Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

I have a 72 Suburban and the head liner is shot. I would like any suggestions / pictures of how you guys did yours and what materials you used. Thanks.

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

Welcome to the board.

Let me shoot this thread over to the Suburban section to try and get you some help.

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

Several threads here on this in the burb section ... try a search, you will find some cool ideas.

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

Welcome to the board!

Here is what I did for my burb headliner.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=410459

Not totally in love with it, but it's better than nothing. Still open to better ideas on material to use, but what I used worked pretty good.

Oh, and put up some pics of your burb! Us burb folks are even more nosey than the PU crowd, since there are not that many burbs on the road along with us burb lovers out there.

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

I used the shower surround material also. The brand I used was from Marvin's Building Materials. The brand at Lowe's was too stiff. This kind was easy to cut and bend. Could make real tight bends with heat if needed. I used the same material and made side panels. Used a product called "bull dog", an adhesion promoter and painted them. I used the original Suburban headliner ribs and edge rails. See what you think....

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...n/DSC07007.jpg
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...n/DSC07006.jpg
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...n/DSC07079.jpg

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

WOW that looks great! Nice and clean it really pop's against that red paint. Thanks for the advice.

Keith

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

Thanks for the pics. Looks great!

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

Thanks for the help. I still learning my way around here.

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

I have a long history with 71 and 72 model trucks and suburbans. About 15 years ago I did a complete frame off restoration of my Great Uncle's 72 Chevy Cheyenne. Then I bought 72 Suburban Ambulance and cut the roof off it and returned it to Suburban. Bought another 72 Ambulance and just drove it for while, then bought a 72 Short Bed and painted it. Realized one day that I had a ton of money tied up trucks that were so nice I was afraid to drive them. Sold them all got married, had kids and have not done a project in 13 years. I came across this rust free 72 Suburban with front and rear air, tilt and had to have it. Now I am back in full force, I took the front cap off, pulled all the air ride suspension, pulled the motor, gutted the interior, pulled all windows and regulators and am waiting on the parts to come in to put the suspension back to stock. I have some pictures of my old projects but not many. Digital camera's were just taking off so I didn't get many digital pictures. I will see if I can figure out how to post them. Thanks for asking. It's good to be back!

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

Not to steal the post but highlander how did you do the side panels?

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

Ole Red....sent you a PM.

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

I used original panels and crossbars that I bought off the parts board here. My Burb never had a headliner, so I needed the header front, rear, and side brackets. The old stuff is very brittle.
"http://mob249.photobucket.com/albums...hpEJkCnqPM.jpg"

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

Looks good. I'm going to try to doing the same thing.

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

Here's mine although out of a 91' burban, but i had a guy down the road from my dads shop who's been doing interiors forever redo them, he used a spray glue i think and i picked the color of the material it was 40$ for both halves. just a thought ask some interior people if you can

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

This looks great. I was wondering if the interior from a newer Suburban will fit. I'm going to check the junk yards and see if I can find one. Did you get the front half installed yet?

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

im not sure if a newer one will fit mines held by a middle bar and the rest gets held in by the top trim and I haven't got the front in because I gotta scoot the back piece back and that's hard to do alone
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Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

I need to do the head liner on my 72 burb too. I see that all of you have a screw in the middle between each rib. What are you screwing in to? do you run strips of wood first?

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

The screw goes into the metal roof reinforcement cross bars. The metal headliner crossbars do not go in the same place as the roof reinforcement cross pieces. They are held up/hung by one screw on each end at the panel trim side piece above the side windows.

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

i see. that makes sense. thanks for the info. i need to find a set of ribs now.

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

Mine is made of Luan and covered with modern headliner fabric (available at any Joann fabrics for about 7 bucks a yard). It really quiets things down with fabric up there to absorb some sound.

By using the Luan (a form of panel board available at Lowes), you have a more solid surface to get custom with, meaning you can actually mount stuff in your headliner. I got rid of the front and rear (metal) rail supports and just use the two side rails to hold the headliner up. The Luan isnt flexible enough to make the shape bends, but it will hold its own radius with no problems. I asked a custom shop what they were building headliners out of and they gave me that idea as a very affordable option.

I built a overhead center console with a drop down section for my stereo unit. It also has LED dome lights and a 12.1" flip down TV/DVD combo.

Needless to say... I wasn't going for the "stock appearance".

But, this is my daily driver and I wanted it to be practical (I have 3 kids.)

Behind the 2nd row of seats, there is two 6x9 speakers built into the headliner, and at the rear doors, there is two 5 1/4" speakers built into the headliner.

All said and done, I have about $400 bucks in my headliner (including the flip down TV/DVD -$50 on ebay)

I need to take some better, more updated pics, I took these with my phone the day I was installing it in back over the summer. But, this gives you the idea.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c.../interior2.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c.../interior1.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c.../interior5.jpg

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

Not to hijack, but what vehicle are those seats out of?

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

looks like 2002-2009 suburban or tahoe seats with the integrated seatbelts.

The luan came out great. I would love to see more of these pics....

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

:agree:

Wish you had some pics of the building process & how it's mounted to the truck. That really looks nice & practical for a DD. Thanks for sharing.

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

Jeffg1010 that headliner is sick! I love it. I like that because it gives you a spot for speakers
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Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

Exactly right. Three rows of seats out of an '05 Suburban.
I will try to get better pics soon.

Sorry man . . . no pics of the building process. i am not an interior ... or upholstery guy and I will say... it was extremely simple. Anybody could do it.

thanks man!

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

Just noticed this reply.

I have all three rows of seats out of an '05 Suburban. They mounted perfectly and look real good installed. Just make sure you get the third row seat mounting brackets out of the donor vehicle. I also took the entire seat wiring harness out (which is a friggin' rats nest, but it made "hooking up" to my electrical a breeze)

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

Did the middle seat mount up to the 'ledge' fairly easily so that it still folds down all the way?

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

WELL... no, they will flip and slide forward, but they wont fold flat. And it is a bit tight. I have considered modifying the rear brackets to make more room, but they will flip and slide forward enough for an adult to access the third row seats. And there is more room in the 3rd row than there is the 2nd.

In fact, when I had the 'Burb down in Miami in January, I tried to convince the Miami dolphins cheerleaders at a car show to let me show them how much leg room there was in the third row. But they said their boss would fire them all. BUT ... there is PLENTY of room.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...b/100_4483.jpg

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

New to the forum. Have an 88 suburban and desperately need to do headliner. I do not have rear air so just buying a new one is out. I am liking your "luan" fix but did you piece it all together somehow? I am only seeing 4x8 sheets. The fiberboard that comes out of truck is approx 54.5 inches wide by 60 inches long. I know this is an old thread but any help would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

:welcoem: to the board...

Here is another thread on the subject:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=410459

I don't know how much difference there is between the '67-'72's and the '88 though...

LockDoc

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

Thanks LocDoc. Basically, if I want to keep original design I am kind of screwed cause 4x8 is the biggest sheet of anything I am finding. I would have to add a few "bow" type cross members to hide the seams. Not sure how I feel about that. Great info all around though! I'll keep on looking!

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

I used 4x8 sheets. I split the 2 sheets with a dropped center bar that housed 2 speakers and butted up to the dropper overhead console that ran from front to rear. Tough to explain but I believe there is pics in the other thread.

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

Well in since the thread is back from the dead.... lol

Jeff

On your third row. How did you mount the 3rd row seat? Did you just take the buckets and mount them in the wood? Did you have to Re-enforce the wood? Any pics?

I am in need of a rear bench in my 72 suburban. Thanks for any help you can give.

Chris

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

NICE!!! I am redoing the headliner in my '88. I scraped/sanded the old headliner foam off the panels, and am planning to use black car carpet (from Wal-Mart) as the main fabric, with gray carpet clued on the supports. I got an extra pair of supports for some added support, and am planning to put carpet backing for insulation on the top of the panels.

Could you post info on adding the speakers? I might try it for an upcoming project.

Thank you,

James

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

Don't know if this thread is still attracting attention, but here's my solution for the headliner in my '72 'Burban. Plenty of pics of the install for any interested.

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

Definitely interested in install pictures!!!

Woody

Re: Suggestions for replacing Suburban Headliner
 

X2 on more pictures. That is beautiful workmanship.