I always thought that was part of the mold.

I think once you get the cargo hooks and whatever else holds the bottom of the upper panel you can get the lower panel off.

In any case, it is not rocket science.

 

It may not be rocket science, but it's sure above my pay grade!

I can't figure out how the "quarter upper panel plug" as Mitchell calls it, comes off. It fills the space where a side window would be if my LT wasn't a panel wagon. It is listed as the first part to be removed when you're removing the rear quarter upper trim, but Mitchell doesn't tell you how to remove it and I can't find the procedure using the forum search. I have tried twisting the plug and lightly preying it out, but it's in there solid. Mitchell shows two fasteners behind it that need to be removed to get the upper trim off. I'm stumped! Any help will be greatly appreciated.


You can see something on the back of the plug (number 1 in the drawing) but it really doesn't tell me anything.

 

You can either agonize over it or go out on a limb and ignore step 1.
I am not sure why you need to remove the upper panel. Just getting the lower fasteners out should do it.

 

If I was to guess. I would say the window plug has plastic hooks on the back side. Push or pry up on the plug while lightly pushing in to release.
I've seen and removed numerous interior body panels that are designed like that.

Remember I'm just guessing. Don't break anything.

 

Removing the lower quarter panel trim is much more involved then the upper trim, which has to be removed before you can remove the bottom panel anyway according to Mitchel and several posts I have read on this forum. I reached in through the little door that you use to change a tail light bulb and I can feel the VCIM and it sits mostly above the seam between the upper and lower panel trims. So I should be able to change it out with just the upper trim removed. That is what a couple of posts on the forum indicate anyway.

Thanks, I've pulled on it some, but I'll try again, carefully.