How in the world do you get the headliner panel out of a supercab ranger?

[barrys]

I'm thinking of recovering the healiner in my 1994 Ranger Supercab. I've been looking and planning and measuring and ordering. All of a sudden I thought that it looks nearly impossible to remove the headliner panel from the truck.

Has anyone ever removed a headliner panel from a supercab?

The panel is about 48 X 50. The door opening on the longest diagonal is 51. To get the panel out the door opening, it looks like the door will have to come off. That seems like a huge PITA. I'm just wondering if there's some advice on how to get that thing out of there and then back in without bending it something awful and having it break apart.

Alternatively, I could try recovering it in the truck. But, applying adhesive and the new fabric upside down without getting adhesive all over everything seems pretty challenging too.

Any advice on this would be great.

 

[kennykenny]

I've never done it but removing the rear window seems logical to me. Let's see what everyone else thinks.

 

[barrys]

This forum is so cool. Thanks for the fast response.

I'm not sure it would fit through there so well. Removing the windshield crossed my mind since the opening is much wider. Also, the rear window is a slider so I'm not sure if that complicates things much or not.

I'm also thinking that maybe one of those ABS replacement headliner shells might be flexible enough to bend a bit more. But, at about 250-300 delivered, they're pricey.

I too am interested in many more opinions.

 

[odie1969]

I removed mine out of both of my trucks. the easist deff. was the 4door supercab. but the 87 I just removed the pass. seat and slid it out of the door. when it goes back in I will remove both front seats.

 

[barrys]

> but the 87 I just removed the pass. seat and slid it out of the door
Can you explain a bit more about how you moved it around in the truck to get it out.

Did you just let the front of it drop down and into the footwell to get it to clear the door on the way out? Did you have to bend it much if at all?

 

[RobbieD]

I pulled the liner out of my '94 SC to recover it. I had both seats out, and worked it out through the passenger door. I did drop the front down, and had to be careful, and patient, to find the right positions to not bend and crease it. It's a real pain in the ass, but it can be done. If I recall, it went back in easier than it came out. Good luck.

 

[AllanD]

Remove BOTH front seats.

Tilt is DOWN to the drivers side rotate 90degrees and take it out the passenger door opening

It won't fit through the back window opening.

AD

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I got mine out and back into my 91 super cab without removing the front seats....it fit just fine out the passenger side.

 

[Dusty_Ranger]

agreed sasqautch

 

[Jay FX4]

I can't visualize why removing the seats would be necessary. Why wouldn't reclining the seatbacks all the way be sufficient?

 

[barrys]

I think stick or auto tranny makes a difference. With the auto, if I remove my little cup holder/console, it looks like I'll have a little more room to move the board around. I think a stickshift might get in the way of that.
Also, the steering wheel looks like it's going to be an obstacle, but we'll see.

 

[barrys]

An update on material acquisition...
I ended up ordering from A1 Foam and Fabrics (a1foamandfabrics.com) and the shipping was really expensive.

They don't tell at the time you place the order what your shipping charges would be.
To get two yards of fabric shipped in UPS' cheapest (same state) zone, the shipping charge was over 20.00 which was like sticker shock when I read my invoice after the stuff arrived. I called to inquire and they told me that's the way it is...

If I did it again, I'd seriously consider http://wlsheadliners.com. That site is so cool and filled with information and tutorials with pictures.

 

[rngr4x4beast]

if you have a four door i got mine out by opening the doors reclining the seats and putting the window down it came out easy but wen you put it back your gonna have to push it a little bit but it wont rip on 1 to 5 scale puting it back in was a 2

 

[Fast Doc]

I have a '92 SC and it was a bit of a PIA but not too bad. IIRC I fully reclined the seats and slid them all the way forward. I think I had to flex the headliner some to get it out.

 

[fastpakr]

I still have nightmares about pulling the headliner out of my wife's old Sable. That was a memorably horrific experience. Thought I was going to break it from all the bending required to get it in a door and turned back around.