This Page is dedicated to all the people from Trans Am Country who wanted me to do a how to on my headliner.
Here's the start. I removed the original covering, it was actually falling off so it was real easy. In the back, you can see the foam I have rolled up there. It is 1/8" closed cell foam, and the fabric I will be using.
Here is a shot of some of the foam so you can kinda get a feel for what it is.
I then scraped off all the old glue with a putty knife. You can actually see me doing something LOL
Next, I cut the base from the foam. What you see here is the cutouts for the visors, and the Pontiac arrowhead. I just couldn't resist putting the arrowhead on there. Just make sure to glue it down at this stage. I didn't on my first attempt and had to redo it. The best way is to cut the foam bigger than you need, glue where you are not cutting out on the base (if at all), then glue the areas you cut out, then trim off the excess around the edges.
Then, I found a pic I wanted to use, and in Corel Draw, I cleaned it up until it was just a clean outline. I then printed it off full size. The one neat thing about Corel is you can 'tile' your work so when it prints, it only prints a portion on each page. Then, you tape all the pages together and are left with the full scale of your design. I then cut out the pattern and saved all the pieces.
I then placed the template on the headliner and shot a fog coat of white paint on it so I can see where to place all the pieces
Then, I used some spray glue and glued the pieces I cut out of the paper onto more foam..
I then proceeded to cut them out to the pattern. It actually cut real easy, I just went through a few blades in the process. Yes, I am working at my comp, I actually am building the engine in the dining room, everyone gives me heck for it, but hey, I don't have a shop and it's real clean.
Once all the pieces were cut, I then used more glue and glued them into place. You can sort of see the height variations in this shot. The tail and wings are 1/4" and the body is 1/2". I still have to glue the Pontiac on, I needed a break. When that's done, I will cover both the headliner and fabric in Contact Cement. Making sure to get good coverage in the voids. When the Cement is tacky, I will roll the fabric on and press it down into the low spots. The foam will compress a little and give it that nice rolled edge look.
I was getting pretty high at this point. Who knew that using Contact Cement in your basement in the winter with all the windows closed could make you real giddy. Oh, and when your G/F or wife asks what you have been smoking, just say " nothing honey, I'm on glue" and laugh at her expression she gives you.
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Here is a shadow pic of the fabric on the headliner. It is the only way to get the material to show the detail with the camera. The bird turned out real good I think. You can see where the material didn't like to stretch enough between the body and the upper wings, it has to go from base, 1/2" up, then back to base, then up 1/4" in between the wing there. It just doesn't stretch enough. If you were using vinyl, or another stretchy material, you would have no problem.
In the car.
Here is a shot of my back dash. PMD and the Indian head
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