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Author
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Topic: 71-3 Fastback Headliner Bow Holes?
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fordguy57
Journeyman Posts: 30
From: Mpls MN USA
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 11-17-2003 04:51 PM
   
My car had the headliner replaced before by a teenager and it was not well-fitted. I decided to replace again and copied bow placement from where I found them. But, despite many hours diddling with it my
job doesn't look much better than the previous install. I am wondering if bows are in wrong holes. Anyone got their headliner out and holes marked in fastback body style and so can tell me which holes are correct for using with this body style? Thanks, Mike H
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MrXerox
Gearhead Posts: 332
From: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 11-17-2003 07:21 PM
fordguy57, can you take some pics when you get it right? my headliner on my 71 seems to be hanging low as well...Its new but still touches my hair when I drive and I am not that tall 
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Hemikiller
Gearhead Posts: 407
From: Clinton, CT
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 11-18-2003 07:08 PM
I've got the headliner out of my 71. I'll copy down the locations tonight and post later.
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fordguy57
Journeyman Posts: 30
From: Mpls MN USA
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 12-03-2003 05:30 PM
I got another headliner for another run at this (just in case other one stretched in fighting with it..), but I still have not obtained verification of which are the correct holes for bows on fastback models. Anyone that can tell me for certain which of 3 holes at each bow position to use?? As mentioned before, I don't know if prior headliner install had correct holes used, so don't have anything concrete to go by.. Thanks, Mike H
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 35449
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 12-03-2003 05:54 PM
I'm not sure how much that will help you. Aren't the holes used specific on each individual car? I thought the reason there were three positions were for adjustability. Aren't there witness marks when they used to be?------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 Open
'70 Mustang Convertible 250 I6/3 speed/2.79 Open
'72 Mustang Sprint Coupe 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Loc
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
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fordguy57
Journeyman Posts: 30
From: Mpls MN USA
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 12-04-2003 11:48 AM
I had always previously thought that the multiple holes were for adjustment also, until trying to do this myself. Then when I actually tried to install the headliner, it appeared that the holes are simply too far apart for just adjusting headliner tension and they must actually be "sets" of holes. So, at this point I now believe that the holes for bows are not used randomly across the headliner; but rather all are likely in the same relative position from one bow to another (you either use all the top holes; or you use all the bottom front holes; or you use all the bottom rear holes).. They appear to be too far part for the bows to be placed randomly. But, I could fool around with the headliner in car now to see if it can be stretched to other positions. Just looking at it makes me highly skeptical of that though.. Recently I read somewhere a credible sounding essay (perhaps an upholstery book)indicating that the multiple hole sets were used for different models at the factory. And when you look real closely at these "sets" of holes on the car, you see that they are in quite different either vertical or horizontal planes; and so I would think it would not work to use differing holes between bow points (would appear to give you a zig-zag up-and-down appearance to headliner.. The holes probably are an inch apart, either higher/lower or forward/back), seemingly too far apart to use different holes between each position. So, that indicates to me that whichever set of holes are used on one bow, that hole is likely the same relative one that is used on at least most of the other bows.. And so, I thought I should attempt tp confirm which position was used from the factory, cuz it really does not appear that it could have been random by car... But, if the bows absolutely were placed randomly despite my impressions; then I would at least know for certain that I was on the wrong track and be one step closer to the right track (sometimes the right answer is the one that is left after all the wrong possibilitys have been examined and discarded..). So, that is why I wanted to get placement from another enthusiast to compare with.Now that you mention it though, I wonder how that essay info could be correct (for this car anyway) since the roofs themselves for all fastback models is the same and the replacement headliner you buy is the same for a Mustang fastback as compared to a Mach 1 (so same headliner on same roof should use same bow holes - unless they are random..). My headliner was replaced by a teenage nephew before I got the car and there were no apparent "witness" marks made by whichever holes were originally used. He had not removed back glass either and so headliner was falling down around back window too. But,I ASSUMED that the bows were in the right holes and re-used the same holes myself (front lower of sets), ending up with a job that did not look a whole lot better than the previous one.
Now, it is possible that this may simply be lack of experience, as I have not fiddled with upholstery much before. However I am determined to complete this install myself, as I have several cars to put headliners in and this is by far the cheapest replacement headliner to learn with. But having put a lot of time and effort into the first attempt and then to also read that essay info indicating there are "correct" sets of holes that must be used, I also wanted to make sure that I was using the "correct" set of holes (if there is such a thing..)to start with. Maybe I will have to check with some upholstery types also, but still for peace of mind would like to confirm location of bows with someone currently having headliner out of their car, or a parts car that headliner is shot anyways.. As it is, this will be the 4th headliner in the car so I would like that certainty of bow positioning (even if it is random, which I don't think it is at this point..) before trying headliner install yet again. If you have irrefutable info that disputes the consistency of bow placement hole-to-hole for this exact model car, I would like to read that also? Does anyone's shop manual or other restoration manual address bow replacement in detail, or do all the authors take the easy way out and say "use the same holes"). What do you do if you get a car with headliner out of it? Car is terminal because there is no hope to ever determine correct holes again? NPD will probably send me a Christmas card this year.. Thanks for your input. Mike H
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pmhvps
Journeyman Posts: 84
From: Lowville,Ontario,Canada
Registered: Oct 2003
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posted 12-04-2003 06:37 PM
I think the bows are colour coded ? They are on my '68's.
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