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Headliner insulation

texas69bee

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Ok, I asked the question a while back on headliner thickness. The verdict was 1/2". Here is my next dilemma, closed cell foam or open cell foam. They both have different characteristics but for me the biggest hold up is the difference in rigidity. Here are 2 picks of both types of foam under the bow but next to the roof rail.
The first pic is the closed cell foam, more rigid, holds the bows away from roof. Similar to Dynaliner. Dynaliner says there's is good for preventing heat penetration. Suppose to be able to deaden sound but I have my doubts being a closed cell.
The second pic is open cell foam, softer, better for noise reduction does not hold the bow away from the roof that much but the foam is at 1/2" before it gets to the roof rail.
Out of all this that you read, here's the question. Does it matter which one I use as long as the foam is thicker than the roof rail or does that even matter?
What I am trying to avoid is getting the foam in and then on installation day I have a problem with seeing the roof rail.
 
That wouldn't happen on how the headliner is installed. The bows resting on the material provides extra support to hold the bows in place. Without that support I would make sure the headliner is pulled fairly tight on the front. New material will stretch and relax. The other area that locks the listing for the bows is those little roof rail clips.

When my headliner got installed recently the front bow in the center had the listing twist around the bow and pulled the center up a bit. That was due to the roof insulation and when the bows pulled forward the tension rolled a 4" portion of fabric. Easy fix, release the front and release the rollover, thats it and it is common to happen on a bow or two during install. Long winded I know but hope that helps...
 
So are you saying I could go with a padding that is actually thinner than the roof rail and all I would have to do is pull the headliner tight and the roof rail would not show?
 
That's is correct....Not crazy tight but tighter....Most people just put dynamat only...
 
Ive never done a headliner, but ive seen a lot of headliner refits where they are bad with wrinkles in the rear buttress/sail panel areas. My gut tells me that the stiffer closed cell insulation would be a plus in those areas to help avoid wrinkling.
 
Ive never done a headliner, but ive seen a lot of headliner refits where they are bad with wrinkles in the rear buttress/sail panel areas. My gut tells me that the stiffer closed cell insulation would be a plus in those areas to help avoid wrinkling.
The headliner doesn't adhere and just barely touches the insulation. Furthermore there is NO insulation in the sail.panel areas....

I have done 9 headliners and the last my installer did 90%. Then I went back to finish the 10%....Just they way things go these days plus I am a perfectionist about things....
 
The headliner doesn't adhere and just barely touches the insulation. Furthermore there is NO insulation in the sail.panel areas....

I have done 9 headliners and the last my installer did 90%. Then I went back to finish the 10%....Just they way things go these days plus I am a perfectionist about things....
As i said, i have no familiarity wrh the job, was just a gut instinct. I know i dont like wrinkles. I imagine doing a tight headliner is quite challenging.....my hat's off to You MN.
 
As i said, i have no familiarity wrh the job, was just a gut instinct. I know i dont like wrinkles. I imagine doing a tight headliner is quite challenging.....my hat's off to You MN.
The sail panel was a giveaway but hey now learned a little bit....

Challenging? It can be depending on a car....A bodies are the worst due to small work area and the sail panels.....Chargers are next and also due to the sail panels. Plymouths/coronet/superbee are much much easier due to the removable sailpanels. The removable sail panels make it light years easier.......

Once you lock in the rear center, then lock in the front center....Move to the R or L sail panel and then back to the other sail panel and slowly move forward alternating sides....When at the front bow forward/A pillar start from the center out.....

If you make a slight error you can always pull a section back, regale and reattach....Especially, with the new advanced legendary headliners....They were not that great some years back....
 
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