GH,
O.K., if I'd read all my mail first, I'd have known that you got good
advice already on the strap, sorry about that. But I can help you with the
screws. First of all, don't hurry !! If you think they're tough now, try it
when you've started rounding out the Phillips a bit (not hard to do!). Or
(far) worse, break off a head like I did. The screws go into a fairly hefty
little slab of metal (one for each hinge),which is captured -- it has had the
A-post constructed around it and is NOT removable! If you mess up those
threads of shear a screw off, you are screwed.
You have access to the back of those screws. If you look into the oval
holes (vertically aligned) that you uncovered in removing the kick panels, you
will see at least a few threads of each screw protruding from the back side of
the little metal slab. USE that access! If you alternately apply torch heat
(don't be shy), and lots of penetrating oil at the head and tail end of each
of those screws, they should break loose.
One more caution: I've done these on three cars and it really is easy to
round out the Phillips heads. Don't even try until you've applied the above
paragraph and then when you're ready, mean it. Spend the tiime or money to
find a BIG Phillips that is the RIGHT size for those screw heads. Then get
someone to lean their FULL body weight into it while you turn it with a vise
grip. This has not failed me yet.
I've heard people talk of impact tools, but my opinion is that those screw
are so soft, you'd be asking for trouble. Good luck!
Chris Hill
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