I did not take the rear upright carpet piece off of my 1979 Limited. I have a new piece, and can't figure out how they attached it. There are no holes in the plastic piece, but suspect that there should be. Does anyone have pictures of the way that piece attaches?

 

Are you talking about the tail light area or behind the seat? Tail light cover is held on by a few phillips screws and two snap buttons. The larger cargo area carpet is held on by a few plastic pop in pieces and the long black metal bar.

 

I can get a better picture if needed, but the rear carpet section which covers the tail goes on top of the plastic trim piece. About 6 or so sheetmetal screws hold both the carpet and plastic trim in place. The shetmetal screws go through a thinnly reinforced strip and are hidden when installed, as the carpet folds back over the top of them. The two snaps (one on each outer, lower edge) attach to the cargo floor. The cargo floor carpet then goes over the top, trimming it all off.

Sometimes the reinforced part of the carpet (where the sheetmetal screws go through) deteriorates and I've saw guys who just screw through from the outside, exposing the screws. See picture two.

 

Another interesting 79-vs-80 variation uncovered?
On the 80 version, the plastic trim piece is different, and the carpet attaches to the rear of it with Tinnerman clips. Attachment to the floor is by snaps at the corners, as in the 79.

 

Thanks for the prompt responses. If I could get a picture of the carpet flipped back it would show what I am trying to see. The pictures you sent give me a pretty good idea, but still can't see if the sheet metal screws are placed through the plastic. If they are I will have to create the holes since the replacement piece doesn't have any.
It could well be there is a variation between the 79 and 80, I know there were several other changes.

 

so the side panels have little flaps on them, that screw to the floor. the rear flap uses a screw with half a button on it, and the bottom corners of the vertical carpet simply snap in to that.

i've seen the flaps break/be missing, and in this case you'd have a screw that kind of is in the middle of nowhere.

in the pic, which is a scan of a book, into microfishe, and then into computer, 59-605C is the screw with the button head. flaps on the 69-860 panel are missing in the drawing...

 

DD is right, there is a difference btw 79 and 80 SA's. The first pic is my 80 (built in Aug 79 and originally a Cali car). The plastic cover over the rear hatch release mech is significantly wider, giving the carpet section a larger cut out surrounding it. Also, mine slips "under" the plastic trim strip along the top edge. The whole thing is secured w/4 screws through the plastic trim which in turn clamps the carpet in place underneath it. DD, does yous mount different?

The second pic shows how much smaller the hatch release cover is on a 79 (this one is a Limited also). So if you need a 79 verticle rear carpet replacement, it looks to be a one year only part. The last pic shows the underside of the 79 and the 3 screws per side attachment. The first thing you should look at is the central cutout in the carpet and how it fits around the hatch release. If yours is not original to the car, it might be different. They could have changed again in 81.

 

the parts catalog says the switch was indeed for the 1980 model year. it goes from an 8871 part number to an 8341, and stays an 8341 for a while (up to the end of 83, i didn't check 84-85)

 

Thanks again for the prompt response. The 79 picture is exactly what I need. It looks like the replacement is a combination of the 79 and 80 style, but seems to fit around the plastic hatch release piece. The heavy plastic part will have to be drilled, but should work.

 

Where did you get the 79 carpet for the rear hatch? My carpet is perfect (original 35k mile car ) but the plastic trim on the carpet is brittle and won't hold anymore.

 

After another session on the car I realized I was working with the original carpet piece. The replacement doesn't have any sort of plastic, just the carpet. I bought the replacement carpet several years ago, and I am not sure where I got it. Sorry.

 

Externally, mine looks the same as your image#1. I'd have to pull the part to verify, by my memory says the carpet is attached to the back of the trim piece by tinnerman clips, and then the trim piece screws to the body. Been a very long time since I had it off, though; 10 years or so probably.

 

What is a Tinnerman clip?

 

Tinnerman clip (aka "Speed nut" or "springer clip"):

 

Tinnerman clip (aka "Speed nut" or "springer clip"):

 

i'm 99% sure this is what the 1980+ style uses