Automotive Carpet/Headliner

[AlexJet]

I'm trying to investigate possible soultion(s)...

I need to replace a few plastic panels in the trunk area. So I went to the dealer and asked how much would those panels will cost me. The answer put me in a position where I was looking for a chair to sit. Lower side panel only is running about $411 +tax. So basically replacing 2 lower and 2 upper window panles will cost me around $2k. No way I'm willing to spend such amount for a plastic coverings.

Meanwhile I was thinking - what if...
What if I replace it with self-adhesive carpet. Just attach it to the metal panles. It should give insulation and look Ok for a trunk.
Another "what if" is to use stick-on healiner. I've seen such foammy panels on a few trucks with roll cages as they have to through original headliner out.

My question would be if anyone knows any manufacture or brands orplaces to loock for for such products like Automotive Grade Self-Adhesive Carpet or any type of Stick-On Headliner?

I tried to serach the web, but so far my searching didn't come with anything.

 

[Desert Dan]

Are the panels flat or cury? Are they scratched or cracked?

Marine/ rv carpeting or indoor outdoor rug or might work?

You could always use vinyl/plastic spray paint. I am going to try that on the inside skins on my Jeep half doors to change the color.

 

[rusty_tlc]

I don't think he does any Runner stuff but check out Wagon Gear for some cool ideas.
Lots of dead storage space in those quarter panels.

 

[AlexJet]

Are the panels flat or cury? Are they scratched or cracked?

Marine/ rv carpeting or indoor outdoor rug or might work?

You could always use vinyl/plastic spray paint. I am going to try that on the inside skins on my Jeep half doors to change the color.

Panels are scratched, but this is not the reason.
I'm upgrading my Runner to 3rd row. So I've bought 3rd row seats from 7-passenger model and installing them into my 5-passenger 4Runner.
The issue I have is that side panels are slightly different on 3rd row option 4Runner to accommodate the seat mounts. Panel are plastic and very expensive to buy from the dealer. I thought of removing them completely, but would need to cover exposed metal, so kids do not scratch themselfs. Carpet seems to be a good idea. I just need to find the one which glues to the metal.
The panels are not flat, but I can make carpet in puzzle style to cover curves. It's a trunk, so not a big deal of having carpet there in pieces attached.

Any thoughts on that?

 

[eugene]

Our local fabric store chain (JoAnn) sells headliner and vinyl with the texture and color matching the interior plastics. I've built wood panels then covered with the vinyl for a nearly OEM look. If you want it slightly padded wrap headliner around first then the vinyl and the headliner will take some give like dash padding.

 

[DesertBoater]

Have you checked your local junkyard? You might be able to find a perfectly good set there for not very much money...

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Yeah, I bet there's not much demand for those parts in the junkyards. They probably throw them away normally.

 

[AxeAngel]

Or insurance auction yards.

-Sam

 

[AlexJet]

Have you checked your local junkyard? You might be able to find a perfectly good set there for not very much money...

Or insurance auction yards.

-Sam

I called them. What I got out is the way those yard deals.
As soon as get hold of the vehicle, they put it into one of the disassemble shops where yard "specialist" look and determine which parts they would be able to seel for the profit. So he orders the mechanic to take them off and the rst just goes under the press, after what they sell it back to recycle facilities as scrap metal, plastic, etc.
Basically 99.9% cases interior plastic panels goes into press and scrap or just scrap to recycle.
I can specially order for the yard to look for specific part, but considering popularity of the vehicle they may or may not get hold of 1 or 2 a year.
I just can't wait a year or so for possible (not guaranteed) part, and noone knows what condition it will be.

I've talked to a guy with old Chevy he was restoring. He mentioned to me that he had to wait 3 years till one yard called hime for his taillight he was looking for.

 

[AlexJet]

Our local fabric store chain (JoAnn) sells headliner and vinyl with the texture and color matching the interior plastics. I've built wood panels then covered with the vinyl for a nearly OEM look. If you want it slightly padded wrap headliner around first then the vinyl and the headliner will take some give like dash padding.

Hmmm???

Can I buy the headliner in rolls? My headliner is form pressed, so its not bendable. Side panels I have are curved, so I need flexability of a carpet to flex and go around wheel arches.

 

[alexfm]

do you have any pick and pull type junkyards in your area? The one I go to all the time just drains the fluids, and sticks the car in the yard. They dont even bother with cleaning em or anything. If they cant sell the parts after a while, then they crush them. The only problem is the never have very many newer model cars, and the ones they do have, usually look like crumpled beer cans. Some even have "biohazard" stickers on em. :Wow1:

 

[eugene]

Hmmm???

Can I buy the headliner in rolls? My headliner is form pressed, so its not bendable. Side panels I have are curved, so I need flexability of a carpet to flex and go around wheel arches.

Headliners are a thin fiberglass form press then the material is glued to it, yes it comes in rolls and you buy it by the yard. The vinyl covering is the same too, in a roll that you buy by the yard, it wasn't too $ either. They usually have different colors, black, greys, tans, etc which match the oem interior.
I couldn't find the headliner rolls listed online but when searching for headliner they have the spray glue to hold it on a headliner.
http://www.joann.com/joann/home/home.jsp?topnavlink=true

When I did my interior stuff, I'd use thin 1/4" plywood and glue the corners to 1x1" wood then use a large roundover router bit so make a nice rounder corner then spray with the headliner glue and wrap the vinyl around it. You can easliy layer up wood to make the curves and route, cut,sand, whatever to get the shape you want then glue the vinyl to it.

Other option is fiberglass like the car audio guys do, but I don't like the glass smooth finished product, seems to scratch too easily to me. I liked the vinyl, if you want to go quick and easy wrap it around and staple to the back then you can replace quick and easy if needed.

found it I think, hard to tell from the pictures but it looks around 1/8-3/16" thick http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/productdetail.jsp?pageName=search&flag=true&PRODID=xprd388109 so its probably it.
I bet you can find a larger fabric store local to your area and go in and look

 

[AlexJet]

do you have any pick and pull type junkyards in your area? The one I go to all the time just drains the fluids, and sticks the car in the yard. They dont even bother with cleaning em or anything. If they cant sell the parts after a while, then they crush them. The only problem is the never have very many newer model cars, and the ones they do have, usually look like crumpled beer cans. Some even have "biohazard" stickers on em. :Wow1:

Very few and mostly 200 km North from my place. They do keep only American trucks there.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Yeah, not many pick and pulls in Canada anymore.

 

[Lumberjack]

When I used to be in car audio we used to make a lot of panels out of wood, then cover with vinyl or carpet. Cut panel to fit. Get upholstery glue or spray adhesive, 3M worked good. Spray panel and back of carpet or vinyl. Carefully apply over panel. Mounting can be done with decor screws or if you want get fancy get reuse clips from the factory panels.

You could possibly modify the stock panel and use krylon fusion paint to make look new or carpet/vinyl.