Headliner bows for series 3-5 Alpine and Tiger hardtops

[Austin Healer]

I thought this might be useful info for those installing a new headliner. If yours has been apart and the bows not marked here's how it works. The factory painted the ends of the bows different colors.. because they are different!!

Blue front bow
Green 2nd bow
Red 3rd bow
Yellow rear bow

In the center of the hardtop is a roughly 18" square piece of very heavy tarpaper.. I use Dynamat. This keeps the top from "drumming".
Filling almost the entire area above the headliner is a layer of 3/8" thick heavy jute like you'd find under carpet... this provides a little insulation as well as more sound deadening. It also helps to hold the header bows in position.

Spray adhesive or contact cement will immediately release in hot weather. I use an adhesive designed for landau tops... Yes, it is expensive, but it doesn't fail!

 

[michael-king]

I've wondered if a coating like lizard skin or a rubberised undercoat might work well on the underside of the hardtop.

The early series Alpine top the headliner has detached partially on 1 bow... So will be taking it out at some point and thought might be worth experimenting with.. or a chequered pattern of dynamat style material

 

[bernd_st]

I thought this might be useful info for those installing a new headliner. If yours has been apart and the bows not marked here's how it works. The factory painted the ends of the bows different colors.. because they are different!!

Blue front bow
Green 2nd bow
Red 3rd bow
Yellow rear bow

Interesting ! Never realized any colours. Need to check my spare top bow set...

 

[Hoghead]

What is the assembly sequence?
Rubbers, headliner, then perspex?

 

[Austin Healer]

I've wondered if a coating like lizard skin or a rubberised undercoat might work well on the underside of the hardtop.

The early series Alpine top the headliner has detached partially on 1 bow... So will be taking it out at some point and thought might be worth experimenting with.. or a chequered pattern of dynamat style material

I used the Dynamat because I had some left over from doing the floors in the latest Tiger restoration. It's self-adhesive and roughly the same thickness as the original tarpaper. a picture of an original tarpaper insert below..View attachment 19711

What is the assembly sequence?
Rubbers, headliner, then perspex?

The headlining has to go in before any of the windows. The rubbers for top to w/s and top to body can be installed at anytime.. as can the corner pads, side latches and rear locators (to trunk hinges)