Installing Rear Interior Panels on our 66Bug

AZ66Bug

We have gotten to the point where we need to install the rear interior panels on our 66 bug. We have the headliner installed - (WHEW - what a bear that was!!) and our door panels are from Sewfine. Very nice looking panels. Seems like it should be fairly straightforward to insert the little pins on the door panel and then plug them into the 6 or 7 holes in the body of the car. Not so much, however. Each pin can be installed in at least 4 different ways around the circumference of the hole in the panel - actually the choices are infinite! And the exact position is of course critical because the receiving holes in the body are set. Most of the pins on the original door panel were missing and there is no way to tell what their orientation was around the panel holes. We could try every possible combination on the 6 or 7 holes but there must be a better way. The difficulty is that one cannot see how the holes in the body match up with the pins on the panel.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how best to proceed? I think the front door panels will be easier because they are larger and one can actually see how to match up the pins and the holes a few at a time. No such visibility on the rear panels.
_________________
66 Beetle Sedan, restored 2014
66 Mustang: Original Owner, restored 2008
66 Ford F250: 4th Owner, restored 2013

VOLKSWAGNUT · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 1:48 pm Post subject:

Its been a while for me.. but.... I think the correct orientation of the clips is slide them on clocked (located) with the protruding tang closest to the outside edge all the way around no matter the hole position.
Ones that need tweaking to fit...can simply be moved with a slide of the finger...

.
_________________
aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
Usually and often edited

60ragtop · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 2:23 pm Post subject:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

just like Ken said (type 3 panel shown but same idea.
Hold them up and eyeball then rotate clips as necessary to line them up with holes
_________________
Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986

grandpa pete · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 5:21 pm Post subject:

Make a craft paper pattern of the holes if you want exact fit .
_________________
63 two fold rag
66 sedan delivery Type 6

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569619&highlight=sedan+delivery

Tim Donahoe · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 6:03 pm Post subject:

If you use the rubber cups, grease them with silicone grease--for starters. Then start at the bottom of the panel, and work your way to the top. Don't bang them in. Use a flashlight to look in the small space as you're doing this.

Take into account that the corners will usually want a 2 o'clock angle of the clip, while the others just sort of go straight out.

Tim

AZ66Bug · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 8:10 pm Post subject:

This all makes sense and will give it a go next week.

Pete, we thought about a template but the space is kinda tight along the side of the pillar - may have put a bit too much padding there. We would need something stiffer and then we still end up with the same problem of locating the holes with something covering it. We will try as noted and work from the bottom up.

Tim, what do you mean by the rubber cups? Are you suggesting there was an insert in those holes in the body? Did not see anything when taking the old panel off - but then it was mostly disconnected to begin with.
_________________
66 Beetle Sedan, restored 2014
66 Mustang: Original Owner, restored 2008
66 Ford F250: 4th Owner, restored 2013

61SNRF · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 8:26 pm Post subject:

Whether it makes it easier or not, I will add that the OG rear panels taken off my '66 didn't have clips in all the holes, and it was evident they never did either. IIRC the front/lower two or three are left out, probably because with the seat installed they are redundant.

They were not like the front door panel clips either, but were the earlier style like these...

_________________
-Bruce

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Aynthm · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 4:02 am Post subject:

VELCRO works great !!!

AZ66Bug · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 6:23 am Post subject:

Aynthm · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 6:29 am Post subject:

Cusser · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 6:36 am Post subject:

The rear panels on my '71 Convertible have been off exactly once in 43 years; I took them off to clean/grease the window regulators, as one is real expensive and the other is NLA as new. And I think I re-glued some of the vinyl onto the board.

I remember that the rear of the panels didn't fit/mount as neat as it should've, maybe the vinyl had gotten hot and stretched a little. In Arizona? Never !
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

Tim Donahoe · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 5:31 pm Post subject:

AZ, I've only done this job a few times, I had a 1968 and a 1969 bug, but I only did the door panels, from what I remember (and that was long ago and I can't remember if they had those rubber cups or not). However, I just did my 1974 a short while back, and the holes in the doors and quarters had rubber cups in them. I suppose when they went over to the newer clips, it seemed necessary. Anyway, these cups make the clips nice and snug. But it's a good idea to take a Q-Tip and dip it in a little Sil-Glide (silicone grease, like the kind for setting the rubber seals in your trunk or deck lid) and then the clips slide in real easy--and come out easier, too.

By the way, when I said to position the corner clips at a 2 o'clock angle, that's if you're looking at the panel from the covered side. Looking at the side, contacting the interior quarter, the corner clips would be at 10 o'clock.

Tim

Dynaflash · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 8:18 pm Post subject:

Yes as said above the clips go to the outside and yes use lube on the boots and don't bang on the panel. Start at bottom and look with light to see the alignment. I just did it and it is ok once you get started

AZ66Bug · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 8:42 pm Post subject:

The Volkswagen Ranch · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 8:50 pm Post subject:

If the new panels are thicker than OEM, you might try inserting a flathead screwdriver inside, against the board and the clip and prying them open a little...makes it easier to move them around. Also, you could remove some of the vinyl/fabric with a razor blade beneath the clip against the backer to gain some room to move the clips around...I have some pics of the original clips attached to my wife's 63 vert rear quarters, but for the life of me, can't figure out how to attach to this to send to you....pm me with your regular email address and I get the pics to you. Bob[/img][/list]
_________________
1963 Convertible (Lizzie) and 1964 Convertible (Patience) 1976 Westfalia (Winnie)


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

	Forum Index -> Beetle - 1958-1967	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1