Suburban interior panels--B-pillar: Screws AND welded? Why??

[Brad54]

I've always wondered this... my '61 Suburban has interior metal trim panels, and the B-pillar panel behind the doors is attached with large, domed-head Phillips screws... AND it's welded at the door opening, behind the weather stripping.
WHY?!

I'd like to remove that panel and fabricate upper and lower seat belt anchor points, and I'd like to get in there and install bear claw door latches.

Anyone know what the thinking was behind screws AND welding, rather than just welding?

Has anyone ever removed those panels and gone into this area?

(and does anyone have one or two of those big screws? I think I stripped the blind nut on one of them and will have to cut the head off the remove the panel. )
-Brad

[surferdude]

I just replaced mine with stainless. I'd be happy to mail you a couple if you want orginals. You'll need a spot weld cutter to get the panels off.

Tim

[VictoriaHardware]

It's spot welded at the door opening so the weatherstripping can fit over it flush- no threaded fastener could do that. Then it's held by screws along the rear edge because there was no way for the Plant to get to both sides to spot weld.

I have removed those panels. You just have to cut all the spot welds out. Then when you're done you re-weld it.

[hemifalcon]

I've also removed the panels.. There is quite a few spot welds that you'll have to drill out along the door opening portion where the weather strip is affixed to.

Unfortunately--I have nothing to contribute as to the reasoning for welding and screwing the panels on there. But--it's not a huge task of removing them if you are dead set on removing them.

[rustyrodknocker]

I pulled the on my gmc and chevy suburbans. Had to cut every spot weld on the Chevy. The gmc ones all but fell off when I pulled the screws out. Don't know what happened there
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