Installing headliner bows?? HELP!! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**JQ-72** · 03-08-2014, 10:33 PM

Is there an easy way to install headliner bows? I replaced a damaged section of my headliner today and broke one of my bows trying to re-install.
Joshua

vectorit · 03-09-2014, 05:14 AM

Are you dealing with OE bows, or something different?

The OE ones are easy to work with, so I'm not understanding what the problem is here.

**JQ-72** · 03-09-2014, 10:54 PM

Original ones. I bought headliner panels, metal bows and plastic outer bows. When I got them, the metal frame was separated from the plastic, chrome trim. I have the metal frames installed and tried to snap the plastic trim on, but it kept breaking.
JQ

vectorit · 03-10-2014, 12:56 PM

If you are dealing with the old plastic, my experience has been that it was so brittle that it would break easily.

It was frustrating for me, because I paid a bunch of money for those things and ended up ruining them trying to get them off the metal bows. I ended up going a completely different route, when restoring the headlining of my Suburban which involved not using any of the original stuff.

**Steven B** · 03-10-2014, 10:08 PM

When I installed mine, I used a hair dryer to soften them up a little.

tedfrk · 03-19-2014, 02:13 AM

Pictures please!!!

chewiebarker · 03-19-2014, 09:38 AM

Yes. Pictures please! All I have are the old, rusty, metal portion of the bows. I would love to know what OE looked like.

**uncle** · 03-19-2014, 04:09 PM

I think they slide in not snap.

**JQ-72** · 03-19-2014, 05:22 PM

Tim, I'm working on the trim I got from you. I tried to test slide it on outside the truck and it only went about 12" before sticking. I lubed it up with some soapy water and all the chrome came off the inside! Anyone know of any body trim or anything else that will work?
Joshua

**Hart_Rod** · 02-14-2017, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JQ-72

Tim, I'm working on the trim I got from you. I tried to test slide it on outside the truck and it only went about 12" before sticking. I lubed it up with some soapy water and all the chrome came off the inside! Anyone know of any body trim or anything else that will work?
Joshua

Did you ever figure this out? Thanks in advance.

**JQ-72** · 02-15-2017, 12:30 AM

No. 3 year old thread and I'm still driving my Suburban with no headliner!!
JQ

Bigdav160 · 02-15-2017, 07:39 AM

I started on one side and slowly pushed and snapped the plastic over the metal. Sometimes rocking back and forth with a little synthetic grease.

Sliding did work for me

**Hart_Rod** · 02-15-2017, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JQ-72

No. 3 year old thread and I'm still driving my Suburban with no headliner!!
JQ

Check this thread out:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=410459

4shongo · 02-15-2017, 12:10 PM

Mine fell apart after getting my new headliner a few years ago so I used the 1" aluminum flat stock someone suggested on this site and it looks great.

03-08-2014, 10:33 PM	#1
JQ-72 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Killen, Alabama USA Posts: 3,525	Installing headliner bows?? HELP!! Is there an easy way to install headliner bows? I replaced a damaged section of my headliner today and broke one of my bows trying to re-install. Joshua __________________ 72 Cheyenne Super swb. Factory 402/400,tach,posi,AM/FM, A/C. Adding cruise, 8-track 72 Cheyenne Super swb. 350/350 A/C, bucket seats 72 Cheyenne swb. Factory 402/400, tilt, posi, A/C 72 Cheyenne Super K-10. 350/4 spd., posi. 72 Suburban 350/350 tilt, tach, AM/FM, A/C, luggage rack 72 GMC Sierra lwb. 350/350, A/C. medium green/olive interior

03-09-2014, 05:14 AM	#2
vectorit What? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,617	Re: Installing headliner bows?? HELP!! Are you dealing with OE bows, or something different? The OE ones are easy to work with, so I'm not understanding what the problem is here. __________________ Chris 1968 K20 Suburban 1972 K10 LWB PU

03-09-2014, 10:54 PM	#3
JQ-72 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Killen, Alabama USA Posts: 3,525	Re: Installing headliner bows?? HELP!! Original ones. I bought headliner panels, metal bows and plastic outer bows. When I got them, the metal frame was separated from the plastic, chrome trim. I have the metal frames installed and tried to snap the plastic trim on, but it kept breaking. JQ __________________ 72 Cheyenne Super swb. Factory 402/400,tach,posi,AM/FM, A/C. Adding cruise, 8-track 72 Cheyenne Super swb. 350/350 A/C, bucket seats 72 Cheyenne swb. Factory 402/400, tilt, posi, A/C 72 Cheyenne Super K-10. 350/4 spd., posi. 72 Suburban 350/350 tilt, tach, AM/FM, A/C, luggage rack 72 GMC Sierra lwb. 350/350, A/C. medium green/olive interior

03-10-2014, 12:56 PM	#4
vectorit What? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,617	Re: Installing headliner bows?? HELP!! If you are dealing with the old plastic, my experience has been that it was so brittle that it would break easily. It was frustrating for me, because I paid a bunch of money for those things and ended up ruining them trying to get them off the metal bows. I ended up going a completely different route, when restoring the headlining of my Suburban which involved not using any of the original stuff. __________________ Chris 1968 K20 Suburban 1972 K10 LWB PU

03-10-2014, 10:08 PM	#5
Steven B Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: LHC, AZ Posts: 385	Re: Installing headliner bows?? HELP!! When I installed mine, I used a hair dryer to soften them up a little. __________________ 70 Jimmy 4x4 71 GMC 2500 Too bad stupidity isn't painful

03-19-2014, 02:13 AM	#6
tedfrk Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: forked river nj Posts: 147	Re: Installing headliner bows?? HELP!! Pictures please!!!

03-19-2014, 09:38 AM	#7
chewiebarker Registered User Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Boxford, MA Posts: 364	Re: Installing headliner bows?? HELP!! Yes. Pictures please! All I have are the old, rusty, metal portion of the bows. I would love to know what OE looked like. __________________ 1971 K20 Suburban 2012 LS1500 4WD Suburban 2003 Honda Accord LX V6 (don't tell anyone) MY 'BUILD' THREAD: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=618915

03-19-2014, 04:09 PM	#8
uncle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Conyers,Ga. Posts: 7,283	Re: Installing headliner bows?? HELP!! I think they slide in not snap.

03-19-2014, 05:22 PM	#9
JQ-72 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Killen, Alabama USA Posts: 3,525	Re: Installing headliner bows?? HELP!! Tim, I'm working on the trim I got from you. I tried to test slide it on outside the truck and it only went about 12" before sticking. I lubed it up with some soapy water and all the chrome came off the inside! Anyone know of any body trim or anything else that will work? Joshua __________________ 72 Cheyenne Super swb. Factory 402/400,tach,posi,AM/FM, A/C. Adding cruise, 8-track 72 Cheyenne Super swb. 350/350 A/C, bucket seats 72 Cheyenne swb. Factory 402/400, tilt, posi, A/C 72 Cheyenne Super K-10. 350/4 spd., posi. 72 Suburban 350/350 tilt, tach, AM/FM, A/C, luggage rack 72 GMC Sierra lwb. 350/350, A/C. medium green/olive interior

02-15-2017, 12:30 AM	#11
JQ-72 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Killen, Alabama USA Posts: 3,525	Re: Installing headliner bows?? HELP!! No. 3 year old thread and I'm still driving my Suburban with no headliner!! JQ __________________ 72 Cheyenne Super swb. Factory 402/400,tach,posi,AM/FM, A/C. Adding cruise, 8-track 72 Cheyenne Super swb. 350/350 A/C, bucket seats 72 Cheyenne swb. Factory 402/400, tilt, posi, A/C 72 Cheyenne Super K-10. 350/4 spd., posi. 72 Suburban 350/350 tilt, tach, AM/FM, A/C, luggage rack 72 GMC Sierra lwb. 350/350, A/C. medium green/olive interior

02-15-2017, 07:39 AM	#12
Bigdav160 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Klein Texas Posts: 3,852	Re: Installing headliner bows?? HELP!! I started on one side and slowly pushed and snapped the plastic over the metal. Sometimes rocking back and forth with a little synthetic grease. Sliding did work for me __________________ My Classics: '72 K20 Suburban + '65 Dodge Town Wagon '72 Corvette Roadster +'67 Corvette Roadster '73 Z-28 Camaro '63 Ford SWB Uni Pickup '50 Ford Coupe

02-15-2017, 12:10 PM	#14
4shongo Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Arlington, TN Posts: 315	Re: Installing headliner bows?? HELP!! Mine fell apart after getting my new headliner a few years ago so I used the 1" aluminum flat stock someone suggested on this site and it looks great.

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