Carpet Install Question
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs CO
Carpet Install Question
I got a carpet kit from Wilcox and my question has to do with the rear wheel well piece. Basically how does this piece go in? I believe the square cutout on the backside is for a mounting bracket but putting the front as far forward as I can leaves enough carpet to almost reach the center of the back plate. If I cut the excess off it is probably 8" and goes into the padding also so it just seems wrong. I tried to attach pictures to better illustrate it. The piece it is replacing looks to be home made so I do not consider it a very good template.
Any advice would be welcome.
Thanks
Any advice would be welcome.
Thanks
Last edited by mt10bike; Jan 17, 2008 at 04:25 PM. Reason: Another detail
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,268
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota in the summer, Las Vegas in the winter
You have company. I did this job in 2006 and it is still not finished satisfactorily. I could only get mine to barely lay on the wheel wells. I give mine a D+. My kit came from MidAmerica...
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,255
Likes: 82
From: Brampton Ont.
Join the club, I also got mine from Wilcox and this is my third year trying to get it to install properly. See my thread from last year. I still don't have it installed since I'm not even close to being happy with the fit.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1852221
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1852221
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 0
From: Tampa FL
A heat gun is your friend here, folks!
I've done two complete interiors, carpet came from Ecklers both times (unfortunately before I knew about Wilcox, otherwise I would have gone to them instead). Both times the fit in the front was fine, and the fit in the rear could have been better. Wasn't terrible, but wasn't perfect either.
I spent a little time working with it with the heat gun and it conforms to the shape perfectly now and looks as good as the factory carpet. It's just one of those things that unless you spend the big bucks on the Al Knoch sets, you're going to have to massage it a little bit.
If you don't have a heat gun, I think harbor freight sells them for around $10 that hit up to 1,100 degrees.
I've done two complete interiors, carpet came from Ecklers both times (unfortunately before I knew about Wilcox, otherwise I would have gone to them instead). Both times the fit in the front was fine, and the fit in the rear could have been better. Wasn't terrible, but wasn't perfect either.
I spent a little time working with it with the heat gun and it conforms to the shape perfectly now and looks as good as the factory carpet. It's just one of those things that unless you spend the big bucks on the Al Knoch sets, you're going to have to massage it a little bit.
If you don't have a heat gun, I think harbor freight sells them for around $10 that hit up to 1,100 degrees.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,255
Likes: 82
From: Brampton Ont.
If you read my thread I tried leaving in 90 degree sun for 4 hours, leaving it in the 140 degree car for 6 hours, heat gun, changing side, everything you can think of and it didn't make enough of a difference for me.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,040
Likes: 672
From: FL
Anyway, as for the OP, get the carpet into the area of the wheel well and then start trimming. I usually start at the top, tuck it under the lip, then trim the sides and the bottom. As for the cut out are of padding, that is where the factory shoulder belts go. That is on top of your wheel well.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs CO
Thanks for the replies
Glad to know it is not just me having issues with this piece, everything else went in without a lot of grief.
Looks like it is time for a heat gun to force it into submission.
Looks like it is time for a heat gun to force it into submission.
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Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 607
Likes: 0
From: North Alabama
I used the same wilcox carpet and mine looked just like yours...luckily I have a multitalented wife with more patience than I...all I wanted to do was cut it to make it fit. I am here to tell you, you do not need to cut much at all...in fact, we didnt cut any material off, only made a few small slits for fitting. We did not have to cut on the finished edge at all. Take your time and it will pay you big dividends in the end...I am very happy with mine.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs CO
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 946
Likes: 0
From: Lake Geneva WI
Same here, with a 1979, this was probably the easiest thing I have ever done... It laid down perfect, and looks great..
My guess is the heat gun is about the only thing that is going to help with the earlier models.