I didn't have too much trouble getting the panel out, but a previous owner had definately been there before me. I did discover when getting into the passenger side that the lower panel is secured to the "body wall" by a screw that is hidden beneath the lower edge of the upper panel. In other words, I had everything loose, but there was one point of fixation where the upper/lower panels overlapped (immediately posterior to the rear-most end of the coupe window). This turned out to be a screw throuth the upper edge of the lower panel. Otherwise, I removed the strike plate in the door and the "butt" and "back" components of the rear seat and just kept carefully working the panel free.

I don't know much (anything) about welding. You would guess that most shops would be willing to help with something that small (I'm just asking b/c I don't have the experience to know)?

Thanks.