Interior removal / update.

by Dinomyte Fri Nov 14, 2014 9:35 am

I've started on my winter Chevelle project. Remove / clean / paint / reinstall my interior.

So far I've got seats, door panels and carpet out, but I'm stuck on a couple of little details.

1- do the rear seat belts all need to come out to get the rear seat back out?

2- I've removed the a-pillar trim, but can't seem to figure out how the piece over the door gets removed. It slides back and forth but I can't get it far enough any-which-way to get it out. I keep thinking I'm going to break it.

Any help as always is greatly appreciated.

by Mcarlo77 Fri Nov 14, 2014 9:44 am

Only the retractors need to come out to get the rear seat upper cushion out.

Those plastic trims above the doors are held in by two plastic clips. You're going to break at least one clip when removing them because there is a locking tab that holds it in place. What I do is get my fingers behind them either side of one clip and give a quick pull. Once one is loose, you can rotate the trim piece approx. 90 degrees and remove the trim from the other clip. That clip will remain in place in the roof metal and can be worked free by pressing in on the locking tab while prying out on it. Replacement clips can be had (I'll send a couple if you'd like)...but, take care in supporting the plastic trim best you can when removing so you don't break it.

Interior removal / update. Doortr10

by 77mali Fri Nov 14, 2014 9:50 am

The top portion of the rear seat has these stupid tabs under the retractors. It was a giant pain to get them out. You'll need a breaker bar and a torx style socket to get them out. Be careful or you'll strip the bolts (ask me how I know-LOL). Good if you can use something like PB Blast. I had to spray some on the underside of the car as well as the bolt was rusted in pretty bad.

by thatfnthing Fri Nov 14, 2014 10:02 am

These should be the panel clips you need:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-1978-Cutlass-Monte-Carlo-Impala-El-Camino-Malibu-Roof-Rail-Headliner-Clips-/111236275156?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AMonte+Carlo&hash=item19e632dbd4&vxp=mtr

There's probably some specialty tool that could unlock them, but I wound up breaking mine and replacing them.

If your seat belt retractor mounts are heavily corroded like mine were, you may be better off slicing the back seat straps off with a dremel and resecuring them later with sheet metal screws or something. Once you have those free, the seat back itself shifts upward to unhook it from its retaining tabs.

by Mcarlo77 Fri Nov 14, 2014 10:03 am

Paul is correct...those Torx bolts can be a bitch to remove on our Rust Belt cars. I've tried all kinds of tricks, so get out your bag and have at it. As stated, put a lot of downward pressure on the Torx socket to keep it from spinning out. 2-3 times of that and it's game over as you've stipped the inside of the head. If you have a good impact wrench, try chirping it back and forth to loosen it. Guys at the yard put heat to the underside and rarely have any trouble getting them out that way.

by 77mali Fri Nov 14, 2014 10:27 am

I broke all those clips on mine- they become very brittle over time.

Steve is right, heat would be a good idea if you have a friend to help you out- just be careful of the gas tank & make sure you're safe. The spots that the bolts come out of in the rear seat panel is kind of hard to get at, you might have to raise the car & support it on the rear axle to get decent access to them. Since I stripped mine, I had to get them loose by using the dremmel and making an X pattern, drilling a pilot hole and using a special extraction tool from Craftsmen to remove them. I don't know what those dammed bolts are made of but the are hard as heck to drill into and it took forever to do it, so again be cautious and be patient.

by Dinomyte Fri Nov 14, 2014 10:40 am

Thanks guys. I was hoping the retractors didn't need to come out. Had to go through this exercise with the front buckle on the passenger side.

A friend with the torch under the car is the easiest way.

As for the over door trim, I'll try this tonight.

by Mcarlo77 Fri Nov 14, 2014 11:29 am

[quote="thatfnthing"]These should be the panel clips you need:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-1978-Cutlass-Monte-Carlo-Impala-El-Camino-Malibu-Roof-Rail-Headliner-Clips-/111236275156?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AMonte+Carlo&hash=item19e632dbd4&vxp=mtr

OMG...$12 apiece?!! I'd better get busy collecting these things.

by Dinomyte Fri Nov 14, 2014 11:57 am

Mcarlo77 wrote:
thatfnthing wrote:These should be the panel clips you need:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-1978-Cutlass-Monte-Carlo-Impala-El-Camino-Malibu-Roof-Rail-Headliner-Clips-/111236275156?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AMonte+Carlo&hash=item19e632dbd4&vxp=mtr

OMG...$12 apiece?!! I'd better get busy collecting these things.

LMAO !!

by Hawk03 Fri Nov 14, 2014 12:22 pm

"You are buying 10 GM Trim Clips for 1-Low Price" If you read a little further

There are other sites you can buy from, just google GM 9617200.

by 77mali Fri Nov 14, 2014 1:01 pm

A dollar & change each is ok. I thought the same thing too when looking at the ebay listing though and was going to dig through my stuff to see if I had any good ones left to sell as NOS Wink

by Mcarlo77 Fri Nov 14, 2014 1:12 pm

Yeah...I had a retirement strategy all worked up...lol!

by thatfnthing Fri Nov 14, 2014 1:47 pm

I didn't know the GM part number, I simply grabbed the link of the first one I saw just to show what they looked like. If anyone knows a better source, feel free to post it! Smile

by Hawk03 Fri Nov 14, 2014 2:32 pm

I got the part number from the listing you posted Very Happy

Thanks for bringing this up, will have to put it on the list to purchase.
How many do you need for the interior? Here is 10 for $8.99 with free shipping.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/191049466086?lpid=82

by thatfnthing Fri Nov 14, 2014 4:21 pm

Mine were held in with 2 each side if IIRC.

by Dinomyte Sat Nov 15, 2014 11:22 am

I just found an Olds 442 shifter for a 70 -72, wondering if anyone knows if they can be installed / hooked up or if I'm looking at major headaches?

Interior removal / update. <a href=

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From this picture it looks like it will bolt right up, that it was designed/built with the rear bracket as one piece.

Will it operate properly? can I use the cable I have? or is there something more I'll need to do?

thanks

by Dinomyte Wed Dec 03, 2014 2:24 pm

How does the parcel tray and the piece between the parcel tray and the rear window come out? Or is it part of the body.

I'm sure that the parcel tray is just stuck, weather intentionally or unintentionally, but the other piece looks like it's been purposely permanently attached.

I'll attache a picture later, can't seem to get them off my phone right now.

by thatfnthing Wed Dec 03, 2014 3:38 pm

In the Monte, the package tray is all one piece from the seat back to the window, and it comes out after you remove the defog fan and the seat back -- there are a couple small screws holding it in place that are hidden by the seat back IIRC. You may also need to remove the sail panels on either side (I'm at work so I can't look at it just now) if you haven't already.

by Mcarlo77 Wed Dec 03, 2014 5:15 pm

Same is true with Chevelles/Malibus.

by chevellelaguna Thu Dec 04, 2014 1:43 pm

As far as I know the piece between the package tray and back glass does not come out. I've never had the back glass out of my car to see how that metal piece is attached.

by impalamonte Thu Dec 04, 2014 3:33 pm

member " thatfnthing" is correct...the sail panels being removed will assure you get this piece out without damage.

by thatfnthing Thu Dec 04, 2014 3:43 pm

Oh, by 'piece between the package tray and the back glass', are we referring to the actual metal inner structure that the seat back and package tray attach to? I wasn't sure what that meant. If that's what we're talking about, no, that is not designed to be removed. You CAN, I suppose if you really want to, but it's a structural part of the body, so I wouldn't.

by dynchel Thu Dec 04, 2014 6:57 pm

I have reread this several times & I believe mark (thatfinthing) answered one of his questions (assuming he is talking about the cardboard. Chevellelaguna got the second, he is talking about the piece that bridges the two sail panels (running parallel to the bottom of the window). I ended up painting mine in the car as I don't think it is removable w/o cutting.

by Dinomyte Thu Dec 04, 2014 7:57 pm

Just got back to this, yes I've got all the answers now. Thanks to everyone.

I've got all the interior out of the car except these two pieces. The parcel tray has screws and the rear defogger to remove first, got that. - Thanks thatfinthing.

The other is the piece that is between the two sail panels as chevellelaguna and dynchel both say is structural. I guess I'll be painting it in the car. Sad

Anybody know if SEM paint will work on metal? or am I looking for a colour that's close enough that only I will know?

by dynchel Thu Dec 04, 2014 7:59 pm

Are you doing a black interior?

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