'68 F250 headliner pattern

[Helge71]

Another question for the knowledgeable forum:

As my truck has no headliner anymore (the chrome trim and the clips are still there) and shipping costs for a new headliner from the US suppliers to Germany are a bit beyond what i am reasonably willing to pay, i would like to fabricate my own headliner. I found several nice ideas here on the forum, but all require the use of the old headliner as a pattern.
So, not having the old headliner, here is my question: Does anyone have a dimensioned sketch/drawing of the headliner or is there a database somewhere where the headliner form and dimensions can be found?

Thanks

Helge

[brandon.k]

I know what you mean on the shipping cost. Its totally out of line to have them shipped here to.
You might be able to pull the trim out, tape it together on the ground and cut a piece of cardboard the same shape to use for a template. That way you could test fit and trim as needed til you get the right fit. That way you could just lay the cardboard on what ever material you want to use for the headliner, mark it and trim it out. Im going to try this myself pretty soon.

[71cc]

If someone could even trace one onto a roll of butcher paper or something light it could be rolled up and mailed in a cardboard tube reasonably. He just needs a tracing. Even if it took two rolls taped together then marked for reassembly after reciept it would work.

[Helge71]

I know what you mean on the shipping cost. Its totally out of line to have them shipped here to.
You might be able to pull the trim out, tape it together on the ground and cut a piece of cardboard the same shape to use for a template. That way you could test fit and trim as needed til you get the right fit. That way you could just lay the cardboard on what ever material you want to use for the headliner, mark it and trim it out. Im going to try this myself pretty soon.

I think i will give the chrome trim - template idea a try...Seems the easiest (and only) possibility for me. I will post the result when i get one...

Thanks

Helge

[Helge71]

As promised, here the results:

I used the chrome trim as a template. I temporarily connected the aft corners with some tape and the 2 centre joints with locking pliers to get a halfways correct template form. The template i then placed on a piece of hard wood fibre building board (on the white side).

Himmelschablone.jpg

I then traced the chrome trim outline with a black felt tip pen to transfer the shape to the building board. The transverse width of the aft end i measured with a tape measure from the chrome trim to get the correct width compensating for the curvature in the corners.

Himmeloutline.jpg

Cutting along the line with a jigsaw gave me something that at least looked like a nice new headliner...

Himmelgesägt.jpg

Then i tried to fit the whole thing into the cab of my truck. It was not a fit on first try. I had to adjust the length of the whole thing by about 15 mm and had to take off about 5 mm on each side. The front shape was o.k. without changing. After wriggling it in place and taking it out of the cab again to slightly reshape for about 4 times, the headliner fit was satisfactory form me and i fixed it with some short screws (not through the board, only against the outer edge to keep it tensioned) before re-installing the chrome trim.

The end result is really quite nice and i have a new headliner now for about 8 EUR/11US$ and about 2 hours work (incuding polishing of the chrome trim...).

Helge

[Helge71]

The result:

Here a picture of the installed headliner:

Himmelklein.jpg

Helge

[seattle67]

Good job, that came out excellent!

[ForingaMex]

That new headliner looks nice. You just need to put the screw in the centre of the headliner into the brace or is that material so stiff that it won't start sagging after a while. Maybe it's there and I just don't see it. Or is it supposed to be there. I know my truck has one but I'm not sure if that is original.

[Helge71]

That new headliner looks nice. You just need to put the screw in the centre of the headliner into the brace or is that material so stiff that it won't start sagging after a while. Maybe it's there and I just don't see it. Or is it supposed to be there. I know my truck has one but I'm not sure if that is original.

...well spotted...the centre screw is not there yet. So far i hope that the material is so stiff that it will not start sagging and i do not have to poke around in the new headliner hoping to find the screw hole in the brace at first try. But in case it will start sagging i took some mesurements of the brace screw hole from the aft centre chrome trim srcrew and placed the measurment sheet in the glove box for potential further reference...for now i still hope it will hold up without centre screw.

Helge

[mlheppl]

Looks great. Excellent idea.

[Helge71]

I was asked to re-post the photos, since the old ones are not available any more for some reasons...

Here they are:

Himmeloutline.jpg

Himmelgesägt.jpg

Himmelschablone.jpg

[Helge71]

And the finished Headliner...

Himmelklein.jpg

[Quartering Away]

What material did you make your headliner out of , I still have the old one but it is damaged .