Wooden Slat Headliner

Stock FSJ Tech Area
Post Reply

Topic author
WT91
Posts: 229
Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2015 12:00 am

Wooden Slat Headliner

Post by WT91 »

Hey guys, I know some have done a headliner replacement with wooden slats. My Jeeps headliner boards were toast when I got it, moldy sagging rat eaten etc. I got a set of replacement boards but they're also water damaged, sagging etc, so they're out too. I'm tired of driving around in a tin can and since I did the wooden door panels I think it could make the interior look decent with the wooden Slat roof. My question is what did people do to hold the boards in the front, back, middle, and sides? Essentially, how do you keep them on the roof? Pics would be great. I'm sure I can figure it out myself but I'm not the best at attention to detail "making stuff look good" so any input is appreciated.

Pic from IFSJA as example:
http://s245.photobucket.com/user/trader ... 4.jpg.html
Last edited by WT91 on Tue Oct 17, 2017 8:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
  • 1990 Grand Wagoneer
    440 swap, 727 MVB, NP208, D44 F/R 4.10 gears ZIP locker up front Detroit out back. So much other stuff. Check out the build.
  • 1994 Ford F350 Crew Cab Dually
    7.3 PS, ZF5, 6.0 Intercooler, KC Turbo
User avatar

HowardT64
Posts: 1536
Joined: Sun May 05, 2013 2:47 am
Location: Athens,Texas

Re: Wooden Slat Headliner

Post by HowardT64 »

Gosh dang I like the headliner!!!
2016 Jeep Patriot
"Faith"

candymancan
Posts: 3652
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2016 11:32 pm

Re: Wooden Slat Headliner

Post by candymancan »

Damn man lol.. i thought my burgendy vinyl headliner i did awhile back looked nice (still do lol) but thats fancy.. Now you need to get a mini bar in back and serve burbon and start a limo service
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9L Limited 219k
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 I6 laredo 430k
1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 155k
1976 Jeep J10.. 85k(repaired)

Topic author
WT91
Posts: 229
Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2015 12:00 am

Re: Wooden Slat Headliner

Post by WT91 »

That's not mine guys, just a pic I snagged off ifsja. Sorry for the confusion. Was wondering if any here had done this and what they used for mounting. Looks like I'll have to get creative.
  • 1990 Grand Wagoneer
    440 swap, 727 MVB, NP208, D44 F/R 4.10 gears ZIP locker up front Detroit out back. So much other stuff. Check out the build.
  • 1994 Ford F350 Crew Cab Dually
    7.3 PS, ZF5, 6.0 Intercooler, KC Turbo
User avatar

Stuka
Site Admin
Posts: 11789
Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 5:53 pm
Location: CA
Contact:

Re: Wooden Slat Headliner

Post by Stuka »

I really like that.

But my questions would be:
1: Does it creek while driving?
2: Is there enough room for expansion when humidity changes?
3: Does it induce boom when going over bumps?
2017 JKU Rubicon
Pevious Jeeps: 1981 J10, 1975 Cherokee, 2008 JK, 2005 KJ, 1989 XJ

SJTD
Posts: 1924
Joined: Tue May 21, 2013 12:02 pm
Location: Lompoc, Sunland or somewhere between

Re: Wooden Slat Headliner

Post by SJTD »

It's a Jeep not a boat.

Even though some say they handle like a boat. :lol:
Sic friatur crustulum

'84 GW with Nissan SD33T, early Chev NV4500, 300, narrowed Ford reverse 44, narrowed Ford 60, SOA/reversed shackle in fornt, lowered mount/flipped shackle in rear.

Topic author
WT91
Posts: 229
Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2015 12:00 am

Re: Wooden Slat Headliner

Post by WT91 »

Stuka wrote:I really like that.

But my questions would be:
1: Does it creek while driving?
2: Is there enough room for expansion when humidity changes?
3: Does it induce boom when going over bumps?
My plan right now is to insulate between the ceiling board and the roof tin, I had wonderful results using a water heater blanket in the past and plan to re-use again. My rig with no headliner bangs real bad driving down the road, sounds like a gunshot if you hit a bump because the roof crossbars have come un-tarred from the actual roof tin and slap together. As for humidity expansion, I am not a very experienced woodworker and never thought of that. I suppose leaving a slight clearance gap at either edge would be sufficient?
  • 1990 Grand Wagoneer
    440 swap, 727 MVB, NP208, D44 F/R 4.10 gears ZIP locker up front Detroit out back. So much other stuff. Check out the build.
  • 1994 Ford F350 Crew Cab Dually
    7.3 PS, ZF5, 6.0 Intercooler, KC Turbo
User avatar

merrill77
Posts: 215
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 6:25 am
Location: Raleigh, NC

Re: Wooden Slat Headliner

Post by merrill77 »

WT91 wrote:
Stuka wrote:As for humidity expansion, I am not a very experienced woodworker and never thought of that. I suppose leaving a slight clearance gap at either edge would be sufficient?
I am a woodworker (serious hobbiest). That is too wide to only leave room for expansion at the ends and screws holding them in place at regular intervals. 4' of oak could expand/contract by nearly an inch with a 5% swing in moisture content...which would be reasonable change from 80% humidity summers to 50% humidity winters here in the Carolinas.

If installing as shown in the pic and putting a screw in each slat, I'd leave about 1/8" of space between each. Since that could be T&G (tongue and groove), you can do that without any visual impact, other than the width of the space between the boards (i.e. you won't be able to see through the groove). Note that you'll want to stain and finish the boards prior to installation (and apply to the tongues) so that unfinished wood won't be revealed when the wood shrinks and the tongues pull slightly away from the grooves.

However, the wood shown in the pic seems likely to be beadboard plywood...which does not expand/contract with humidity enough to be a problem in this application.
77 Wagoneer and 97 TJ.
User avatar

67GMC
Posts: 179
Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2016 5:17 am
Location: Fort Erie, Canada

Re: Wooden Slat Headliner

Post by 67GMC »

Like Merrill said, I think it's actually bead-board paneling and not tongue and groove slats. So, they would basically just cut the sheet to fit the roof and then screw into some wood cross pieces underneath.
My Stable:
1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, 360 V8, Auto, SelecTrac
1987 Jeep Cherokee (XJ), 4.0L I6, Auto, Selectrac
And a few more....
User avatar

fulsizjeep
Moderator
Posts: 5012
Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2011 7:21 am
Location: Fruitville, FL
Contact:

Re: Wooden Slat Headliner

Post by fulsizjeep »

Butt, butt... They are boats. :lol:

Image
Flint Boardman
88 GW, 401/727/208, 5" lift, D44s/4.10s/locked up, 35s
https://jubileejeeps.org/quadratrac
Post Reply