What exactly are we talking about here???

TIA,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

John Carpenter wrote:

>In a message dated 10/1/2005 9:27:39 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
>insyncro@YAHOO.COM writes:
>
>I would  like to remove the rear hatch panel on my 90
>Carat.  The clips  holding  it in are the dark grey
>ones and I do not have any to spare  if broken while
>removing.  What is the best way to pop them out?   Will
>a trim tool help?  TIA,
>
>dylan
>
>
>
>Hi Bob, ;o)
>I was just doing this yesterday,
>& on a 90 Carat as well !?!
>Is you're maroon too ? :o)
>I removed the rear seats
>& put a custom made mattress in the back
>with a little chest of drawer,
>right behind the drivers seat.
>It's great for camping.
>About the clips,
>I worked those puppy's for quite a while.
>Here's what I came up with.
>I took two putty knives, (with a hole in the end of the  handle)
>& I've rounded the sharp corners,
>with a good 1/8 or 3/16th radius,
>& polished them smooth.
>I first made sure the flat edge of the clip
>was to the back. (away from me )
>by putting one blade in against the clip,
>& rotating the clip, using the flat side.
>I then slipped two putty knives tight  on each side of the clip.
>I then put a #2 Phillips screw driver,
>through both putty knife handle holes, as  a pivot point.
>I then squeezed the metal blade portion of the  knives,
>with a large pair of slip joint pliers.
>I call them water pump pliers for some reason?
>Maybe, because that's what their named?
>That's OK, because, I called Pliers "Pinchers"
>for about the first 25 years of my life. Thanks Mom !?!  :o)
>This squeezes the clip locks,
>& Ta Da, out they pop.
>They are very brittle though,
>& you may well break a few anyway :o(
>I don't know if it's aftermarket or just another  option,
>but there also is a clip with a screw, that spreads &  locks the clips.
>best,
>John C.
>SLC,  UT
>
>
>
>