Headliner Wires / Bows

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Martin Langer
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Joined: Mon Jun 16, 2014 4:37 pm
Location: Bonn, Germany

Headliner Wires / Bows

#1 Post by Martin Langer »

Hello,
My MY53 project car is incomplete.
Besides others, the spring steel wires / bows for the headliner are missing.
Can someone please provide the length for the Pre-A steel wires, without the rubber ends?
All 3 have just 1 part number - 356.53.405, so they should all be the same length.
Thank you!
Martin

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Aki Ruohonen
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Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:42 pm

Re: Headliner Wires / Bows

#2 Post by Aki Ruohonen »

I did have a same issue of lost bows with my '53. I ended up making them 50s beetle bows. Those are basically identical material and easy to obtain. You need to just trim the other end and fit a piece of rubber hose to the end. I did not record the length but it was fairly easy to determine once you try them on the car. Unlike in factory I also decided to paint the bows in order to prevent possible surface rust to stain the new headliner.

Br,
Aki

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Spencer Harris
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Location: San Joaquin Valley, California

Re: Headliner Wires / Bows

#3 Post by Spencer Harris »

Steve Harrison posted some good photos and commentary during his '55 restoration a few years ago. I emailed him, but he didn't record the length of his original bows.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=21404&p=217337
Spencer Harris
San Joaquin Valley, CA.

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Martin Langer
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Joined: Mon Jun 16, 2014 4:37 pm
Location: Bonn, Germany

Re: Headliner Wires / Bows

#4 Post by Martin Langer »

Thank you Aki, I will work with the early VW bows and take up the advise of painting them.
Thank you Spencer, for trying to get Steve involved. His reports and pictures are a big help for me and many others, I presume.
Martin

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