removing door panel

I have a 1969 2002.

I am trying to get at the door lock and need to remove the door panel. removed all the handles etc, and pulled the lower part of the door away. all the clips are removed but the top of the door and the chrome window rail are tightly held. all the advice I have looked at says 'remove by pulling upward'. I tried that by standing on the inside of the door, holding either side of the panel quite close to the top and pulling upward whilst wriggling it to either side. doesn't budge a bit. Do I need to remove the chrome rail? Are there any clips at the top of the door that I have missed? should I be pulling the bottom part of the panel upward? (this seems to cause a lot of strain on the top part of the panel)

What you need to do is to put a screwdriver under the chrome trim from the edge of the door, ie inline with the moulding and gently lever the whole lot upwards. Use the edge of the door where the glass is to lever the trim upwards. Push the door card up as well so that you don't put a kink or bend the chrome trim.

Damn!  The one question I can answer and Hudson beats me to it!  :-)

Hey Damon,
I met a mate of yours on the ferry in a low great looking blue car!
Cheers,
John.

Thanks for the help. Worked a treat – I was just worried since it was my first job on my new car, and that chrome isn't easy to replace (I hear!)

Cheers
Ed

John Hudson <...> said:

Hey Damon,

Hi John,

Hope you had a good trip, let me know whens good for you to work on the car.  Really looking forward to getting her roadworthy again.

I'm racking my brains about who you bumped into, was it a cabrio by any chance?

Hi Damon,
Give me a call so we can organise to do it.
I met Fabrice and girlfriend in his Spitfire. We sat together on the crossing.
Cheers,
John.