Headliner question
 

Hi!
My Jeep doesn't have the headliner or the backing piece that it attaches to.was thinking about some insulation and a piece of 1/4" white laminated board or fiberglass. Not looking for a show queen, just noise abatement and insulation without anything dangling.

Thank you!!
Shawn

I'm sure you could make something work, but how about you get a replacement from the junkyard and recover it yourself?

It's a really simple job and a recovered headliner can really class up the joint.

I tried doing headliners back in the 1980s and never had good results. They either came out REALLY sticky or fell right off. Probably something I'm doing wrong though

+1 on junk yard.

If you don't have one at all, you can get any one out of a junk yard, and if you want new, let a shop re-upholster your headliner to the backing plate you get from the JY.

Shawn I would encourage you to give it another try. A junk yard headliner, a couple yards of headliner fabric, and a couple cans of the correct headliner adhesive (I prefer the 3M Headliner Adhesive, but any legit headliner adhesive should work fine) and you will be a super-hero (as in Super Shawn Boy)...

I have recovered a bunch of headliners over the last couple of years, and FWIW, here is my process (not including headliner removal and installation).
1) After peeling the old fabric off, scrub the headliner board with a dry nylon brush to get the old foam (usually orangy looking) off. Don't get overly aggressive with the brush but getting all that rotten old foam off is important.
2) If the headliner board is damaged, you can use some 5 minute epoxy or even fiberglass resin to repair it, but small creases or imperfection shouldn't be a big deal.
3) WASH YOUR HANDS AND MAKE SURE YOUR WORK AREA IS CLEAN.
4) Lay out the fabric on the headliner to make sure it fits with a couple inches of overhang all around, then fold the fabric halfway over on itself.
5) Spray the adhesive (in accordance with the adhesive directions) on the exposed half of the headliner board AND on the exposed half (the foam side) of the headliner material (be careful not to get any adhesive on the fabric side of the headliner material).
6) With CLEAN HANDS and a helper on one side and you on the other, slowly unfold the material onto the board, working it gently with your hands from the middle outward.
7) Fold the other half over onto the part you just completed and repeat steps 5 and 6.
8) Let it dry overnight, then flip it over, trim the edges to an inch or so, and spray them down and fold them over. Having a several new razor blades makes trimming the material much easier.

Here is how my headliner looked when I bought my XJ. Note the smoke halo; stinky...
Attachment 307097

There it is in the driveway after removing all those goofy push pins and peeling the material off. Note the orange foam still stuck to it. I don't have a photo of what it looked like after scrubbing that foam off, but you get the idea...
Attachment 307098

Here it is after following the above process.
Attachment 307099

Thank you!!
 

Thank you very much!! That is a huge help, I will have to give it a try if I can find a headliner backer board.

No problem; check out this option, I like it...

It only cost me just over a $100 for a shop to do mine in the factory fabric and came out perfect and that removing and the install. If one was already out could be a lot cheaper.

Same here.. it was about $100 and came out looking like a factory headliner.

So I have no head liner any suggestions
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...384478b63.jpeg


I have no headliner any suggestions on doing it or getting one

I don't have the backer board though. Essentially, there's nothing to attach it to

Junkyard.

Based on the photo you posted, you do have a headliner but the fabric has come off of it...

As for suggestions, this thread contains several options including recovering the headliner yourself, taking it somewhere, or even painting it like this guy did.

Also, there are many videos on youtube that can show you how the job is done. You may consider watching one (or more). This could help you decide which option is best for you.

What does everyone think about the custom head liners or should
I just do something basic

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I have seen folks use all different fabric types and designs. I have used a microsuede fabric on a couple of cars; IMO it looks very luxurious.
FWIW, here are some gratuitous headliner pics from my beloved 1995 BMW 540i 6 Speed Touring:
Attachment 306975

I did the headliner in tan microsuede. Note the yummy dual sunroof panels:
Attachment 306976

With all it's contours, this piece was difficult and didn't come out perfectly, however the imperfections are under the visors and not noticeable:
Attachment 306977

Attachment 306978

Attachment 306979

For the Cherokee I chose to go with some basic "standard issue" style headliner material. It was inexpensive and available locally. Also, regular headliner material is designed to conform more easily to the curves and contours of the headliner board; the microsuede headliner material is a little less forgiving and some other fabrics may be even more challenging to install "wrinkle-free".

Finally, IMO as important (or maybe even more important?) than fabric choice is the the actual recovering process. Really nice or factory looking material installed badly is no good, but on the other hand, crazy wild looking fabric installed really well can look super custom...

Recovering a headliner is not rocket science, just be patient, use a good process, keep your hands clean, and you will be amazed at how easy it is.

I personally think that this looks awesome (but would look even better if it was a tan interior, or if he went with a grey digi marpat)

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attach...r-img_0723.jpg

There are tons of custom headliner fabrics for whatever style you want, even marpat;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/108-DESERT-M...NXYccb&vxp=mtr

I have nothing but bare metal on the roof.

Alright Supershawn the solution is simple.

Go to a junkyard and remove a nasty old headliner from some beater Jeep. Go to the hardware store and get a can of Super 77. Go to any store that sells fabric and get enough heavy felt type fabric in any color you like.

Scrape the nasty bits off the old headliner, adhere new fabric, install in your machine.

Done and done.

:cheers:

If you don't have any headliner currently - you will need to source a stock headliner so you can re-use the backboard.

And if you don't have any headliner, I would suggest putting some insulation (either go cheap and use fiberglass, or use something like Frost King duct wrap insulation from home depot, or Fat Mat Rattle Trap if you have money to burn) and use it as an insulating layer between the roof and the headliner material.

Should make a significant difference in heat rejection in the cabin.