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 Here's a close-up of some...  Here's a close-up of some of the rust damage.  The OE tack strip was made...  The OE tack strip was made from treated paper material (fiberboard). It's locked into place with bendable steel tabs. On the far left of the photo (below the far-left tab) is a portion of the OE header-bow seal. We'll show you the reproduction seal later in the story.  Trapped for decades in the...  Trapped for decades in the convertible top, the rust now falls out all over the workbench.  Goodmark's 67-69 Firebird...  Goodmark's 67-69 Firebird header bow (in the foreground) is an accurate reproduction of the OE original, as this comparison reveals. Goodmark also offers header bows for 66-72 A-bodies.  Compare our OE fiberboard...  Compare our OE fiberboard tack strip to a modern, firm yet flexible rubber tack strip, which is now considered by some installers to be the industry standard, and what we will use. (Correct-for-the-era fiberboard is repro- duced for purists.)  After liberally applying contact...  After liberally applying contact cement to the new 5/8-inch-wide by 1/8-inch-thick tack strip's backside, Ernie fits it in the provided channel on the underside of the header bow. Using a tack hammer, he bends the steel retain- ing tabs snugly against the tack strip and locks it into place.  Here's how the tack strip...  Here's how the tack strip should look when properly installed.  Ernie installs new push-on...  Ernie installs new push-on welt, which he sources from a local upholstery-supply shop. Notice that he has already installed 1/2-inch-wide by 1/8-inch-thick tack strip into the provided channels on the header bow's upper side (There's two of them.) He used contact cement to affix it, but since there are no steel retaining tabs for the top channels, he used a rivet gun and 5/8 x 1/8-inch rivets through the tack strip and the header-bow metal. (You can drill holes in the header bow and lock the tack strip into the metal with screws if you don't have a rivet gun.)  Here's a close-up of the new...  Here's a close-up of the new welting, the header-bow upper tack strip, and an installed rivet.  Next, Ernie installs the header...  Next, Ernie installs the header bow. After reinserting the painted latches, he lines the header bow up to the convertible-top frame.  He will reinstall the 1/2-inch...  He will reinstall the 1/2-inch nuts on both sides first, followed by the No. 3 Philip screws.  Metro Moulded Parts offers...  Metro Moulded Parts offers a GM-licensed reproduction one- piece header bow sealing kit, which is installed after the convertible top.
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