69 Crew Cab headliner question

[nchorsepower]

I have a 69 Crew Cab that has some missing parts for the headliner. I have the perimiter trim and can get the front cardboard section. I imagine ill have to have the rear section made. What comprised the center section trim and can I find one? Please help.

[Calfdemon]

The center piece of the trim was a cheap plastic strip the snapped on the metal bar which should run along your roof inside the cab. The metal bar ran between the 2 pieces of headliner board and the plastic clip just snapped to it. It really was a crappy design, and I still have my piece. I am not sure that I am going to use the plastic clip piece and if I do not, you are welcome to it. I have a plan to use something different in my crew and if my idea works, the then stock piece is all yours for shipping costs.

I highly doubt you would be able to find another stock one as none of the original crew cab parts are re-popped that are different than the standard cab parts. I took some pictures so you can see what I am talking about and reference them to your truck. Also included the measurements for the rear headliner piece...

Here is are both pieces of the headliner with the center strip between them:


Here is the metal piece that the plastic piece clips to that should be on the inner roof of your cab between the front doors and the back doors:


Here is a close up of the top of the plastic piece:


And here is the bottom where you can see the groove that snaps on to the metal bar which holds it in place:


Here is the rear headliner with the front to back measurement:



And the side to side measurement. There is a bit of a curl on each side of the headliner, so the actual measurement might be another inch or so:



Hopefully those help some... Ill let you know about the center piece and if I will be needing it or not. I am pretty sure I can let it go, but let me make sure my idea is going to work for sure first.

[nchorsepower]

That's going to be a tough piece to find. Please let me know.

[jamesingarage]

Hey Calfdemon, What did you do on your headliner i know this is a older post but im to that point on my 71 crew.. and i dont want to use that plastic piece, mine is very bruttle, Thanks

[Calfdemon]

Well, I haven't actually installed it yet so I cannot show you how it will look but I have the pieces I intend to use and a plan.

Before I explain this, I am drawing a blank as to what year(s) the parts I am using are from as I know there are 2 different setups of headliner moldings for the standard cab bumpside. The pieces I am using are from the 6 piece setup (2 large pieces with the front corner bends, 2 rear corner brackets, and 2 straight metal pieces that go along the rear). There is another setup (67 maybe?) which has more pieces in it and more corner brackets.

Anyway, I am using the 2 straight pieces from the 6 piece setup. While I had my stock plastic center "snap" still in my possession (I sent it to another crew owner), I compared it to the two metal rear moldings when they are placed together as they would be installed. The stock piece is the same width and length of these two metal moldings. The only real difference is that the plastic piece snaps on the metal bar and the metal moldings are designed to screw into the roof and hold the headliner up. What I am going to do is mark the holes in the moldings to the snap rail in the roof and then drill small pilot holes in those locations. I will then use small self tapping metal screws to screw the metal molding into place once the headliners are up. The only thing that I still need to figure out is each end of the moldings as they were designed to go under the corner caps and have a U shaped end to go around the screw that goes into the corner cap. The stock plastic piece had a squared off end which would just butt up against the metal headliner molding when installed. I may be able to "tuck" them in behind the headliner molding that runs along the sides, but if not, I may be screwing the ends in as well or fabricating some sort of cap for the ends just to make them more cosmetically pleasing.

But when it is all said and done, I will a painted metal center molding held in place with screws, so it will not be faded, cracking, or occasionally falling down like a 40+ year old stock plastic piece does.

[460 crew]

I did the same thing Rich has described, only problem is the curve of the metal strips needs to be reworked just a little to follow the contour of the cab on the outside ends and like mentioned they are about 1/2in too short to tuck and need some sort of ends to meet up. I never messed with mine again after it was screwed up there and forgot about the ends after working on other things.

That plastic center trim can also be found in the econolines as the crews and them share a few parts.

[jamesingarage]

Thanks guys. i like that idea and i also have a few more running around in my head, i will let you know what i come up with..