WLS headliners? Anybody use?

[Big_Guys_baby]

Have anybody used on of these headliners?

http://wlsheadliners.com/1946-to-194...headliner.html

I am trying to pull together some kind of decent interior for my car, but I am on a mega tight budget at the moment.

[TJ]

The material would be a big turn-off for me. Knitted nylon would not look good in an old Ford. It's the same stuff you saw used for headliners in the 70's and 80's. I would check with Cartouche and see what they have to offer. There used to be a company in L.A. called Acme Headliners. Not sure if they are still in business, but they used to make an inexpensive headliner and you had a choice of material. You get what you pay for in most instances.

[TomT/Williamsburg]

Most on this forum know me for cars that are not entirely stock so if I offend anyone, I apologize.

If you want to stay as stock as possible, Cartouche is an option. I have heard both good and bad with regard to their HLs and I would think alot of that would have to do with the installation of the product. You will need extra "clean" hands and be something of a contortionist (spelling?) to get the job done and done right (ie, stock looking).

Now if you are not hell bent on staying within the stock realm, but want something servicable until such time as money prevails to get it done or want just a driver, take a look at what's available at your locaL fabric store. They have newer headliner material that can be glued on and not use the support bars, nice vinyls, all kinds of stuff to perhaps give you the look/color you want/need. Panels for above the doors and other areas to transition into the HL will need be fabricated and covered but certainly not a difficult task. You might even consider painting and/or covering the upper HL bars to put on top of the HL material and not glue it for a more industrial look.

I think if you look at what you have objectively and check what's available in your local fabric store ( I have Hancock and JoAnn Fabrics close by me - I'm in those stores quite a bit and I've done the interiors on several cars) you will be amazed at what you can do on your own and inexpensively. Many times there's someone working there who can sew it up for you or know someone who can do that. You might even find the perfect material for cheap and have enough left over for someone else to install it - you just never know until you go look.

Added note - you say below you are thinking of fabricating part/all of your interior - here are smoe pics of my attempts to perhaps give you some ideas, encouragement, or laugh like heck at me!

[Big_Guys_baby]

Tom T, thanks for advice and encouragement... This car is a long term project, and I am heavily leaning towards doing a DIY interior just based on my current budget. I am not hellbent on keeping it perfectly stock, i want the inside to look cool, be functional, and comfortable. I plan on driving this baby a lot, so it sure isn't going to be sitting in a museum.

TJ, thanks for your input too, that is what i was trying to determine.

Another option for me is to go with the cartouche headliner, but fabricate the rest of the stuff myself. I have access to a couple of friends who are very skilled at sewing, though have never done a car interior before...

more research is needed. Thanks

Jeff

[TJ]

Jeff, I don't know if you have the old headliner, but if you do it can be used as a pattern. If you have some skilled sewers they can certainly sew on the bow sleeves onto your new material.

[laryh]

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I have a ACME headliner in my 48 Merc. It fit perfect and is good quality though I did have a professional install it. ACME does not sell to an individual. Have a upholstery shop order it for you or you can go to EZBOY and buy from them. EZBOY is owned by Le Baron Bonney.

[rotorwrench]

Many trimmers buy the headliners rather than stitch them if they have a good supplier. Pattern quality makes all the difference in the world the fabric panels have to very closely approximate the distance between bows. Many of the companies that make these can do it cheeper than the upholstery and trim shops could do it themselves due to the modern equipment available to the industry. Old style headliners are usually a light cotton fabric so the material won't sag. Vinyl is pretty heavy and puts a lot of pressure on the stitches for the bows. The vinyl will last OK but you have to have heavier nylon thread to hold it up with or you'll have strips of vinyl hanging from the listings before too long.

I have no experience with WLS so I can't be of much help there. Generally a good headliner fabric will cost around $40 per yard and a coupe will take about a yard and a half or maybe two. This is for good quality materiels like LB and SMS sell. I'd figure somewhere near twice that in labor to cut & stitch it up minimum. With that in mind, you can see why Cartouche lists at around $200 for their kit. As picky as I am, I'd likely have that much in labor just putting one together. It pays to know materials and find out what they are using to make this stuff or you could get one that fits OK but won't last very long.

[TNDoug]

I used a WLS headliner in my '37. I found the material perfect for my car and my wallet. I heard lots of complaints about Cartouche (bad fit, no directions,etc). The WLS headliner was easy to install. Everybody has their own opinion as to what works and what doesn't-and there isn't anything easier than to spend someone else's money. JMHO.

[Big_Guys_baby]

Ultimately that is the advantage of interior stuff, it can be changed without too much hassle as long as you have the cash! Lol. Some of the reviews on cartouche headliner have been less than favorable!