1968 Coronet Rear Window Trim

[JimKueneman]

Couple questions about the interior window trim.

1) I get the moulding that clip to the headliner around the window on the top and sides. On the bottom there is a fat rubber looking filler between the rear shelf and the window. Does this come out? I am working on removing the rear window.
BTW this appears to have been out before and there is so much goop oozing out it made the outer trim almost impossible to remove as it was glued in more than the clips were holding.

2) It appears that the headliner and the rear shelf are stitched together as a single unit. It that a true statement? I am restoring this car and the interior is like new so I want to disturb as little as possible on the interior. I need to remove the glass to fix the rust in the corners and replace a few rusted out trim clips.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[JimKueneman]

Visual of what I am talking about

 

[Beekeeper]

That piece is attached to the package tray if you pull out the package tray it comes with it

 

[JimKueneman]

That piece is attached to the package tray if you pull out the package tray it comes with it

It seems like the package tray and the headliner are one single integral part. Do I dare try to remove a 45 year old headliner that looks like new? Will I do more damage than good?

Jim

 

[Beekeeper]

That's sounds odd for the headliner to be sewn to the package tray. If it is the original headliner it stops at the top of the sail panels and then there is actual sail panels that are covered with the headliner material and are then snapped into place and are removable this would be on each side of the back window directly above the package tray. Could you post up a couple of pics of the sail panel area?

 

[JimKueneman]

I will tonight when I get home. As I pull things apart on this car it is looking like it had a bit of a refresh between when it was new and when it was stored in 1984. It had a factory color paint job where they painted EVERYTHING in the trunk, the trunk lid appears to have be replaced or was refinished more than once due to rust in the seam along the back lip. It tend to think replaced since nothing else in the car has much rust at all (though I plan to pull the carpet out tonight, the floor looks solid from the bottom side), the trunk floor, rocker and quarter panels look great.

Jim

 

[JimKueneman]

 

[Beekeeper]

The stitching your seeing at the ends of the package tray are just an edge that is sewn to the package tray
But you sure enough do have a one piece headliner.
I don't foresee you having any problems removing the
package tray without any damage. As far as removing the headliner if you do you will have to buy a new one
since the old one has been trimmed there will not be enough material to re stretch it in.

 

[JimKueneman]

Yup I pulled much of the interior out tonight. A couple more questions:

1) Trying to pull the console out (500 model). If you take the set screw out of the shifter knob then the housing can be pulled up but a spring still hold it. How do you get the shifter knob off so I can pull the console out?

2) The front seat belts the rocker panels have plastic covers. These covers don't slide on the inter metal reinforcement at all. The hole in the plastic is offset with respect to the bolt holding the belt to the body so you can't maneuver a socket on the bolt head. What is the trick?

The Dodge gods were looking over this old girl. I don't plan on stripping the factory under coating, only a once over with a wire brush on a grinder to find any places the factory undercoating is flaking (I have not found any that looks like it has failed but I have not looked really hard yet). Where the problem was that the trunk was leaking and there was a lot of surface rust in the trunk floor and clearly here under the carpet on the drivers side (the passengers is better but still needs attention). It is solid but needs to be stopped NOW!

 

[Beekeeper]

the cover on the front seat belt retractor does not come off without the bolt removed. you have to try to pull the cover around to gain access to the bolt.
sorry i can't help you on the auto shifter mech. I'm not familiar with auto shifters