I have acquired a replacement piece of missing door trim for my 72 Cutlass.

There are 5 places along the door to attach it.

The front 2 have little studs/buttons on which to attach little plastic clips to hold the strip to the door.

The back 3 are holes where those little studs/buttons must have gotten ripped out.

Any ideas for how to replace those studs - maybe with rivets?

And where to get some of those little plastic clips….

 

The hole at the back is for a retainer with a bolt.
some folks have used small stainless screws for the studs. The plastic retainers should be available at a good parts store. Lacking that, the resto houses will have them.

 

Thanks.

Would that be the kind of thing that somebody with an old door would be able to take off, or is it permanently in there?

 

I think those studs are made on the door. Not totally sure. I would try rivets. The little plastic retainers may be a problem. I don't think you will find those at any parts store. They are probably unique to the 72 Cutlass. I haven't looked but I would try Fisick's.

 

these look mighty close!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/68-69-70-71-...-/160736496085

 

Yes, the studs were welded on at Fisher body plants during the door build. Cars with side moldings also had the leading and trailing edges of the door pierced for the trim to br fastened from the inside, so there never was a welded tab in those locations. The trim fastener was a quick connect acorn nut. The hole for the rear trim will be on the leading inside edge of the quarter pane; the body molding base wrapped around and was fastened with a stainless Phillips head screw.

 

There is a different kind of retainer for the bolt hole. It's a metal flap with a wire which wedges inside the trim, with a bolt running through it. Bolt goes into the hole and attach a nut from the other side. Your other trim pieces use this type. Really easy to mess with the ones for the quarter panels behind the wheel. It's also a pretty common type of trim hardware. That seller has that type - they're called Plate clips.
The clips you found should be the right ones.

 

Are these what is needed?

 

Those will work. I prefer the flat clips with a metal wire instead of the plastic, but the function is the same.

 

yes, i believe so!
it looks like they screw into something in the door
i need 4 of them are those you show available?

 

You need 4x what I posted or 4 of these?



http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/Doo...0_p/a10617.htm



http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/Mou...h_p/a12962.htm

May want to make sure these are correct, just did a quick search for you and I found these.

 

Probably both - does the 2nd photo show a clip that goes inside the door and the screw replaces this "button" that seems to be welded into the door?

 

I believe you are right. Here is another link - OPGI



http://www.opgi.com/gto/1966/moldings/hardware/A22985/



http://www.opgi.com/gto/1966/moldings/hardware/CH2097/

 

So I think those plastic clips are correct, but the door hardware is not.

The door trim is not something that is reproduced, as it was only used for 1972 .

Were it for 71 or 72 it would be no problem, they make those:
http://www.opgi.com/cutlass/1971/mol...dings/C241349/

I might need to find somebody with an old door who can cannibalize for me...

 

They have different sizes for different applications. IIRC they have 5/16" 1/2" 5/8" & 3/4" I believe the 1/2" are the ones for the '72, someone correct me if I am wrong. I haven't taken my trim off yet to know for sure.

I didn't realize you didn't have the trim either. I would suggest putting a wanted ad here.

 

I actually do have the trim piece.

Indeed found it on these here forums.

What I meant was to cannibalize those buttons embedded in the door... sorry I wasn't clearer.

 

More fishing around in the 1972 Fisher Body Manual reveals that it is indeed called a "Weld Stud"

A little Googling did not reveal too much in terms of a "self sealing screw type weld stud". Just a few Chinese manufacturers.

Any thoughts?

 

Very helpful

 

Those screws that come with the plastic clips have sealer on them and that is what is used when the weld studs are missing.