Happy New Year everyone!

Does anyone know how to remove the rear seat quarter trim panel on the 1st gen Toronados? For the life of me, I can't see how it comes out. I have consulted the CSM and I also have the Fisher manual (section 8-10) and I really cannot understand how it is removed, maybe someone here has some experience?

I've already removed the center package tray panel plus both filler panels. I've also removed the arm rests but the section that has the power window switch, I can't for the life of me figure out how it comes out. There's some hidden screws that are really buried in there. Looks like I may have broken on of the tabs on the filler panel while removing.

Anyway, easier to explain what I'm doing in a video so I've attached it below as a Youtube clip. Thanks!



The highlighted section, they make it seem so easy!

How does this trim come off?


Some very buried screws in this picture


Buried screw in view A

 

Years ago I dismantled a 1966 and a couple 1967's. I believe I removed the metal trim over the side windows with this still attached. Then slid it down and off. I know I have some of these pieces kicking around still. I'll try to locate them to make sure there's nothing else hidden holding it on. John

 

Thank you sir that would be great!

I guess the screws I'm confused about are marked below in my screenshot. The yellow one should be the one I'm referring to in my video. I have no idea how you remove that blue marked one.

 

"I have no idea how you remove that blue marked one.", If I am not mistaken I was able to access it from the outside with the window down. Hope this helps.

 

Ahh yes, good idea. I've been weary of putting the power window down for fear of it not coming back up but I guess I'll just have to give it a go. Thanks for that suggestion!

 

I dug through a bunch of pics I took from this summer as I tried to do the same thing. I must have deleted the ones I'm remembering, but 2blu is right about the metal trim above the windows (all the way up to the A pillar) has to be removed to get that last screw under the corner trim holding on the panel. I was not able to get my metal trim to budge, and without replacement pieces to cover any damage I might have caused, I abandoned the project and instead taped and covered the whole rear to I could re-dye the package tray and other sunburned trim. I tried everything, and was able to get the hidden screw loosened, but never had enough room to get it out. And then I couldn't screw it back in... So I buried it back under that corner trim piece and called it a day. This was one of those times I muttered, "Oldsmobile engineering" under my breath...

 

Yeah it's annoying how the Fisher manual doesn't mention that the trim has to come off to get the panel up and out. Otherwise, It's pretty detailed so I don't really understand why that very important detail is missing. I may have to admit defeat as well. It's probably not worth messing with.

 

I've not come across the 66-67 parts I was looking for. But I do have a 1968 Toronado I'm slowing dismantling. I think these pieces are very similar.

 

Then the panel your trying to remove. This is from the drivers side. I've not removed the one from the passengerside yet. But if it would help I can do that. Since most of these parts are in rough shape it won't be a big deal if I mess something up!

Where the fastener for the short side trim attaches


This tang slides under the panel just behind it, towards the back windshield

This is likely the screw you are having trouble reaching

Then this one is up by the door, underneath the window fuzzy.

 

Anything else I can take pictures of that might help?

 

Wow, thank you for these very helpful pictures! These look extremely similar to the 66-67 models so I'd bet they're pretty much the same.

I guess if you get a chance, and by all means don't worry if you can't, could I see how the quarter arm rest is "nailed" to the body? Do you have anything there that shows this? I've never come across nails on a car before and I'm not sure what they're talking about. I've highlighted it in the pics below. Thanks once again!


Nails?? Replacement nailing strips??

 

I'll see what I can come up with in photos. But yes, some of the interior panels of that vintage used tiny nails that were driven into the tack strip. Which is like a thick compressed cardboard.

 

Ahh I see. The tack strip must be glued to the body or something then? Do you know if this is the part they are referring to in the Fisher manual that they say is available as a service part?

 

There is a channel where this fiber piece is held in place with tabs. Years ago I cut the quarter panels off a 1967 Toronado. I've tried to sell them whole but due to shipping costs I've had no luck. If you end up needing any patch panels I'd be willing to cut pieces off these. Also if you need photos of what's under the side panels this should be the same as 1966. I realized the 1968 merged two panels together in the area your working. The first time I drove the car in the rain I had a trickle, not a drip but a trickle coming down over the inside rear view mirror. When I removed the front windshield trim I found it was rotted so bad I could stick my fingers in the area between the roof and the glass! John


There are metal tabs folded over to hold the fiber strip in place

This is the fiber strip the nails go into

This looks like staples rather than nails. Maybe someone replaced this over the years?






The vinyl top rotted the roof on this car. I've got a 1969 parts car that has large holes in the roof for the same reason!

 

2blu442 I cannot thank you enough for these pictures. I understand how the whole thing is held together now! Incredible detail!

Looking at my removed parts it appears that the 66-67 rear trim is a little different as the quarter trim is one piece on the one you show and it's a two-piece section on the '66-'67. Probably because they realized what a pain in the *** it is to removed in its current design.

 

Huzzahh!

Thanks to everyone here I have removed the parts that were fighting me. The trick with those quarter trims is the hidden screw down behind the rear window. It reveals itself when you put the window down a smidge. At the point, you can pop the nails from the fwd vertical section of the trim panel. Then you can kinda pop the whole panel up a little and then slide it forward until it clears that rounded section of plastic window trim.

A little bit of plastic welding later and all of my panels are in one piece again and looking great! Thanks again everyone!