Package shelf material removal

[Tonka Man]

What are tips for taking the package shelf material off under the back window?  Do you have to remove the back seat to get that trim piece off along the top of the back seat?

My '71 tree find had a leak in the back window for who knows how long and the package shelf is all warped and nasty smelling.  I'm going to get it out of there this weekend.

[Dtret]

Yes and/or no. Let me explain why. If you just want it out quick cut along the top of the seat. But it’s actually a process to do it right, which you will have to do to put it back in. To do it right pull the seat, the speaker(s) and the two little corners ( where the tray meets the back window, be careful 52 year old plastic). Pull up the windlace along the side panels and it should slide out. The package tray folds up behind the side panels about an inch and a half so be careful not to damage them, unless you are replacing them. 

[stangeba]

If this is of any help, here is my old tray, from my 71, removed.

My old neighbor made me a new one with the material of the day that looks like  scotch brite, that is still looking good.

[Marks71]

You’ll need some spray adhesive to glue the vinyl that wraps over the trim to the metal behind the seat. Hopefully the rear deck isn’t rusted too bad but you should at least sand it and brush some paint or Por15 over it, especially in the corners.

[Tonka Man]

Mine is beyond saving.  There are dead things in there including dead wasps and probably a dead mouse or two.

I think I'll cut it out for now and then deal with the trim when I pull the back window and the back seat.

[Marks71]

Ouch!!!!

[Tonka Man]

See picture below.  I built this package shelf replacement out of oak in high school back in 1987.  I had help but I laminated the boards together and cut it to shape.  Then I photo copied one of the emblems and enlarged it on paper.  With a grid pattern on both the enlarged paper and on the wood piece, I free handed the script to the wood.  Then I routered it into the wood.  With the speakers in the package shelf and a thin piece of foam under it, it worked really well.  Not bad for a 17 year old kid!  It looked really nice.  Unfortunately I don't have pictures of it when it was fresh and new.

You are seeing it now 30 some years later when it it was sun bleached and cooked but you get the idea.

I will be making new ones for all of my Monte's.  (Actually, I'm going to have a wood worker do it for me now since I can afford it and they will do a better job than I could.).  Then I'll stain to match the car.  In my green car that is going lime green with black vinyl, I will have the wood stained black.  In my  Mulsanne Blue with Antique White Top car, I'll probably do a light blue on some of it.  I have not decided what I'm doing on my '70 yet because I'm not sure what color that car is getting painted.