by Vantasia Thu Sep 25, 2014 7:04 am
I finally got around to finishing my rear headliner install using the Lowe's Ever-True faux wood wainscot panels! As requested, here's the pics.
First up, the insulation. I used the foil faced bubble type from Lowe's, but I also had access to a commercial 6' wide roll used to insulate long haul truck perishables (beer)! All edges were sealed with foil HVAC tape. (Also used to fill the window panels on my windowless panel doors as seen in some of the pics, bottom halves are fill with fiberglass).
I put it on with 3M spray adhesive in two layers. Note, I found I had to build out the extra middle bows with a 3rd layer even with the steel bows to give the roof panels a mid point place to bond to with construction adhesive to prevent sagging, since the plastic panels are a bit flexible. The first test piece sagged and this solved the problem, this wouldn't happen with real wood.
First row of panels installed! I used white square drive head screws found in bulk on eBay and PL400 construction adhesive in the middle. I put a piece of black door edge molding around the dome light for trim.
The 3/4" self drilling screws. My biggest fear was nipping one of the dome light wires inside the bows, but both lights still worked after I was done!
Proceeding to the center and rear around roof vent.
The finished roof. I ended up putting a screw at every rib in the paneling to suck up tight against the roof bow curvature. The plastic panels are flexible enough to conform nicely to the curve at the edges of the G-van. Real wood panels would have cracked or had to be angled to meet the curve.
So there you have it!, I'm very pleased with the way it turned out and I like the white ceiling look like an old porch or boat roof. This material was very easy to work with, it cut easily with a utility knife, very little mess and was easy to shape around the corners and lights with a wood file and sand paper. Next I will panel the walls that have been insulated with a 1/2" thick jute material by the previous owner stuck on with spray glue. Figured I'd leave it, too messy to remove at this point and it seems breathable. I may fill in the cavities with additional fiberglass. Also note in the last picture, my 3rd roof top brake light. This is a plastic stick on unit found on eBay made for small utility vehicles like a Cushman, looks and works great and adds safety with small vintage van tail lights. Here's the brake light made for van roofs:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/404-ROOF-MOUNT-CHMSL-3rd-Brake-Light-/351177454302?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item51c3ceb2de&vxp=mtrLast edited by Vantasia on Thu Sep 25, 2014 8:19 am; edited 1 time in total
