Door Cards

[Roger]

I am thinking of re-covering the door cards of my  TC,  but have a niggling doubt about the clips, and how to be sure they align with the Snap Sacs. They don't all now, by the way!
Is the trick to fit the clips before gluing the vinyl? I've  tried lining them up with the present vinyl, but it's hard to move them around and it's a guess which way to move them!
Any tips, tricks or advice, please?

[BDA]

The first thing you should know is that I gave mine to an interior shop to be done. I think the idea is not to glue your cover in the area near the holes so that you can still move your clips to engage the snap sacs.

Good luck!

[4129R]

There has to be a degree of movement to align the clips with the plastic sacks.

[tedtaylor]

There has to be a degree of movement to align the clips with the plastic sacks.

Exactly!

[dakazman]

Ted,  the clips rotate 360degrees inside the card and should slide right left up and down. If it’s not hitting the center of the catch you need to reposition one or all the others.
Hope that helps
Dakazman

[Roger]

Gentlemen, thank you for your replies. Even when the clips can me moved relatively easily, getting them to line up isn't easy, particularly not for those in the middle. So let m e re-phrase my question.
Is lining up the clips a matter of continual trial and error until they all fit, or is there a better way, please?

[4129R]

You have to offer up the card to the door, with a 1" gap, lie underneath, and then with a pair of long tong type tweezers or needle nosed pliers, move the clips until they line up.

The normal Lotus position.

[EuropaTC]

Is lining up the clips a matter of continual trial and error until they all fit, or is there a better way, please?

To some extent, yes, you just fiddle about until they're right. Having just replaced the door trims on my car after tinkering with the window motors, what I did/do is first to put a touch of vaseline (or grease if you wish) into the plastic holders in the door and also on the clips to make them easier to fit. There's lots of adjustment with the length of the clip base & hole in the door card.

Then I start at one end, hold the card against the door and use a torch to see where the clips are in relation to the door pockets. Generally speaking it's easy to see when the point of the clip is roughly in line with the  pocket. Usually I start at the front and work down, then the rear of the door and finally the base. During this stage the card is floating free and the internal door handle isn't fitted in the card.

I don't normally push them into place until I'm fairly sure 90% are pointing in the right direction. As you say, the one in the middle is the biggest nuisance, that's trial & error.

Brian

[dakazman]

Instead of standing on your head in awkward positions transpose the catches on your he door to a piece of brown kraft paper . Poke a hole thru the paper into catches in door. Mark paper front/ back and top . Take off door and now  lay it on the card and adjust clips.
Dakazman

[Certified Lotus]

Brilliant Dakazman!

[Roger]

Thank you Dakazman, great idea!!