The Lotus Grand Tourers

I will be removing the cant rails from my car shortly to have them re-upholstered. It all looks easy apart from the B pillar trim. Until I started reading related posts from the forum I presumed that the top part covered with headlining material was seperate from the bottom leather covered part. However, presuming I'm interpreting the thread correctly, it is all one piece. Unfortunately the thread doesnt explain how this part is removed.

I won't be taking the car to the upolsterer, just the bits as the actual roof lining is perfectly OK so I'll need to get the two b pillars off, Can anyone enlighten me as to the best way to approach this? Dave form Lotusbits did mention something about it when I was up there but I was concentrating more on dash removal procedures at the time

Thanks

Shaun

Hi.
The B pillar trim is part of the rear quarter panel,so its rear seats out a few screws around trim,top front seat belt mounts and part of the door weather seal to release fabric wrapped around body edge.
Hope this helps.

Cheers, Terry.

And following on from Tel's bit. The material was originally stitched to the leather before both were adhered to the panel, so you / your trimmer can cheat by folding the material and stitching then just gluing in place or go the whole hog and find a way to stitch it to the leather that's still on the panel.

I cut a piece of headlining material to fit and glued straight onto B pillar,only needs to cover small gap between panel and door seal.
wrapped around at edge so not removed when refitting door seal.

I should make it clear. I was referring to the bit that is on the B pillar trim (where the upper seatbelt pivot point comes through), not the bit on the body.

Thanks guys, thats a real help. Do I have to remove the rear seat belts and get the rear seat back completely out or can I just manoeuvre it about to get to the screws?

Regards

Shaun

Seat back is fairly easy to get out - tabs in the boot and screws under seat base, but it will still be held in by the rear belts but you can move it a lot - not sure if enough to remove the side panel though. I got away with just re trimming the top half of the b pillar by just removing the top seat belt loop and easing the b pillar away from the side and not fully removing it. Got to be careful with the glue though. And then stuck a bit of trim behind it upto the door seal as someone else already said.

Ted