headliner

I searched and didn't come up with anything close that could help me.  I have a 1985 chrysler fifth avenue, that I'm rebuilding.  My problem is that there is no carboard backing for the headliner, just cloth material adheared to the roof.  My question is what would be the best way to make a headliner mold for this car.  And prossibly kind of simple way.  Also there is a sunroof I have to work around.

Thanks for any help in advance.

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Don't Ask Questions When You Already Know The Answer!!!

Did you take the fabric down yet? If not you need to spray it with something that will stiffen it without making it sag, like starch. What you could also do is get a large sheet of 1/8" polyester foam. Set it in place and work off of that.

What are you trying to do exactly? Glassed headliner or new headliner?

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Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

I'm trying to put in a new headliner.  I already took the old one out, it was a little on the saggy side.  I'm going to be using suead for the new material.  I just kinda need some ideas' as to, how to make a new mold for the suead to be put on. 

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Don't Ask Questions When You Already Know The Answer!!!

The foam will probably work the best.


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Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

I would say mask off the whole area, then fiberglass a thin layer, then let it cure in place. After it has cured you can pop the mold. After you pop the mold you can add a layer or 2 of fiberglass mat to stiffen it up. Now you should have a headliner board you can work from.

how would i get the fiberglass, to stick to the roof of the car without it sagging or falling down.

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Don't Ask Questions When You Already Know The Answer!!!

Well, I really hope someone comes behind me with a "super method." But here is what I would do... it is a little "creative"

Get a plastic sheet, like the kind you would lay down to control resin spills.

Tack it or staple it to the roof of your car, hopefully conforming around the edges like you would want your final piece to be.

Measure and precut your fiberglass pieces, use a light coating of a good 3M spray adhesive. Place a layer of the fiberglass on the roof, you can do a section at a time or the whole thing. I would do it sectional myself.

Now that the fiberglass is in place via spray adhesive / patience. Start applying resin, working your way from one section to the next.

After you have done all sections, with overlapping edges, allow it time to cure and harden.

Remove the piece, reinforce somemore if needed.

If you are going to do one large piece, I would suggest removing a window, either the front or the back, so you can remove the whole "fiberglass headliner" all at once, it will most likely be at a 45 degree angle, after that, I would actually suggest, applying the suede material with the piece outside of the car, unless you like working upside down for long periods of time.

Hope that helps, but hopefully someone adds to it with something I may have forgotten. Like I said earlier, this method is "creative."


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I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

When you do not know what you are doing and what you are doing is the best -- that is inspiration.

Melted Fabric Im assuming where you say fiberglass you mean fiberglass mat. Your method kinda goes along with mine, i would recommend using small batches of resin & either use cobosil to thinken it or let the resin sit an thicken up b4 you apply it. Also, dont forget plenty of mold release, if you are gonna use staples like Melted Fabric suggest make sure you avoid puttin resin on the staples so that you CAN remove later.

blufab wrote:

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Melted Fabric Im assuming where you say fiberglass you mean fiberglass mat. Your method kinda goes along with mine, i would recommend using small batches of resin & either use cobosil to thinken it or let the resin sit an thicken up b4 you apply it. Also, dont forget plenty of mold release, if you are gonna use staples like Melted Fabric suggest make sure you avoid puttin resin on the staples so that you CAN remove later.

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Thanks B-Fab, like I said, I may have left out somethings. Yea, forgot to mention the mold release, not sure about the interaction between the mold release and the spray adhesive.

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I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

When you do not know what you are doing and what you are doing is the best -- that is inspiration.

I'll give it a shot, the only problem I would run in to is, stapling plastic or any thing to the roof cause its bare metal.  But I guess I could always use adhesive for the plastic to.  Thanks for the help when(and if) I get this done I'll post up some pics.  I'm redoing this whole car body, engine, and all.  So there should be alot pics for me to post in the near future.  Thank again for the advise.

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Don't Ask Questions When You Already Know The Answer!!!

Post em all !

I suggest masking tape for the roof.

If you run into any issues, don't hesistate to logon and ask.

We'll be waiting to see the pics and progress.

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I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

When you do not know what you are doing and what you are doing is the best -- that is inspiration.

What year is it?

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I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

When you do not know what you are doing and what you are doing is the best -- that is inspiration.

Nice, would like to see project pictures, even the as is shots with how it looks right now.

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I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

When you do not know what you are doing and what you are doing is the best -- that is inspiration.