Wooden headliner

[Adsuk]

Hi All just wondering if anybody can help I’m after the original colour that the birch headliner was stained ??

 

[Clem]

What year is the bus, the 70/71 onwards were much lighter.

 

[Adsuk]

What year is the bus, the 70/71 onwards were much lighter.

It’s a early 71

 

[W1K1]

i don't think there was any stain on the roof panels, just whatever varnish they used in the 70's tends to yellow with age.

 

[Clem]

That should be the much lighter wood. I did replace some wood in one and I think I kept the tin of stain for reference, let me look for it and ill try and let you know.

 

[Clem]

i don't think there was any stain on the roof panels, just whatever varnish they used in the 70's tends to yellow with age.

I stained the parts I replaced to give them a coat of protection from the damp.

 

[slowmo]

Anyone know any possible sources for 3mm Birch Plywood? I'm struggling to get some and I'm been offered 4mm poplar ply but I don't believe this will fit in the original westy trims.

 

[W1K1]

do you have a local wood specialist that carries baltic birch plywood? that's what you're looking for. Its thinner layers and no voids in the plies. commonly used in homebuilt aircraft and high end cabinets, and also comes in 5 ft x 5 ft sheets, which also works great for doing the floor as well.

 

[hotrodthug]

Have you tried this chap? I bought a floor from him, superb quality and very quick delivery.

https://www.customshopdesigns.com/product-page/vw-baywindow-camper-van-3mm-birch-ply-roof

 

[Adsuk]

That should be the much lighter wood. I did replace some wood in one and I think I kept the tin of stain for reference, let me look for it and ill try and let you know.

That would be brilliant

 

[slowmo]

Have you tried this chap? I bought a floor from him, superb quality and very quick delivery.

https://www.customshopdesigns.com/product-page/vw-baywindow-camper-van-3mm-birch-ply-roof

Yes but its 4mm and he wasnt sure it would fit in the standard trims without triming down

 

[Clem]

That would be brilliant

Sorry, I only had the stain I used on mine which is the darker/earlier type. I think I chucked the old tin when I moved. Lesson learned. … don’t throw ANYTHING away

 

[mike202]

I had to replace a small panel above the sliding door on my Westy a few years ago, as it delaminated. I ended up buying three small tins of different shades of varnish to get it to match. I think it’s faded very pale over the years, so I used trial and error on off cuts of the same ply I used for the replacement panel in order to get a good match.

 

[milfredo]

My rear panel sags. How can I hold it up in the middle? I don't think this panel is original.

 

[mike202]

My rear panel sags. How can I hold it up in the middle? I don't think this panel is original.

Do you have the ‘headbanger’ locker installed ? I think the ply headliner is supposed to hold itself up by flexing upwards when installed onto the two side rails.

 

[ozziedog]

My rear panel sags. How can I hold it up in the middle? I don't think this panel is original.

Is there any way you can take the sag out El temprer with an upside down broom or similar to spread the load or even two or three to regain the original shape. Then investigate any play or slop or slack in the side / supporting rails then take up the slack physically with paired wedges in several places along the sides, obviously very small ones then fill the gap with one of the multitude of gap filling adhesives on the market. Might be even better if you can do it all on one side. There are adhesives available now that will expand slightly as they’re curing a bit like a tiny version of expanding foam. Gorilla glues do one and it is fab. When it’s cured you can easily remove excess with a Stanley blade.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,shouldn’t be a mountainous thing.

 

[milfredo]

I was looking at it this evening while refitting the front section. I don't think the rear is original and hence has been cut a little too wide. I think I need to remove it and take a slither off the side.

Does the side cupboard need to come out to do this or just the over head storage?