recently (this summer) having redone the entire interior and upholstery i will give you my two cents

1. Does anyone have any suggestions on the install procedures for the rear interior panels, and upper seat side panel?

a good suggestion, if you are down to the metal interior, metal brush everything off, sand, then prime with something like POM15 or whatever its called (this just nicely water seals stuff

you should have your water seal paper things now, so you want to lightly rubber seal that into place over top of the newly painted / primed metal

next is the rear panel (the one with the chrome bits on it), this one goes down the rear window slot

now the armrest, it screws through the panel into the body sheet metal, very easy

lastly is the metal corner bit ( has 4 or 5 screw holes into it. line up the upper and the lower... ...some pressing and squeezing will be required.

repeat this process for the other side.

now since you have the seat out as well, before doing the above, maybe replaace your truck seperator thing


2. For the Kick Panel install, carpet first or kick panels first?

on this, i would probably have to say carpet carpet carpet, this way when you are installing the kick panels, they will overlap your carpet slightly and basically hold it down in the front area. when doing the drivers side (this is the pain in the *** one) loosen your parking brake so you can swivel out the arm to get in there

3. Door panels - I have OEM and need that KED that has been talked about. Really, any input on the install.

okay, the doors panels are actually quite easy, the biggest pain was that my snap holes did not line up properly (there are 3 in the front part and 3 in the rear part of the door)

do any and all window / window chanel, door handle, locks and inner door nonsense now, it will be easier than later. like adjusting upper window tensioner

install your splash shield thingy

slide your snap clips onto the door panel and snap into place, if they don't line up, grab a sharpy or other marker, color around the door snap holes and press the panel onto them thus rubbing some markings onto the backside of the panel, thats where your snaps should be adhered

the bottom carpet bit is really simple, just screw the trim screws through


4. Dash Pad - again OEM (I know I never learn). Any recommendations for the fastening at the lower sides to the dash. The fastners don't actually match the original hole in shape, etc.

thats okay, i have an OEM one as well, can't really afford the vinyl one... ...but that was my lesson, i ended up getting a 69 instead of a 68 delivered to me, so it had that weird indent around the drivers side for the 69 dash cluster... ...i made some crazy custom wood finishings for it heres a pic



anyway, i digress, if you have the dash dissassebled (like center console off, and glove box out) it makes installing loads easier, put the bolts that are part of the pad through their holes in the dash metal and speed nut them from the underside. the glove box and second from right are the easiest, second from left is just to the left of the radio beside the instrument cluster, and the drivers side one (most left) is left of the instrument cluster. it should be somewhere above the fuse box.

good luck with you installation

heres my progress and more information about installs and such

http://myfirstgenbird.com