Rubber bumper bits question

[daveymc29]

On the coupe doors at the bottom rear are a pair of square rubber pads that fit into a holder, very straight forward it appears, fold the rubber just a bit and it slips right into place The door fit well before I decided to remove the old hardened rubber pads and replace them with new. Now the bottom of the door wants to stay out about 5/16 of an inch more than before. What am I missing here? there appears to be no adjusting the door, holder or the pads. That is question 1.

Question 2 has to do with the rubber pads that stop the deck lid from hitting metal when one closes the trunk. These pads fit into about a half in, maybe larger hole. Bought new ones from Snyder's and they appear to be correct in size but are extremely hard, barely any give to them at all. How does one proceed with softening and installing them. I have tried to let them sit in a bit of Marvels Mystery oil and pull them through the hole with a piece of wire, similar to installing w window glass in a newer car with a strong cord in the channel. So far no luck. Any magic moments I am missing?
Thanks
Dave Mc Arthur