F1 Custom Cab Interior

E

Eagle43

Senior Member
I've started work on the headliner and interior panels on my 1952 F1 Custom cab and I'm looking for some advice. I found and downloaded the headliner pdf provided by Overkill-F1 on the Ford Truck Enthusiasts forum and printed it out (all 33 pages) and used them to make panels from 1/8 hardboard. With some adjustments I think I have them fitting pretty well. The biggest challenge was to get the right bends and curvature on the panels. My question is, "What material should I cover these panels with?" What did Ford use originally and what have people found to look and work best: paint, vinyl or fabric? I noticed that the door panels offered for sale by major vendors are painted. The headliner kits offered for sale give no indication as to the covering used on their panels.
 
On the 48-50 models Ford used a rigid textured cardboard- most typically in a medium brown - for the headliner and cab panels . These versions didn't have door panels.
 
I believe all 51-52 cabs were 5 Star. The upgrade was the 5 Star Extra. The headliner was perforated. No longer available as far as I know. Some research found a vinyl with adhesive that mimics this. I didnt dive too deep to see which pattern would work, yet. Thought was to cover available headliner with this vinyl. Google marine vinyl fabric. The remains in my cab show white, but cannot speak to the correct shade.
 
This is a Canadian truck. It has the chrome strip around the windshield which the standard ones don't have. The doors don't have a cover for the opening. There is a strip above the door and window handles for a panel to hang from. At least I assume that's what it's for.
 
Agreeing with Owen (1952henry). The 51/52 5 Star Extra package included a perforated headliner material that is NLA. By rumor a guy is said to have found a left over roll of the material probably a decade or more ago, but that’s all I know. The door panels for the Extra package are available but to my understanding even the seat cover kits are no longer available from Cartouche. Stu
 
5 Star Extra, in addition to windshield bright work, had the extra trim on hood. The strips you mention are most likely for the upholstered panels. 'Tis my understanding the Extra cabs did not have the steel panel covering the door opening, since the upholstered piece covered it. Mine has remains of tar paper over opening, prolly to ward off drafts.
 
I think the 5 star cab also had the dome light as part of the package..
 
Door activated dome light, plus 2 arms rests, 2 visors, extra seat cushioning, dual horns, and there are other things
 
Pictures of 52 5 Star Deluxe cab attached.
Hope r this helps,
Tom
 

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The Extra cabs have brackets welded to the inside surface of the doors for armrests and the panel. Not easy to convert to Extra.
 

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Picture of arm rests as described by Ross. Did not show in my earlier pictures[
 

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Ross F-1 said:
The Extra cabs have brackets welded to the inside surface of the doosr for armrests and the panel. Not easy to converet to Extra.
Click to expand...

Will check this afternoon, but I believe mine are screwed on. I may be downgrading mine. "Extra" is too car-like for a 3/4 ton MH, for my tastes.
 
Armrests "can" be just screwed to the doors without the brackets. I bought a pair to do that, but after mocking them up I found them intrusive.
 
Sorry Ross, I misread, was thinking of the upholstered panel brackets. But, the armrest brackets will be deleted if I go this route.
 
Jersey Devil said:
Picture of arm rests as described by Ross. Did not show in my earlier pictures[
Click to expand...

This is helpful for the door panels. I guess I would need to make some sort of bracket to hang the top part to the door.

I'm still wondering about the kind of material I should get to cover the headliner and other panels. I plan to head for the fabric shop soon and hope to get as much information beforehand as possible. What have people been using since the original material is no longer available? I'm not too concerned about being original. I'm more interested in something that is going to look right and will stand up to the job. My truck is vermillion with a white grill and black running boards and bumpers. I'm reusing the seat covers which look to be almost perfect and are brown. I'll take the seat apart and clean up the springs and put in new padding.
 
Did you look at the simulated perforatied vinyl material? That could cover the base cab headliner. When I looked at mine, it is a shade of Grey. I believe Mopar used perforated headliner in truck cabs at some point. Not sure if that is available to make your own.
 
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