Unpacking, trimming and fitting the ABS headliner, door panel and kick panel kits for a 1947 to early 1955 Chevrolet truck — what is pre-cut, what is deliberately left for you, and where cab variation makes trimming normal.

These ABS panel kits give you a clean, stable base layer in place of cardboard. Several holes and notches are deliberately left uncut or cut small, because no two of these cabs measure the same after seventy years. The notes below cover each of those on purpose — they are not omissions.

Unpacking the panels

1. Take the tape off carefully. The panels are shipped rolled and will want to spring open as the tape releases.
2. Let them relax. Unroll the panels and lay them flat in a warm area until they settle.
3. Keep them out of direct sunlight. Do not leave the panels in the sun for any length of time.

Headliner kits

• L49-53 kits: the two outermost hole notches in the rear panel are left off on purpose. You may need to trim the panel slightly near the ends to follow a slightly different curve. Confirm the fit first, then mark and notch to suit the screw holes in the cab corners. Cab sizes vary in this area — on the reference truck the driver and passenger sides have slightly different curves where the door weatherstrip channel sits.
• 47 to early 49 kits: minor trimming may be needed on the rear panel for the same reason. Confirm fitment, screw in all the trim fasteners, then open the door and look at the area from outside the truck. Mark any material that stands proud with a pencil, take the rear panel back out and trim about 3/16” above the line.
• Visor holes: where the headliner has them, the main arm hole is cut deliberately small, because stock and aftermarket reproduction arms differ in size. File, drill or air-grind it out to suit your arm. The metal hole in the cab corner makes a good guide, and the job is easy to do after the panel is in.
• Passenger visor: no passenger visor holes are provided. The passenger visor is not an exact mirror of the driver side — a template taken from the driver side did not transfer across — so take care locating those holes yourself.

Door panels

• Armrest holes are not cut. All door panels now ship with no armrest holes, which keeps the inventory straight and stops the wrong panel going out. The armrest bolt hole locations are scribed on the back of each panel. Drill them with a 3/8” bit if you need them.
• Full height panels have no mounting holes. That is so you can place the fasteners where you want them. The armrest locations and the original small screw mounting holes are both scribed on the rear of the panel. Drill the small mounting holes with a 3/16” bit.

Kick panels

Minor trimming is required at the front uppermost dash locations. Take your time, trim a little at a time and test fit between passes.

ABS panels give you a base layer rather than a finished surface, so most builds pair them with new door and kick panels. Both are in our 47-54 truck parts collection.