Headling bow question

[Scat Pack Fever]

Hello All,

            I was having trouble installing my headliner last week. The 70-72 (Bow on the right side of the pic) bows didn't seem to want to cooperate when I was installing them in the roof. The bows sagged in the middle. I came accross the bows that originally came in my 1974 challenger (Bow on the left side in the pic) and noticed the ends are different. They are angled and have stoppers on them so they don't slide in the hole any futher keeping the middle of the bow arched. Here is my question. Does the 70-72 bow require some sort of clip that goes into the hole in the roof and then the bow slides into that? If not, there is nothing to keep it arched and the weight of the headliner pulls the bow down in the middle which is exactly what is happening to me. The 73-74 bow has a much better design. I have a 5 bow headlinger and plan on using the 73-74 bows, but I am 2 bows short and still need to use the 2 of the earlyier versions.

[72cudamaan]

IIRC the late 71 to 74 ebodies used the 4 bow headliner even though there were
provisional holes in the roof structure. 

[FY1Cuda]

The '70 style bows fit into little sheet metal "cups" that clip into the edge of the roof.  The later style bow has the bend on the end that fits into one of three holes in each spot along the roof.  If you can get the little cups, I think they are easier to work with.  If you can't find any, you could probably fabricate something (since they don't show anyway).  Here's an ad for what I'm talking about, but I don't know if they're exactly the same:
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?41903-68-70-bbody-headliner-bow-cups

[HemiDog]

Exactly where do the metal cups clip into? 
I am in the same boat and have a set of the cups and the bows to go with the cups.  But my car had the bows with the bent tips and missing two of them.

[FY1Cuda]

Honestly I forget how the clips go in.  From the picture it looks like there are horizontal slots for them.  Sounds like you and ScatPack should put all you parts in one pile and start from there.  If you can get bows from other (larger) cars at the junk yard, you can cut the ends off to make the length you need and use the cups.  You could also maybe put the straight style bow end into a vise, heat with a torch, and bend an elbow into it.  Good luck

[HemiDog]

I am good with the idea of pooling the parts.  I have also been tempted to weld the tips on to a couple straight bows as bending the ends would change the length of the them.
Looking in my car, I just can't find any slits for the clips to go into.
Scat, do you know what colored bows you have with the bent tips?   I have to go look and verify the two I am missing.
I have everything you would need for the straight bow set up.  If you have one or even two of the bent bows I need, I would be willing to trade parts and make up what ever difference you think would be fair.

[Scat Pack Fever]

I am good with the idea of pooling the parts.  I have also been tempted to weld the tips on to a couple straight bows as bending the ends would change the length of the them.
Looking in my car, I just can't find any slits for the clips to go into.
Scat, do you know what colored bows you have with the bent tips?   I have to go look and verify the two I am missing.
I have everything you would need for the straight bow set up.  If you have one or even two of the bent bows I need, I would be willing to trade parts and make up what ever difference you think would be fair.

I like the Benny Hill Pic by the way.

Well, that is a great question. I think i am going to go the Bent bow route because it sounds like it will be much less hastle. I have a full set of the 1970 bows. I need the rear and the front 71-74 bows. I might try bending one of my straight bows to see if  can get it to work. Although I might just try and sell the set and get the other 2 bows.