Ive got an 88 firebird that im pulling the interior out of to do a colour swap with a tan interior.

How do you pull the door panels and black trim and so on off the doors without breaking the little tabs off?

Does anyone have an explosion diagram or directions on how to pull it apart?

 

After you unbolt all of the things like the handle and the little panel that goes around the handle, just go around the edges very carefully with a screwdriver. I find that a long flat-head screwdriver works well. Just push in and lift up. Be sure to keep the screw driver right next to the little plastic tabs so as to pull on them, not the actual panel. The top piece of trim that seals by the window just pulls out, but once again, be very careful and slow not to break it. I usually start at the back and slide my hand under it going towards the front.

 

If you break the tabs you can always buy new ones. Autozone or Pepboys carries them, Just take one you didn't break with you and compare, they are like 3 bucks for a package of 6. You can also buy a tool called a panel Popper. they are forked and flat, you slid the opening around the tabs and squeeze and it pops em off.

Also, the panel where the door handle is.. Most of the screws are fake.. the 4 at the corners.. and 4 in the middle where the arm rest meets the panel are the ones that come off.

I think that is all of them.. If I am missing real screws someone can correct me.

 

If you live by a JY please do your self a favor and go pratice on a junked car. This is how I learned and you will save your self alot of crying, blood, broken parts, and aggrevation later, trust me. If not do it very carefully and SLOWLY, the first time I did it it took FOREVER and I was but I can now do it in no time. If you have no access to a JY just follow all the steps listed above and be patient.
Good Luck