also on the material, Joann's fabric stores usually have a couple of materials in stock, lite grays or a tan, in the neighbor hood of $14-15 a yard, they were out when we did Kooper's so we went the internet route.

 

[yevgenievich]

I had the curved areas separate some after few years on my 91. Was thinking that the backing was curved too much when new headliner was glued and it got slowly pulled away in bends few years after install.