Carpet plugs
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 4
From: Oakland California
Carpet plugs
I am about to install the carpet on my vette and have a quick question, are the carpet installation plugs really necessary? I don't have them and would have to order them, and that's why I ask.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 20
From: Central Michigan
If you have a factory assembly manual it should show where they go. There's holes(about 3/8 dia IIRC) in the firewall where the plugs go. But if you're not doing a correct resto, I wouldn't even worry about it
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 16
From: Fl
if you don't want to use them, be sure to plug all the holes up before laying the carpeting down.
You will get heat leaking in and possibly water while driving.
If you do a good job gluing the carpet in, I think you can skip the plugs.
My 2 cents...
You will get heat leaking in and possibly water while driving.
If you do a good job gluing the carpet in, I think you can skip the plugs.
My 2 cents...
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Well, it would have been cheaper and easier for the factory to have used glue...but that wouldn't hold the carpet on vertical surfaces for long. Carpet plugs are easy to install. Use a large needle to push through the carpet to find the holes for the plugs...then mark them with chalk. Use a carpet knife to cut a small "X" at the chalk marks. Slip a carpet plug over the end of a small Phillips screwdriver and push the plug through till it seats well. Be careful not to push too hard or too far, or the screwdriver will go right through the plug. You can put a little wipe of grease on the outside of the plug to make it slip in easier, if you want. There are 9 plugs, if I remember correctly: 3 on back wall of storage compartment and 3 on each side of the front carpet going up the firewall.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 676
Likes: 36
From: Usa
Well, it would have been cheaper and easier for the factory to have used glue...but that wouldn't hold the carpet on vertical surfaces for long. Carpet plugs are easy to install. Use a large needle to push through the carpet to find the holes for the plugs...then mark them with chalk. Use a carpet knife to cut a small "X" at the chalk marks. Slip a carpet plug over the end of a small Phillips screwdriver and push the plug through till it seats well. Be careful not to push too hard or too far, or the screwdriver will go right through the plug. You can put a little wipe of grease on the outside of the plug to make it slip in easier, if you want. There are 9 plugs, if I remember correctly: 3 on back wall of storage compartment and 3 on each side of the front carpet going up the firewall.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 19
From: Oswego New York
Here's a pic of a carpet plug installation tool offered by a vendor. I would not bother purchasing one because it looks so simple to make.
It appears that the shank is just long enough to slightly elongate the plug ... but not too long to go through the plug tip.
It appears that the shank is just long enough to slightly elongate the plug ... but not too long to go through the plug tip.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 4
From: Oakland California
I'm gonna see if I can find where those plugs go. I have something that looks like that tool that the vendors sell, so I'll just use what I have. I'm also gonna see if the new carpet has the holes for the plugs.
