Head liner question

[old rat 49]

Getting ready to start sewing up my interior. Did not have a headliner but do have bows. How do I determine which bows go where and about how big a sleeve do I make for them What I mean is How far down from the bows does it hang ?

[Robert Horne]

I used a blanket in my 38 Coupe as a headliner. The blanket had bows about every 2 inchs. The bows to do have to be 8 inch apart, or 9 inch apart. The material will stretch a little...

[old rat 49]

Thanks on the ref. Will go check mine in the morning for markings. They were in the floor when I bought it.

[BobT-47P15]

Yes......I believe the bows are numbered. I just don't know where

the numbers are. Should be there someplace.

[ktmripper]

I will check later today but, I think the longest goes in the middle and they get equally shorter as they go to the front and back.

[Plymouthy Adams]

if you look close the bows usually have a letter code or number/letter combination..they are also color coded on the ends and in some cases I have seen the associated color painted on/aorund the mount holes themselves..

you did not list the car in question..each is a bit different from the other..am going by profile that this may be for a P15 2 door sedan...maybe someone here has a like vehicle with the bows in place and can measure them and check height relationship as they often stagger a bit in distance from the roof..

long ago on this forum we tried to figure out the letter code for these but was not successful..some are used in multiple car apps..some are model specific..that is why there seems to be no rhyme nor reason for the order compared to the number/letter stamped in place.

[old rat 49]

I have a total of six bows and that seems to be correct. The rear one was still in place and attached to interior light bracket. The smallest fits the front. Just going by fit I think I have the others close to correct. Some have colors I can see, some have letters and one has a number. Will keep juggling them around until satisfied with fit. Can anyone tell me approximately how far down from the ribs the cloth hangs ? Material I bought has some stretch to it so this will make it easier to work with. Not sure how it will hang in the long run though.

[Plymouthy Adams]

the listing material you buy is approx 1" or shall I say the listing I have is that and what was used by the upholester on my 54....there may be other dimensions so cannot say for absolute..sad part is my upholestry book does not really go into this either..

[bobostski]

I had to replace the rubber gromets that hold the bow ends to the roof, I when to the plumbing section of the hardware store and found gromets that worked great. They were about .50 cents each.

[old rat 49]

Thanks Bob. Will check that out today.

[randroid]

Old rat,

The proper size for the material hanging over the bows seems as though it would be just large enough to allow the "hook" to slide comfortably through. If it's a little larger then your headliner will hang down a little lower but we're talking fractions of an inch and that wouldn't be consistently measurable. If you have the material I'd say it's small stuff not worthy of sweat.

-Randy