I started on mine and before I start cutting I thought I'd ask.
How far do you trim back the rod pocket? The bows only go so far.

I leave about and inch of rod hanging out each end. Make sure you have them centered. As long as you don't cut them short of the last downward bend you will be ok.

see this link

http://myfirstgenbird.com/content.php?section=Interior&id=21

in the pictures you can see that what i did was center it, tuck it into place, hold it with clothespins, and then trim it

I have a very stupid question. My car did not have a headliner in it when I bought it so I am totally lost. My new headliner does not have instructions either. Are the white pieces where the rod goes? Is that the rod pocket? If so then why is there a loop sewn in the headliner material beside where the white loop material is? Any suggestions are appreciated.

The rod pocket is a loosely fitting pocket. What I'm thinking the other loop is would be just a loop in the material for strength and it was made in the manufacting process.

Thanks.
I guess I will start installing and see what happens.

I got mine up, hooked the bows in the plastic clips but no matter how I tug, pull and cuss I can't get it to tighten up. The bows lean toward the center fixed bow so I'd assume as you pull it tight the plastic blocks would slide to stand the other bows up. ???
Any insightful hints here? I haven't glued anything, just using clamps and clothes pins around the perimeter so far.
So far I'm not impressed with my results. Windshields are out so pulling is a bit easier.

The way it's designed to work is you get the front hold downs just right in position and then you fasten them down. Then you install the rods in the holes. Then you pull it all tight when you fasten it down in back. You see, the front has screws and the back has clips. You are supposed to have the material wrapped around the front metal pieces and the trim clipped on when you install the front. I imagine you could stretch the material and try to wrap it around the metal in front and then clip on the trim. It's not the way the pros do it but you could make it work. Not the best way though.

Since the small center bow has teeth to hold it in place I would have thought you would start there and work to the front, then work to the back, each section isolated from each other by the center bow.
Doing it your way how do you know where to start? How do you get the front clips "just right" ?
And so far I haven't been able to get the screws out of the DS front clip. They're stuck tight.

I see. You are taking a short cut. You may have to drill the screws. Optimum would have been you used your old top material and got the front hold downs in the same position by measuring and comparing. If you don't have it then you put it up once to see where they need to be. Keep in mind that you get the rods to swing forward slightly when you get the front right. Then when you snap in the back it swings them back and tightens up the material. You mentioned the center rod having teeth. Even though it does there is enough give in the pocket for the material to shift a little.

Another solution is to plug "how to install a headliner" into a search engine. You'll get a bezillion good hits, many by people who have installed headliners.

Oh, but that takes all the fun out of it. My wife is learning words she's never heard before.

But I may have to try that for sure. It just didn't go the way I was hoping. Figured it would explain itself as I got into it.
NOT!

My headliner just isn't turing out like I want. Upon further review it looks a little more like vinyl than the original cloth type material. I have no idea what brand it was. Non discript box from my local supplier.
I'm going by a trim shop today to discuss a few things. Any idea who has the most original looking headliner material?

Same with seat covers. I've looked a lot at shows lately and on the repops the rib gap is wider and shallower.
Who's is best?

PUI for seat covers.