Rear Seat Interior Trim 'Quarter' Panels

[Twistiva]

(Not a 'custom' question but posting here since this forum deals with interiors)

Can anyone please tell me how you remove the rear seat interior trim 'quarter' panels? These are the large L/R plastic panels that have the molded-in arm rests in the back seat.

I've removed all the screws around the edges of the panel (4? 5?) plus the long one that goes into the hole in the lower middle center of the panel. I've also removed the body/door jamb strip and made sure it's not hanging up on the floor carpet. (The cargo area panels are loosened as well/not hanging up on that.) I can slide a putty knife all the way around the edge of the panel but it won't budge.

It feels like it must have a clip of some kind still connected on the center backside of the panel???

Plus, how hard can you pull on these particular panels before you start breaking stuff???

Need to know because I'm trying to remove a tan panel (a very dried out panel from a JY donor) and don't want to bust the danged thing. My shop manuals are in my Festy being painted in another town.

Any help?

[gergorian]

I think there is just some metal clips that should pop out if you pull on the panel but I cant remember as I pulled mine out years ago before my car sat until now when I started working on it again.

[txranger14]

did you undo the seatbelts and take off the rear panels in the hatch?

[Bert]

There are spring steel clips that hold these on. If you can gingerly get a flat bar in behind the panels then start lifting. That plastic is fairly resilient and has some flex to it. I've only ever done it once and that was to strip out a parts car. However I did not break the panels despite having been being rather careless and crude about it.

[Twistiva]

did you undo the seatbelts and take off the rear panels in the hatch?

Completey removed all rear seat seatbelts.

Did not remove the 2 cargo area side panels but did remove ALL of their screws but one (the hatch is locked closed and one screw that sits on the hatch lip cannot be removed) but the rear cargo side panels are completely loose and are NOT holding the rear seat quarter panels in place/preventing them from being removed.

[Twistiva]

There are spring steel clips that hold these on. If you can gingerly get a flat bar in behind the panels then start lifting. That plastic is fairly resilient and has some flex to it. I've only ever done it once and that was to strip out a parts car. However I did not break the panels despite having been being rather careless and crude about it.

Bert / Anyone -

Can you please tell me how many spring steel clips there are and (generally) where they're located?

I'm very concerned about busting these panels because A) they've been out in the sun for years (no rear hatch window and the front driver window has been removed....the sun and wind just pour in all day everyday for years) and B) the panels are in pretty good shape ding/nick-wise and they are BROWN!

[XFSE71]

I just had my interior completely out. I didn't actually count the number of clips behind the panels, but I'd guess there are 3 each side. There is also a screw in the middle of each panel. If you are concerned about breaking the panels then try slipping a long screwdriver or something simular between the body and the panel to pop loose the retainer clips. It comes apart easily.

[F3BZ]

there's 6 spring clips holding it. let's say you're looking at the RH panel from inside the car. there are 3 evenly spaced behind the conex buldge just below the window and there are 3 in a triangular pattern at the bottom left around the seatbelt crank access hole plug.

[Larry Hampton]

When I get home later, I'll take pics of the inside of my panels for you.

[Twistiva]

there's 6 spring clips holding it. let's say you're looking at the RH panel from inside the car. there are 3 evenly spaced behind the conex buldge just below the window and there are 3 in a triangular pattern at the bottom left around the seatbelt crank access hole plug.

F3BZ -

Super! Thx for the info. That's exactly what I need!

When I get home later, I'll take pics of the inside of my panels for you.

Larry -

That would be great! Thx!

Going back probably on Thursday. Sure hope it warms up....

[Larry Hampton]

You can unlock the rear hatch from inside, just move the lever over that you use to lock it.

Did you remove the screw under the armrest? How about the speaker grille?

I'll post pics tomorrow morning.

[Prafeston]

You can unlock the rear hatch from inside, just move the lever over that you use to lock it.

I generally leave my rear hatch unlocked, but when I have to lock it that's how I unlock it. My original hatch I had to do that too as the key thing didn't work and now I have a hatch from another Festiva so the trend continues!

[F3BZ]

i wanted to post this the other night but couldn't find the camera

[Larry Hampton]

Sorry Twist, but that's the pic.

I got back from Florida late late Saturday after the full drivve back and between work and sleep, haven't had much time for anything else.

[bravekozak]

F3, would you happen to know rhat the Ford part number is for that panel?
Those guys at Repro today were muttering about not having a 93 lens for the Ford ultrafiche. They are going to see what they can do.