Author Topic: Carslile blues = hardboard headliner restoration  (Read 4341 times)

Offline diyhemi.com

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Carslile blues = hardboard headliner restoration
« on: July 14, 2013 - 04:31:54 PM »
Well since I couldn't make it to carslile this weekend, I decided to tackle the hard headliner in my gran coupe. First, let me say, I am very lucky that my headliner was still intact and not crumble like most I have seen. However, at some point in my cars life, an owner thought it would be cool to cover the headliner in leopard print fabric... And boy was it ugly.

Anyway, the same old story of a sagging headliner board and only one person making a replacement. They are expensive to say the least, so I decided to save the one.

Here is where I started, notice the big dip and sags.


I had some headliner bows handy so I used them and fishing string as bracing to pull the hood back into form. I followed by cutting fiberglass mat strips and filling the void space.

1970 Barracuda Gran Coupe, gen III project (Cone Killing Cuda)




Offline diyhemi.com

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Carslile blues = hardboard headliner restoration
« Reply #1 on: July 14, 2013 - 04:36:24 PM »



I decided to cover the headliner with a suede material to match the leather/suede seat upholstery. Te overhead console was wrapped in faux leather a few months ago by myself. On with progress!
1970 Barracuda Gran Coupe, gen III project (Cone Killing Cuda)

Offline ToxicWolf

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Re: Carslile blues = hardboard headliner restoration
« Reply #2 on: July 14, 2013 - 04:43:37 PM »
Looks good so far. Watching for more pics.

Offline 'Cuda Hunter

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Re: Carslile blues = hardboard headliner restoration
« Reply #3 on: July 15, 2013 - 01:27:21 AM »
That's pretty slick.

Got any pics of the headliner and consolette wrapped in the leather?

Happen to have a picture of the leopard skin upholstery?
"All riches begin as a state of mind and you have complete control of your mind"  -- B. Lee

Offline shoooter

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Re: Carslile blues = hardboard headliner restoration
« Reply #4 on: July 15, 2013 - 01:31:24 AM »
My car didn't come with the interior in it. Do all cuds have a hard liner in it? I thought they had the headliner bows and material?  Looks good

Offline diyhemi.com

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Re: Carslile blues = hardboard headliner restoration
« Reply #5 on: July 15, 2013 - 06:37:26 AM »
My car didn't come with the interior in it. Do all cuds have a hard liner in it? I thought they had the headliner bows and material?  Looks good


Most cudas and challengers came with the traditional bow and fabric headliner that you speak of. The hard headliners came in gran coupe barracudas and SE challengers. The cars with sunroofs also had a special hard liner.

Here is a picture of the console, needs a little tweaking but I'm happy with the results.


Here is the leopard material that was in the car...

« Last Edit: July 15, 2013 - 06:40:23 AM by YellowFin »
1970 Barracuda Gran Coupe, gen III project (Cone Killing Cuda)

Offline dodj

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Re: Carslile blues = hardboard headliner restoration
« Reply #6 on: July 15, 2013 - 08:49:33 AM »
What!?! You didn't want to keep the leopard print?!?  ::)
Scott
1973 Challenger  440 4 spd 
2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
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Offline drewcrane

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Re: Carslile blues = hardboard headliner restoration
« Reply #7 on: July 15, 2013 - 09:09:12 AM »
This is a great thread I have the same headliner in our GC , I have been trying to preserve it ,and seeing what you did makes sense and looks like it will work just fine ,keep up the Great work and pics please

Offline 'Cuda Hunter

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Re: Carslile blues = hardboard headliner restoration
« Reply #8 on: July 15, 2013 - 11:13:04 PM »
Wow, that leopard print is really bad.
"All riches begin as a state of mind and you have complete control of your mind"  -- B. Lee

Offline brads70

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Re: Carslile blues = hardboard headliner restoration
« Reply #9 on: July 16, 2013 - 08:15:51 AM »
Wow, that leopard print is really bad.

 :roflsmiley: :iagree:  I'm laughing and trying to say ewww at the same time.
Wow the 70's were good to someone! :bigshades: :lol:
Brad
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Offline HP_Cuda

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Re: Carslile blues = hardboard headliner restoration
« Reply #10 on: July 16, 2013 - 11:58:10 AM »

Man that print makes me think you don't want to even sit in there!!!

Can anyone say black light?
1970 Cuda Clone 440 4 speed - sublime green
1970 Cuda 383 4 speed - yellow - SOLD

Offline EB3-GranCoupe

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Re: Carslile blues = hardboard headliner restoration
« Reply #11 on: July 16, 2013 - 12:02:09 PM »
That leopard print was the thing that kept your headliner in as good a condition as it was!   :smilielol:

At least you had something to work with, I only had half of one!

Offline diyhemi.com

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Re: Carslile blues = hardboard headliner restoration
« Reply #12 on: July 16, 2013 - 06:03:14 PM »
Well I did more work last night, I reinforced the forward opening area and began removing the bows. The headliner is definitely more stable now, but I think I will follow up with one more layer of reinforcement over the entire top. I will also make a bracket to solidly mount the overhead console so that it is not just hanging on the headliner.

I also had to get out my angle grinder and a flap disc to sand off the old glue/cement from the headliner so that it would not show up under the fabric. I know that sounds a bit extreme, but it works great! The area I did so far is very smooth and ready to apply fabric




1970 Barracuda Gran Coupe, gen III project (Cone Killing Cuda)

Offline diyhemi.com

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Re: Carslile blues = hardboard headliner restoration
« Reply #13 on: July 16, 2013 - 11:13:43 PM »
Still working away, today's progress:

1970 Barracuda Gran Coupe, gen III project (Cone Killing Cuda)

Offline HP_Cuda

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Re: Carslile blues = hardboard headliner restoration
« Reply #14 on: July 17, 2013 - 02:39:47 AM »

Wow looking good!

 :2thumbs:
1970 Cuda Clone 440 4 speed - sublime green
1970 Cuda 383 4 speed - yellow - SOLD