Guy

Those clips hold the bottom edge of dash pad to fiberglass buck as well as two on either side of glove box opening. Top of fiberglass buck has four studs protruding downwards, the nuts are accessed from underside. I had to fabricate new studs as mine all sheared off in diassembly

I dont know, anything is possible as it seems someone reupholstered my car sometime in the past.

I guess no two Avantis are exactly the same. I wouldnt get to hung up on how it was done and do it how it makes sense to you, if that means drilling a hole or two for clips, why not.

Yes it is plywood, the clip was to right of light an inch or so, in the discolored area, there are the four screws holes holding top of rear window that penetrated the wood in the bottom edge of padded light piece. Do you have the glass out of the car? Much of the interior trim is glued to window frames before glass goes in. I am working on this part of the restoration of my 63 presently

63 stick, the backer is not screwed on first, The vinyl is glued on leaving the bottom edge free to be glued to the body wrapping around window frame and glued flat rearward of rear window. The 4 clips are for the piece over door, only one on piece over rear window. You can use 1/8" plywood to make new backerboards, I had to make new panels for entire car. Take note of slotted holes holding clips. I had the same problem with the heater box wellnut, a threaded insert in a rubber bushing, once I had it out I took a 1"×2" piece of sheet metal drilled a hole in it and welded a 1/4-20 nut to it, stuck the nut through existing hole from backside and pop rivited the plate in place.

The padded trim above quarter window, mine had a single spring clip midfield, in addition to that the upper screws holding the quarter window in place went into the lower part of padded piece pulling it in tight. The padded piece above doors is held on with 4 or 5 spring clips, if your car is like mine and sat for years with water trapped inside the clips may have completely rusted away

Id like to know specifically what are the weak points in the clutch pedal linkage?