Anybody used the ABS repro headliners for a Malibu? Looking at a car with no board in it, also wondered if any of the formal roof boards work....thought maybe they would fit if trimmed at the back.
Headliners
- Thread starter Ribbedroof
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Is it pretty rigid? I have concerns about whether or not it will go in and stay without drooping in a short time. No ides how thick they are, maybe they're a lot thicker than I am thinking?
GM used a lightweight, rigid acoustical foam board for good reason. I bought the ABS board and promply returned it because it is freaking heavy (10 lbs?), the reading lamp hole cut out for the high level lighting package in a 442 isn't the right shape and is in the wrong spot and a large ABS panel like that isn't dimensionally stable. ABS will warp like a pretzel with high heat. Besides that, automakers invest a lot of time and money for the engineering needed to select the correct board material in attempts to keep cabin noise down. You can repair the foam board, do a youtube search.....I work for an OEM automotive supplier that has making OEM headliners for the last 25 years. The aftermarket G body headliner is made of ABS because thermoforming it is cheap and easy....its a piss poor application.
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See, I have experience with ABS aftermarket arts, and they weren't good ones so that's why I'm asking.
I see they claim it's thermoset at 320 degrees to supposedly resist later deformation.
Have repaired a bunch of the OE boards, but this car has nothing in it to repair.
I see they claim it's thermoset at 320 degrees to supposedly resist later deformation.
Have repaired a bunch of the OE boards, but this car has nothing in it to repair.
mine has been in my ride 3 years and no problems at all. could be just the one you bought or i got lucky
I installed an ABS headliner board in my Monte Carlo 3-4 years ago. I had the company that I purchased it from, reupholster it in material that matched the original as closely as possible. I found it to be much more flexible than the original, it fit well, with the holes in the correct places, and I haven't had any issues with it at all. Maybe there are different companies that are manufacturing these parts, which would account for the varying stories of satisfaction. When I was going to fix up the Cutlass wagon that I had, I looked into getting a similiar headliner board, but the supplier that I dealt with for the headliner for the Monte Carlo told me that nobody makes a reproduction ABS headliner board(s) for a wagon.
There is nothing wrong with ABS plastic in itself. It is actually a better engineering resin than polypropylene or ethylene. Using it as a headliner substrate is just a bad engineering option but If you have nothing to start with and can't find a $20 junk yard substrate to work with then it's likely your only option.
I don't know where you are at, but, if you can buy G-body headliner boards for $20 I will take a truck load.
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