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front pillar fitting

Posted: 4/21/12 2:13pmMessage 1 of 9
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Red Lion, PA - USA
Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182
Vette(s): 1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic
I need to know if anyone has ever replaced the front interior pillar trims. I installed mine this morning and the plastic pieces that are supposed to snap together dont snap. They have 2 sets on the pillar itself. They are to snap onto the 2 that are on the windshield pillar. These snaps are just like the ones on the door panel and I know on my 74 those dont actually snap tight either. I did buy a bunch of them new but havent drilled the rivots out to put a new one on. Will it actually work if I put the new ones on? They dont seem to snap together very easily on the bench when I tried them. just didnt want to do wasted work.
Thanks
Rodney

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Re: front pillar fitting

Posted: 4/21/12 3:34pmMessage 2 of 9
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Gilbert, AZ - USA
Joined: 10/3/2011
Posts: 16
Vette(s): 1969 convertible, 350/350 undergoing a complete frame-off resto.
I noticed on mine that the old ones were fairly brittle & mix-matching them might cause them not to be able to latch together properly. I had a hard time getting 2 of the old ones to latch, they just don't have any flex in them. If you have the pieces, it isn't to tough replacing them.

Some one else might have a different experience.....
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Re: front pillar fitting

Posted: 4/21/12 11:01pmMessage 3 of 9
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Lemon Grove, CA - USA
Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041
Vette(s): 1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.
Did them on my 82 I had to file some of the metal to get them to snap in.  I'm not sure we are talking about the same thing.  I have don't both the front windshield and the post where the seat belts come through.  The only thing I recall snapping in was the front windshield posts.    
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Re: front pillar fitting

Posted: 4/22/12 4:56amMessage 4 of 9
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Red Lion, PA - USA
Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182
Vette(s): 1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic
guess I'll try to replace the snap side on the body pillar post and see if that works out better. The ones on there now are 40 years old so it cant hurt. Im trying to get this thing done but its always something holding me up. Usually me with no ambition! Now if I can only find the mirror bracket!
Thanks for the info
Rodney

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Re: front pillar fitting

Posted: 4/22/12 7:01amMessage 5 of 9
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Sykesville, MD - USA
Joined: 4/27/2008
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Vette(s): 1979 Corvette Coupe Corvette Light Blue Midnight Blue interior Mirrored Glass T-tops
You'll get it done, Rodney! We can't wait to see it in person! We'll have to organize a get-together for the unveiling!
 
Barry
 
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Re: front pillar fitting

Posted: 4/22/12 7:32amMessage 6 of 9
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 22715
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Well. if ya think aboot it, they're really  just plastic velcro. Velcro don't seem to last forever, either. I'd try the new pieces for the pillar first, at least.
The purpose of these pieces is really to just keep the skweeks down, and make assembly easier...the screws are what actually holds the piece in place. If the pillar trim, door panel, or headliner(on coupes) is warped, the plastic velcro stuff may not hold very well at all. 

Joel Adams
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Re: front pillar fitting

Posted: 4/22/12 8:51amMessage 7 of 9
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Red Lion, PA - USA
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Vette(s): 1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic
Joel, You said it best. Plastic velcro is exactly what it is. I am using new aftermarket parts so I cant say they fit perfect. the sad thing about doing these pillar replacements is the only thing that holds them on other then the velcro strips are 2 screws at the top of the trim. One of the screws are actually the visor arm and screw. the bottom just tucks in between the dash pad and windshield. Then going up the pillar is just that velcro strip. It seems tight in place but you can see the trim isnt being held in tight. not sure if I can put a slight arc in it or not. Going to spend the afternoon working on interior.
Thanks
Rodney

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Re: front pillar fitting

Posted: 4/22/12 11:44amMessage 8 of 9
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
YA..the screw(s) at the top, and the dash pad hold the bottom in. Ya gotta remember tho....they dint fit all that well from da factory...so a gap here and there would be considered "normal". 

Joel Adams
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Re: front pillar fitting

Posted: 4/22/12 3:16pmMessage 9 of 9
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Rockland, MA - USA
Joined: 1/30/2003
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Vette(s): 76, L48, 4spd & 09, LS3, 6spd

FYI - when I replaced the one on the driver's side, I removed the header piece and visor first - then just put it in and replaced in reverse. If those little velcro things are not doing the job, you can always buy some regular velcro anf try that. I have used velcro to hold a bunch of stuff.

good luck (it's fun) - Thumbs Up
 

 

 

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