Headliner Bows

[electronictofu]

Hi all,

Im starting my headliner this weekend for my 65' deluxe.
Where exactly do the bows go thru? The little slip on the inside of the headliner for the bow is sealed on the ends with a seem. Does the headliner bow pop thru the outside of that seam at the edge, or pop thru on the inside, so that hard plastic at the headliner fabric edge can be clamped down on those metal roof edges? The bow isn't making sense to me... any help or a photo or two would be incredibly helpful.

[BarryL]

You have to cut into the lofting bow area material where you decide is best. That is where the material will start to have the pull upward when the rest is taut. On the inner overhead vent side it will be close to the edge as in your picture you can see where the wire will rest.

On the outer side edge you need to decide kind of by holding it up and decide where to cut and protrude the wire. This example is not that good for showing where because I made my own bows as this was a hybrid headliner for a standard sunroof but it's still the same. This is the driver side.

This is the passenger side.

I'm betting your cut will be about 1 1/2" from the edge. Yours won't be anywhere as taut as mine is.

Make them the same on both sides. The material is forgiving and it is better to have it pull up closer to the edge than farther but don't slit the lofting material until you are fairly sure. If you go too long you can still go shorter and if you go short you can slit it longer so it's ok.

[electronictofu]

Thanks! I totally figured this out shortly after looking at it for a couple hours. Ha. I have a good start so far. Once leaving the area above the front seats, there is a hard white plastic piece that goes all the way down, here shown above the cargo doors, does the metal lip above the doors "interior roof rail" (Where Im pointing) get bent down a a bit, and the hard plastic headliner edge gets stuffed in there, then tap the metal back in place to hold it down?

Working my way down...

[BarryL]

[electronictofu]

So attaching the back after the front so the middle drapes down and then work the middle bows and sides? Makes sense so there is no coming up short.

I actually don't have the headliner bow ends/ tips. I was thinking of using a small piece of rubber so they grip better? I bought new bows so I had to cut them to size, they are nice and tight.

[BarryL]

Maybe someone could post up a picture of the bow ends.

On the left side or driver side you will have to glue the side length and do some other wrangling but ultimately there is a long vinyl bulb wind lacing strip that goes in. Do you have that part?

[electronictofu]

Ive seen bow ends and forgot to order some. I am hoping some little piece of rubber would suffice, correct.. no , but if it works well I'll go with it. Thoughts?

The lace area, the headliner had a good but of extra loose fabric around the sun visors. I pulled that super tight and used contact cement to attach. That area came out better than expected. And that hard board piece that keeps it tight, the piece behind the visor. Mine was toast so I cut a flexable hard plastic piece in the same size, worked out pretty well in that area. The hard plastic on the headliner really doesnt stay in to the side channels (Currently trying the passenger side). I may have a bit more play on the driver side I'll give that a go. But those channels.... dang.

[electronictofu]

Anyone in this board in Sacramento or know someone privately in Sacramento area (within 30 minutes) that could help assist? I'd usually take it to Kombi Haus but I can't afford their hourly rate right now, I just need a set of hands to help.

[BarryL]

[electronictofu]

I am definitely not putting the plastic strips in correctly. The passenger side it much tighter, I had more play on the driver side so I tried over there. The strips just pop right back out. I tried using various tools to push the strip in and hoping it would turn and grab the metal channel but it's been a no go so far.

[electronictofu]

Here's a couple random photos of areas that look like crap and the plastic material I can't get to stay inside the metal channel. Its being held up with magnets, there are no middle bows in yet. Just front cab area and the 1 bow behind the bulk head.

[electronictofu]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the above photos? I can't get the plastic to stay into the channels still

[BarryL]

[electronictofu]

The sides above the windows don't have individual claws, it's one long channel:
Maybe different on some years or 21 window? Mines a 65' 13 window. There are individual channel claws in the main front area by the front seats, but from the seats back it's all solid.

[BarryL]

Same thing. Just pretend it has claws.

[electronictofu]

Thanks. Maybe my bows are too tight. I ordered a set of them and they all had to be cut-to-size. I'll add a little heat to the mix and should be ok when I get a chance. Thanks!

[BarryL]