DIY Black Headliner Project

[tygr2007]

In the upcoming month, I’m looking to tackle a project that I’ve been pushing to the side for awhile. I’ve always wanted to get my headliner (and trim pieces inside the truck) black. In my opinion this is something ford should’ve just done from the factory.

I’m looking for any sort of suggestions on first to remove the headliner and the side trim pieces; if anyone on this forum has removed any of these before. I hate to break clips and am looking for some tips.

I will be (at least in my head for now), dying the headliner and painting the plastic trim pieces with some sort of vinyl paint, maybe have to sand before? Not sure. All a learning curve, really can’t mess it up that much.

With this process, I’ll update how the whole thing goes. I figure it’ll be a pain, but in the end, at least in my mind, it’s doable. (Hopefully) ?

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[airline tech]

Cool but Black? Black = Heat

 

[RedDakooter05]

I can't offer much help but by black do you mean really black? I'd go with a charcoal color personally.

 

[JalanX]

Where I work we have a few 2023 f150’s and the headliners are all black. I really like it but I didn’t know an easy way to change it on the ranger. Figured it is what it is but interested to see what you do. Not a fan of the light beige or whatever the headliner color is on the ranger. Nothing to do with headliner but other thing I like about the f150’s is the turn signal sound is so much softer/ quieter. Anyway good luck!

 

[AzScorpion]

They make a liquid de-glosser that you can rub on the plastic parts prior to painting them. This will get any oils and contaminants off and help with the adhesion. Any big box store or paint store will carry this. Doing a quick search here's some results on Amazon that does plastic, carpet and fabric. Looking forward to seeing it finished.

One note make sure you realize it'll be a lot darker inside once it's all black. Maybe that's the look you're going for? There wont be any more light reflecting off the lighter plastic and headliner so it'll look like a cave in there. lol

https://www.amazon.com/headliner-dye/s?k=headliner+dye

https://www.amazon.com/Hi-Tech-Indu...keywords=headliner+dye&qid=1721734493&sr=8-13

Here's more results along with some YouTube videos.

car headliner dye

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

It sure is an ambitous project. YouTube has a lot of videos on how to dye or paint the headliner and interior parts - mostly by DIY-ers so the results are mixed - some look sketchy as heck but the owners are happy with their own work, so whatever floats their boat, I guess. At least you can learn from the successes as well as the mistakes.

There are threads on here about removing the headliner which detail some of the pitfalls to avoid. I recall there being a magnet holding it to the roof by the dome light and that the glue holding the headliner to the magnet was weaker than the strength of the magnet - pulling on it tore the headliner from the magnet and left the magnet stuck to the roof. ?‍

Anyway, good luck with this project and try to take pics along the way to share on here later. ?

 

[veedubtuner]

I’m looking for any sort of suggestions on first to remove the headliner and the side trim pieces; if anyone on this forum has removed any of these before. I hate to break clips and am looking for some tips.

Well you're in luck because I have been researching the same thing for a while now and with help from Benny @LevittownFordParts.com I know what I need to do to make this happen (*I have a SCAB so if you have a SCREW not everything I have found will work in your application and you may have to do more research just FYI) and I'm just waiting to get the suspension on my R32 finished so I have a second vehicle to drive while this is done.

Headliner I plan to recover in Alcantara so no issue there. A pillars not sure yet, re-covering seems simple till you look at the contours of the P/S A pillar where the grab handle is. Looking at the material though, painting the A-pillars might be a better option. Now for the rest

2024 6G Ranger Raptor has a black headliner and stuff and almost everything will work (that I looked at for my application).
Sun visors - Same size as 5G and bonus, has home link. Clips are the same as well.
Rear map light - same as well.
A-Pillars not the same, but the P/S grab handle is and is available separate so no need for painting. You can just swap out.
Overhead console - this one is the issue (for me anyway) if you look at the 2024 RR and the 5G headliner in this area, the overhead console will work even though it's longer due to the aux switches, the shape of the headliner is the same, so some trimming of the headliner would be needed to get it to fit, but the issue is the "cubby" above the console, is only available with the RR headliner, unlike 5G it can be bought separate. More on this later.
Grab handles - same
I have some hooks in the rear, no grab handles so that will have to be painted.
The microphone above the driver (didn't know what that was till Benny said what it was lol) the RR one is round, where 5G is rectanglish, might work, might not, painting this is fine though. I plan to make a write up when I do this if anyone wants to attempt this as well.

Back to the overhead. I wanted to use this, as the RR has aux switches up there, but being that the cubby is not available separate, I'm not sure how attaching it will work without that cubby. So my plan is to just use it for parts. I plan to take mine apart as much as possible, paint it, and then use the black switch and the sunglass holder door from the RR one, one because trying to get the little light on the switch to look right, and being that I use the sunglasses holder a lot, I want it to look right and not show wear over time. OCD...probably, but that's just me lol. Now if you have a SCREW, which most seem to, using the RR headliner might work, I don't know, this is where your own research may need to happen, as well as the B pillar and rear trims. In the SCAB, B pillars and back are all ready black. Any other questions let me know, I hope I covered everything.

Heres a video on removal of things (I think they're putting a roof rack on so they're are just dropping the headliner, not removing it. And ignore 4G lol)

 

[tygr2007]

Cool but Black? Black = Heat

True. Truck is already black so I’m sure it can’t be that much worse. ?

 

[tygr2007]

I can't offer much help but by black do you mean really black? I'd go with a charcoal color personally.

I’ll definitely have to look into colors, possibly a charcoal for sure. I think jet black would look kind of cheap.

 

[tygr2007]

They make a liquid de-glosser that you can rub on the plastic parts prior to painting them. This will get any oils and contaminants off and help with the adhesion. Any big box store or paint store will carry this. Doing a quick search here's some results on Amazon that does plastic, carpet and fabric. Looking forward to seeing it finished.

One note make sure you realize it'll be a lot darker inside once it's all black. Maybe that's the look you're going for? There wont be any more light reflecting off the lighter plastic and headliner so it'll look like a cave in there. lol

https://www.amazon.com/headliner-dye/s?k=headliner+dye

https://www.amazon.com/Hi-Tech-Indu...keywords=headliner+dye&qid=1721734493&sr=8-13

Here's more results along with some YouTube videos.

car headliner dye

Thanks for the links and videos of those- I’ll look into those products as that was what some of my research was going to be.

I recently drove a F250 with an all black interior and I absolutely fell in love with the cave/cocoon feel. That’s really what led me on to actually doing this project, it just makes it feel so much more homey. Not to mention my current headliner has a lot of mosquito blood on it from passengers smacking them.

 

[tygr2007]

Where I work we have a few 2023 f150’s and the headliners are all black. I really like it but I didn’t know an easy way to change it on the ranger. Figured it is what it is but interested to see what you do. Not a fan of the light beige or whatever the headliner color is on the ranger. Nothing to do with headliner but other thing I like about the f150’s is the turn signal sound is so much softer/ quieter. Anyway good luck!

Totally get what you mean about the turn signal sound. Might be able to switch this with forscan.

 

[tygr2007]

I can't offer much help but by black do you mean really black? I'd go with a charcoal color personally.

On second thought, I would go with the C pillar color in the very back. Fuck knows why that is black and everything else isn’t.

 

[theprinceofsnj]

I got the sand colored with the black. If I had my way I would have preferred blue. I've had 4 white Fords. 1981 Fairmont 4 door sedan and a 1993 Escort wagon with blue interiors. 2014 Fiesta S sedan and my 2019 Ranger, black interiors.

 

[Grumpaw]

Just playing "devil's advocate" for a minute....
Be aware that when you do anything that is a very visible difference from stock, it will affect any resale value....dealer may give you a real lowball as it will differ from stock, and may be hard to re-sell, especially if it turns out looking like a "DIY' and not a factory look.
Same goes for private sale....you have to find someone with the same taste's as you. What your doing is for you and may not be what a buyer is looking for.
Not saying don't go for it....just be aware of what may happen "down the road".

Let me add....If you were looking for a used late model vehicle, of which there are many of the certain model your looking for....would you look for an unaltered vehicle or one that had been modified to the extent that it would take a lot of $$$ to return it to stock ???
Lot of questions to answer before you start major changes to a late model truck that, if you sell in the future, those mod's may turn a lot of potential buyers off.

 

[tygr2007]

Just playing "devil's advocate" for a minute....
Be aware that when you do anything that is a very visible difference from stock, it will affect any resale value....dealer may give you a real lowball as it will differ from stock, and may be hard to re-sell, especially if it turns out looking like a "DIY' and not a factory look.
Same goes for private sale....you have to find someone with the same taste's as you. What your doing is for you and may not be what a buyer is looking for.
Not saying don't go for it....just be aware of what may happen "down the road".

Let me add....If you were looking for a used late model vehicle, of which there are many of the certain model your looking for....would you look for an unaltered vehicle or one that had been modified to the extent that it would take a lot of $$$ to return it to stock ???
Lot of questions to answer before you start major changes to a late model truck that, if you sell in the future, those mod's may turn a lot of potential buyers off.

You bring up some valid points. It's definitely wise to consider the potential impact on resale value when making noticeable changes/mods to a vehicle. A dealer might, as you said, offer less for a modified vehicle due to the perception that it's further from stock and might be harder for them to sell.

However, with that, I do believe that it also depends on the nature and quality of the modifications. High-quality, well executed changes that enhance aesthetics might actually appeal (as to which you said) to a niche market and could potentially add value to someone looking for a build like mine.

Ultimately for me, my truck is way past stock and changing the headliner and trim is a very small part of it. I've already put in at least 10K into parts for my truck. Resale value isn't a big concern for me. I'm modding for personal satisfaction and looks. I just want to make my truck enjoyable while I have it, to me; that's worth way more than the potential loss in resale value. I'm always looking for big projects to tackle and do myself to learn from the task and my Dad who i'll probably need help from. This also gives me a chance to spend time with him.

Anyway, thanks for raising these important considerations. I completely understand where you are coming from.

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