Help! plywood headliner

[fredamens]

My 71 Westy has plywood headliner and its a bit worse for wear and need replacing. Can anyone give me any advice on where to buy the material. Is it the case that you buy the ply and fit yourself or is it a specialist job with a specialist supplier. Taking it that you can do this yourself any advice on 'how to' would be much appreciated.

Sorry if this has already been posted.

Thanks Fred

 

[Dirty Harry]

Hi Fred,

I did the same job a month ago.
Take a look over here http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11395" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Its very easy to do it yourself.
Be sure you to use 3 mm for the roof, otherwise it won't bend and won't fit in the rail.
And 3mm for the sides is also the best because the clips that hold the panel are not that long!

Good luck

 

[uber cool]

Yes easy to replace. I recently bought the 3mm birch ply from a supplier in Preston lancs, £9.95 for a 5' x 5' sheet

 

[fredamens]

Thanks

It looks like you made a great job of it. I take it that for the headliner alone you buy it, cut the 4 parts and they just slot into place. Is it that easy?

Fred

 

[uber cool]

Yes mor or less, just stain or varnish it first

 

[fredamens]

Thanks UC. Did you cut them to size and then slot them into place then, i take it that there are no fixings?

 

[Robb]

what did you use to cut the ply without splintering?

 

[uber cool]

just used a handheld jig saw, with a wood blade. No problems or splinters.

Now just need to make the sliding door and rear hatch panel.

 

[Araon]

if you score the wood prior to cutting then splintering should be minimised....

 

[BigG]

You can also get reverse toothed jigsaw blades for cutting laminates and worktops etc, any splitting occurs underneath where you dont see it.

 

[froggy]

Can plywood be fitted to all vans?
My van was a panel conversion but the vinyl headlining is ripped in places (and also joined above what used to be the cab and the rear) and the quotes to replace are stupid money.
Do all vans have the internal gutter to slot the ply into?
Is there another way of fitting a headliner?

 

[BigG]

Those arent internal gutters but an ally strip thats screwed or rivited on so you should be able to do a ply headlining on any van.
Im hoping to fit one to my deluxe ,just trying to find an old set I can use as a template :winking0060:

 

[sparkywig]

If anyone has a template, can they copy it or put a drawing up for me please?

 

[no 6]

What about insulation / soundproofing behind ?

I would have thought that plywood would make it very loud inside the van unless it has some sound deadening on the back ?

PS: I need to do this as well, so all experiences and expertise appreciated !