'Cuda Sail Panel Installation

[1970Cuda]

So I thought I'd better ask my question here, before I make any mistakes on my restoration. I've looked over all the threads that I can find on installing the 'Cuda sail panel, and it is still not clear to me. (I also want to post this to my build too, but only after I understand how to install them correctly.)

I am posting a few pictures for reference: 1) my original sail panel, 2) new reproductions, and 3) bottom row of "teeth."

It looks like from my original sail panel, that cloth cover wraps around the sail panel and glued. I am assuming it's the same with the tape on the new sail panel. (Also, I am guessing that I need to remove the coat hook cutout from the new panel for a location reference point when I install the new sail panel.)

My questions are:

1. Do I use the Coat Hook as one of the guides for where to install the sail panel?
2. Does the front of the panel get glued to the back quarter rail, right up against where I glued the headliner?
3. Does the sail panel go in front of the "teeth" or exactly what is the position there?

Also, isn't it possible flip the Metal Interior Trim with the Package Tray? There seems to be enough room to switch these around in assembly order. (Thanks Alan for providing these in another thread!)


Interior Assembly Order:
Headliner
Sail panels
Package tray
Metal interior trim
Plastic rear interior panels

 

[pschlosser]

1. Do I use the Coat Hook as one of the guides for where to install the sail panel?
2. Does the front of the panel get glued to the back quarter rail, right up against where I glued the headliner?
3. Does the sail panel go in front of the "teeth" or exactly what is the position there?

1. Yes, use the coat hook to find the best alignment for the sail panel.  But the center clip will do the majority of alignment.  Try to rotate the panel so the front and bottom edges follow the sheet metal of the car. Adjust the rear edge to follow the rear window,
2. The sail panel does not get glued at all.  The fabric wraps around the panel to make a nice edge.  The fabric may be glued to the panel.  But the panel is not glued to the car.  Tack the panel in place using the clip at the center of the backside.
3.  Yes, the sail panel covers the teeth along the bottom, and the bottom edge of the sail panel is held in place by the rear quarter panel.  The rear edge is held in place by the rear-window interior trim.  The front edge of the panel is held in place by the side-window interior trim.  The top edge is not held in place by anything, except maybe that center clip and the front and rear edges.

take your time on this step.

[1970Cuda]

Awesome! Thanks very much pschlosser for your guidance on the sail panel installation. I was getting a bit confused and I honestly didn't take enough pictures when I disassembled it around five years ago. (Lessoned learned from this project - "When I think I've taken enough pictures, take more!")

Again, thanks for your response and help. As always, this is a great on-line community in support of our e-body passion.

[1970Cuda]

Over the weekend, I worked on installing my sail panels, and I was less then impressed with the sturdiness of the REM brand of panels. While they did look great before attempting the install, the clip installation was less than optimal and the cardboard backing tore where the clip was mounted (right side only), which was suboptimal. (The factory panel use metal instead of just cardboard where the clip attached to the panel - a way better design.)

I actually replaced the rather anemic attachment clip that came with the panel, with a more robust one (albeit less stout than the original). (Another reason to have a lot of clips and such on-hand in case one needs to pivot during an installation and improvise. I am posting a picture of the smaller - and original - clip that came with the panel, with my larger one used. And the factory one is even bigger than the one I used!)

I had considerable difficulty getting the clip that came with the panel to actually stay in place while I attempted to slightly maneuver the panel around to get the coat hook to line up ... I opted for the larger clip and that worked a LOT better.

Also, to get proper alignment, I taped the clip inserted in the proper hole and used paint on the backside of the clip prongs and then carefully pressed the sail panel against it to get properly alignment for where to insert the clip on the sail panel. I started on the right side (which tore) and was able to finally get it to stay in place. The left side turned out better, once I gained a little experience. Not sure it turned out exactly perfect, but I think the side covers will mask any imperfections I made during my installation.

If anyone has used another brand of panels, I would be interested in what you used. I don't recall Legendary making the sail panels, but I could be mistaken.