1990 DL240 Wagon

Hello All,

I may be re-discovering the wheel here but this may help someone. The rocker panel moulding below the doors came loose recently.

The problem was the body mounted clips had broken, I am not sure how long this process took, but it hit a critical number where it was falling off. I ordered them from FCP Groton pn# 1304520.

The clips have a finger that goes into a hole and a pin you push through a shaft that has fingers going into the rocker panel. The fingers expand and it holds it fast to the body. Then the molding clips onto them (it takes 13 per side).

I drove the pin in the first one and the clip came apart. On close inspection the pin can't pass from the outside part of the clip to the inside without breaking it. There was a small flange formed by the expanding ears (maybe from manufacturing?) that prevented the pin from passing through. I fooled around with them and ended up breaking number 2.

I finally hit on the solution. I removed the pin and inserted it from the inside part to the outside but enough remained inside the flange to allow placement. I did use a machinist hammer to just push the pin in to secure the molding.

I hope this helps someone

1 Never install plastic clips when it is cold outside or the clips are cold. It helps to put the clips in hot water BEFORE you use them.
2 Always use the right size punch to push the pins in. You are snapping the clip into the hole first then driving the pin in slowly.
3 Sometimes you just have to be lucky.

I tried pushing a couple of those pins today and the clips broke.
Your solution really does make sense:
"I removed the pin and inserted it from the inside part to the outside but enough remained inside the flange to allow placement".

I'll certainly try this. Thanks.
--
-Cool Volvo- 1982 240 4 Spd OD w/ 282K, 1989 240 5 Spd w/ 290K. Past proud owner of 1966 122, 1968 144, 1970 145, 1972 144, 1980 245

yeah those clips are a pain. if you hit it ever so slightly offcenter it's almost certain to fall apart.

Same thing happened to my 88/200. Everytime I tried, the clips just busted. Someone said it has to be hot outside for the plastic not to bust.

So, I just pulled the useless mouldings off, checked for rust, slathered the holes with rustoleum red rust primer, plugged the holes,and then sprayed with, what else, black paint.

Pragmatism is what keeps Bricks running down the road.