Headliner Replacement Fabric

[chilibill]

I have read the threads on replacing the headliner on my XJ and am ready to start the project. The replacement fabric remains a mystery. Standard fabric comes in yards. The width of the XJ is more than three feet wide. Is the replacement cloth stitched to make it wider or is special cloth used?

[91xjsport]

The cloth I got from a fabric store is 58" wide which left me enough to wrap the edges. I ended up going to a few place before I was able to find what I wanted. Its just a matter of shopping around. There are a few places on the internet where you can buy headliner material I just dont remember the web sites off the top of my head.

[5-90]

A "yard" refers to length - I think a bolt of fabric is generally 40-50" wide. As has been said, some bolts come wider, which allow you to do it with a single panel - vice a seam down the middle, or two seams dividing the panel into thirds (which is still workable - especially with some patterns - and it opens up options for you.)

I'd suggest using a fairly lightweight cotton or cotton blend (cotton duck comes to mind for some reason...) and washing it before you install it. 3M77 should keep it up there for a good long while.

Reemmber, no-one's telling you to use a pattern or not - or what pattern. I'm still waiting for my wife to settle on something, but I think (since we're going to paint it blue anyhow...) that the 89 Limited is going to end up with a "night sky" pattern - and it may even have luminous stars!

When I redo my 88, I think I'm going to see if I can get an interstate map printed to order, and use that for a headliner... I do a lot of driving.

Just because you got a solid colour from the factory, doesn't mean you have to put another one in... Have fun!

5-90

[87xjco]

I used black felt cut from a bolt of cloth and it was plenty wide. Looks good to.

[Cottontail]

I'm fixin to do the same thing on mine, and I went to a fabric store...JoAnn's...which I think is a nationwide chain. I found waterproof marine grade vinyl, like they use on boat seats. The whole project will cost less than $30.

That vinyl is really light and it has a solid backing to glue to the headboard.

[RichP]

I use 1/2 or 3/4 inch foam to cover the backerboard and have used various camo schemes, the nicest one was done in urban camo, blue/black/grey/white and cost me about $8, almost like a light canvas. Before I put it on I scotch guarded it 3x over a couple of days. To hold the whole shebang in place I used those split tail brass paper fastners like you use for putting papers together. Painted them flat black, drilled thru the material all the way round the outside and a few spots in the center field, foam, backerboard and put a washer over them then opened the split ends and double bent them back. Gave it a buttom tufted appearance and that puppy was never coming down again like it does with the 3m spray...The double bending prevents them from ever pulling back out and the washer prevents them from pulling thru the backboard. I use one of those push type drills.

[Grizzley]

Wally World $1 table in crafts - white denim, 3 yards. Hardware section, got 2 cans of 3M77, still up there 2 years later. I used more glue than I probably needed to, but oh well, it was in the can. :D If I remember correctly, the material was 45 inches and fit.

[zfinger]

Be a big balla and do it in suade!

I did custom door pannels in my 240sx and the 77 stuff didnt hold up too well. There's this other stuff called 357magnum or something, it comes out thicker, stringier, drier so it wont soak through, and hold up 10X better. Its also like almost $10 a can. I used 357 on one door and 77 on the other, the 77 soaked through and peeled back, the 357 is still going stong.

[XgeekstarX]

the one i had was droopy so i ripped the fabric off and now i have a sexy foam backing headliner.

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

In my XJ, I used a medium gray felt; looked exactly like stock.

I've also used a narrow wale, lightweight corduroy to do Mustang headliners. It looks surprisingly good as a headliner. The fabric section of WallyWorld is a good place to find material, or any fabric store.

[Eagle]

I'm fixin to do the same thing on mine, and I went to a fabric store...JoAnn's...which I think is a nationwide chain. I found waterproof marine grade vinyl, like they use on boat seats. The whole project will cost less than $30.

That vinyl is really light and it has a solid backing to glue to the headboard.
JoAnn Fabrics is a national chain, AND they sell automotive headliner fabric, complete with the correct foam backing to duplicate OEM fabrics.

Pep Boys also sells headliner fabric kits, but the fabric at JoAnn Fabrics is heavier weight

[cmotsvt]

The 3m super 77 didnt hack it for mine. Ive heard others it didnt work for. Steer clear of it.

[JoBo]

I'm fixin to do the same thing on mine, and I went to a fabric store...JoAnn's...which I think is a nationwide chain. I found waterproof marine grade vinyl, like they use on boat seats. The whole project will cost less than $30.

That vinyl is really light and it has a solid backing to glue to the headboard.

My son and I got regular "head liner" material at JoAnn's with the foam backing on it. It's available in several colors and the grey matched the original color but the surface was smoother and not fuzzy like. It looked real nice and was also under $30.

JoBo

[wrong1]

On my last beater I did a felt cloth with a series of license plates printed on it in various bright colors.

It'd make you dizzy if you looked at it too long.

[Fantobacon]

I'm fixin to do the same thing on mine, and I went to a fabric store...JoAnn's...which I think is a nationwide chain. I found waterproof marine grade vinyl, like they use on boat seats. The whole project will cost less than $30.

That vinyl is really light and it has a solid backing to glue to the headboard.

i am going to do mine in vinyl also.

i am using a black perferated material with a soild backing..so it should glue well.
my material was 90 bucks..nice stuff.

any problems with yours falling yet due to the weight of the vinyl?

[unrealtrip]

You can get headliner fabric at any fabric shop, I got mine at Joanne's. I have a bunch of pictures of the process here: http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=695033&highlight=headliner

http://www.secretreality.com/xj/XJ_headliner2-005.jpg

It is easy, but a pain in the ass and very tedious. $10.99 per yard.

[Fred85]

3M super 90 will do the job well and permanently, the trick with any spray adhesive is to completely cover the area AND don't be a jew with it

77 doesn't work that great because it's not really made to stand up to the crazy heat that'll collect at the top of your jeep around the headliner

[lilredwagn]

I used a fabric that was intended for upholstery with some Super90. Really nice quality fabric with embroidered elephants. I've been told it makes my jeep look like a drug dealer's, but I think it's sweet, and that's what counts, right? :D
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1968/hdel0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[RichP]

I don't like glueing, I use these to hold the fabric in place.
http://www.staples.com/sbd/img/cat/enl/378814_01_enl.jpg
You can paint them to match or contrast, do a pattern, etc. I also use washers behind and do a double bend so they won't pull back thru and also to provide a bigger bearing surface. They are a kind of poor mans button and you used to see that kind of button work done on south of the border custom interiors but those kind of button cost upwards of $1.50 ea. Put some 1/2 or so foam between the backer and material and they look really good. You can get a box of 100 of them at staples for under $4....

[bajacalal]

I used black felt cut from a bolt of cloth and it was plenty wide. Looks good to.

I was thinking of using gray felt. How did it work out, was it hard to wrap the thick felt around the edges?

[scca28]

I was thinking of using gray felt. How did it work out, was it hard to wrap the thick felt around the edges?

If you're using spray adhesive, you really only have to wrap your material over the front edge. The sides and rear are covered by interior trim so they just get trimmed with a razor.

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

I used gray felt on mine, and it looked exactly like factory. Blended in with the gray interior really well.

Felt will stretch to some extent, and is very easy to work with. I folded it over the headliner board on all sides, and cut every few inches (on the back) to prevent wrinkles.

[meanxj]

I used the 3m super77. Its holding up well after 2 years.
For fabric I used a transformers bedsheet - Optimus Prime! A twin size bedsheet is plenty wide to do a headliner and you can get them in fun patterns for cheap

[Harvo]

Well... I just picked up some Desert Camo fabric. About to do mine. I got the 3M 77 and I hope it works out OK. Didn't read thi until I already bought the can. Ready to go and I don't want to take it back.

[Two Jeeps]

I re-did mine last summer with some plain grey material from a fabric store and the 3M77. I was very liberal with the glue, but I think the material was too heavy because it fell again about five months later.

Before replacing it, I drove around for a while with just bare steel up top. If I can find the time this weekend, I'm going to back to that again.

With that set up, I no longer had to worry about ripping the headliner while trying to load firewood or bike parts. Plus my son liked sticking all sorts of magnets on the roof.

[lighthouse jim]

I just saw a truck in the shop when I was getting a new exhaust--owner used 77 to glue up that silver mylar bubble wrap insulation between the roof and the headliner panel. I'm about to copy it.

[XJRob2]

I have no headliner at all. Just bare metal. I was thinking I may have to either go to a junk yard, or make a backing out of paneling or formica

[TRCM]

Well, whatever ya do, don't use blue fabric.....I got my xj from a friend, who had replaced the headliner using blue headliner fabric.

Well, it has faded........TO PINK !!!!!!!

how in the heck blue fades to pink I have no clue, but it did.

[ParadiseXJ]

Here's your link.
Hints:
The kit comes with 1 can of adhesive. You'll need at least 3. I suggest the 3M product.
Follow the instructions to the letter.
Let it dry INSIDE THE HOUSE, not in the garage, for 2 full days. When I did mine it never got warmer than 35 all day for a week. The glue won't dry right if you let it sit in cold or damp.

http://www.wlsheadliners.com/tutorials/cherokee/