Help with interior pillars and window trim - paint or headliner fabric?

[steve770]

Hi guys,

I'm building up my van after a load of bodywork and full respray and the final thing before I can get everything back in is what to do with the interior pillars and around the windows. The easy option is stretch carpet but to be honest, don't really like that look - never liked carpet - would much prefer a factory looking period correct fabric - more like what you'd get in a caravelle in a light grey or beige. In hindsight, I should have got the interior painted while in the bodyshop - but at the point I was trying to cut back on escalating costs! That means the interior is looking pretty shabby covered in the old headlining/lining glue which seems to be a nightmare to remove... That's after a week getting the rock wool that was glued to the entire inner roof off!

My plan originally after getting the van back was to paint the interior with rustoleum combicolour - in a sort of beige/greige and leave it like that, but as above, with trying to get the glue off and sanding everything down (and the summer at an end) I'm not feeling very enthusiastic about this option, or whether I'll make a decent job of it. Seems like a lot of work.

The other option is of course more of a factory headlining - though only really want the pillars and window frame tops/bottoms as I'm fitting wooden roof slats (what I had on before) - but again slightly doubtful of my ability to do a good job on the headlining without an existing pattern to go off - anyone done something similar here by just buying headliner fabric and fitting to the pillars etc?

I could also contact local auto trimmers to do it - I'm not dead set on doing it my self if I can get a pro to do it. Will look into that this week.

That said, given how some of it looks now, would it be unwise to simply glue more fabric over it as it is, or should I be thinking of painting it regardless? - it's not back to bare metal in any areas but trying to get the glue of has left it looking a bit rough in places.

See photos below - any help or advice would be much appreciated! 
Cheers,
Steve

[multisi]

Is that a LHD van ? I have a complete Carat pillar trim kit that would sort out all that bare metal work, its the original factory kit in light grey and covers all the areas you have in your photos and continues into the cab and above the windscreen and comes with original sun visors in the same colour, you wouldnt have to clean up the old glue as the kit just goes over the top of it, all you would need is to get a headliner which was in a light grey cloth. I can post but would be in a big box.

[steve770]

Is that a LHD van ? I have a complete Carat pillar trim kit that would sort out all that bare metal work, its the original factory kit in light grey and covers all the areas you have in your photos and continues into the cab and above the windscreen and comes with original sun visors in the same colour, you wouldnt have to clean up the old glue as the kit just goes over the top of it, all you would need is to get a headliner which was in a light grey cloth. I can post but would be in a big box.

Thanks, it's LHD drive, yeh. Definitely interested - would certinaly be easier than the alternatives. I was originally looking if something like this was availbable for a T3 but couldn't find much info. How is this fixed onto the metal? I take it this can all be fixed in place without the need to remove the windows? (which I'd need to do if using headliner material).

[multisi]

Its fixed wth concealed screws and spots of bonding adhesive, the headliner is easier to do with the Carat trim,no need to remove the windows either, if you google VW T3 Carat interior you will see the trim in place, its the german spec Carat not the USA version.

[steve770]

Its fixed wth concealed screws and spots of bonding adhesive, the headliner is easier to do with the Carat trim,no need to remove the windows either, if you google VW T3 Carat interior you will see the trim in place, its the german spec Carat not the USA version.

Yeh thanks, sounds good. Yeh, I found some photos online earlier - looks alright. Sent you a PM.
Cheers