Rear carpet install help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 326
Likes: 7
Rear carpet install help
SURPRISE! Having trouble with the wheel-wells. Carpet is from willcox, and looks like it was designed by retarded GED drop-outs on Friday at 4:50 pm. NOT recommnded. And if you think this is bad, don't even THINK about buying the under-layment. I won't even go there on this thread. Trust me, just buy dynamat.
Would it be so much to ask that each piece at least be numbered, with a "this side up" arrow and a diagram? JUST THAT small thing would be SOMETHING.
So, even if after tucking everything in, trimming, and doing all the things you're not supposed to have to do because it's custom, can anyone tell me how the bottom carpet is supposed to match up to the wheel well carpet? Are you just supposed to lay them next to each-other as best as possible, glue em, and hope for the best? There seems to be no method to merge the two pieces in to each-other cleanly.
Would it be so much to ask that each piece at least be numbered, with a "this side up" arrow and a diagram? JUST THAT small thing would be SOMETHING.
So, even if after tucking everything in, trimming, and doing all the things you're not supposed to have to do because it's custom, can anyone tell me how the bottom carpet is supposed to match up to the wheel well carpet? Are you just supposed to lay them next to each-other as best as possible, glue em, and hope for the best? There seems to be no method to merge the two pieces in to each-other cleanly.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,334
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
Willcox doesn't make the carpet. That said you need to understand thar the rear wheel area is a PITA no matter what.
As I recall, it's 3 pieces. Left wheel, right wheel and the flat section. It all comes together quite nicely....just take your time....look at pics on the forum...it fits!(hard to believe, but it does!)
Show us pix and maybe we can help.
As I recall, it's 3 pieces. Left wheel, right wheel and the flat section. It all comes together quite nicely....just take your time....look at pics on the forum...it fits!(hard to believe, but it does!)
Show us pix and maybe we can help.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 326
Likes: 7
I'd done a lot of searching, but hadn't managed to find 3 of those 4 posts you linked Mooser, and they are good ones, thanks.
What I still don't know for sure is how the wheel-well pieces connect to the rear piece. It's looking like they basically just tuck in next to eachother I guess? It just seems like that would look pretty bad, but maybe it will turn out ok..
Don't mean to sound so bitter in my first post, but I ordered a few thousand dollars worth of interior parts for the vette in the past couple months, and the lack of quality and bang-for-buck has just been shockingly bad on almost everything. Maybe that is just the world of corvette restoration though..
What I still don't know for sure is how the wheel-well pieces connect to the rear piece. It's looking like they basically just tuck in next to eachother I guess? It just seems like that would look pretty bad, but maybe it will turn out ok..
Don't mean to sound so bitter in my first post, but I ordered a few thousand dollars worth of interior parts for the vette in the past couple months, and the lack of quality and bang-for-buck has just been shockingly bad on almost everything. Maybe that is just the world of corvette restoration though..
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
It will tuck in and look good....
I am on the tail end of redoing my whole interior.....worst freakin job I ever undertook on this whole car...!!!!!! Seriously!!!!! Nothing but one PITA after another.
And aftermarket NEVER fits like original.....never.
That said, after bustin yer ***** long enough, you'll be so happy with your yer carpet!!!!!!
Show us some pics....when I'm off my tablet and on my desktop, ill show ya what I've been up to!
I am on the tail end of redoing my whole interior.....worst freakin job I ever undertook on this whole car...!!!!!! Seriously!!!!! Nothing but one PITA after another.
And aftermarket NEVER fits like original.....never.
That said, after bustin yer ***** long enough, you'll be so happy with your yer carpet!!!!!!
Show us some pics....when I'm off my tablet and on my desktop, ill show ya what I've been up to!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,334
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
The center part should have a binding that goes along the sides and around the ears for the back.
Here's the "ears"
Here you can see the binding
Another Thread (with some of those pics of Alan71 car)
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...nvertible.html
Mooser
Last edited by Mooser; Feb 9, 2013 at 10:30 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 32
From: Damascus MD
Carpet
The side pieces don't actually "attach" to the middle part, they just "touch"
The center part should have a binding that goes along the sides and around the ears for the back.
Here's the "ears"
Here you can see the binding
Another Thread (with some of those pics of Alan71 car)
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...nvertible.html
Mooser
The center part should have a binding that goes along the sides and around the ears for the back.
Here's the "ears"
Here you can see the binding
Another Thread (with some of those pics of Alan71 car)
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...nvertible.html
Mooser
The rear section of Alan's carpet is original
I left my carpet out in the hot sun on a hot summer day and it really helped with getting the carpet to lay correctly. It was ACC carpet as none of the original was salvageable.
Note that the rear bulkhead reproduction carpet is not cut correctly. If you want to to fit as the original you will need to do some cutting and sewing. That is what I did on my 70 convertible.
It is all just part of the fun.
Bill
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Hey! You think you're having "fun", now? Just wait till you put the new carpet pieces on top of those doors! 
You really have to 'work it' to keep from breaking the little plastic frames. I ended up shaving a bit of the carpet nap off the edges of the new carpet pieces; then, used 2-3 C-clamps and a wood plate to squeeze it all together before installing the retaining screws into those frames. I think if you try to install one screw at a time [while just holding it in place], you'll probably have frame 'pieces'. 
You really have to 'work it' to keep from breaking the little plastic frames. I ended up shaving a bit of the carpet nap off the edges of the new carpet pieces; then, used 2-3 C-clamps and a wood plate to squeeze it all together before installing the retaining screws into those frames. I think if you try to install one screw at a time [while just holding it in place], you'll probably have frame 'pieces'.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 259
Likes: 6
I just finished my carpet front and rear, and i agree that it's just stupid that the blame stuff can't be made any better for fitting. I saw that the front drivers side went in very well and laid down real nice and fit into the tube just fine but all the rest of it was a PITA and then you have to glue it and let that dry and then glue some more and let that dry and so forth. When I got to the very back where the carpet center piece turns and goes up the very back where the converitable top lays it was cut by the factory about 6 inches to short. It ain't rocket science but the carpet manufacturers sure do try to make it out like it is. There's a real opportunity for someone to take this product and run with it. The folks it weather tech that make the floor mats should digitize the inside of a C3 and then do carpet.
Johnny
Johnny
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
I need to 'educate' you on American automotive repair strategy:
It's the responsibility of the vendor to sell the shoddiest piece of garbage that can still be sold, and for as much as the purchaser will [begrudgingly] hand over.
Then:
It's the responsibility of the purchaser to stuggle beyond all reason to get that piece of junk installed so that his/her peers will not laugh themselves silly about the installation.
There! Now that you understand our roles, don't you feel much better about this?
______________
P.S. With this post, my tongue is only partially planted in my cheek....
It's the responsibility of the vendor to sell the shoddiest piece of garbage that can still be sold, and for as much as the purchaser will [begrudgingly] hand over.
Then:
It's the responsibility of the purchaser to stuggle beyond all reason to get that piece of junk installed so that his/her peers will not laugh themselves silly about the installation.
There! Now that you understand our roles, don't you feel much better about this?
______________
P.S. With this post, my tongue is only partially planted in my cheek....
Last edited by 7T1vette; Feb 11, 2013 at 12:44 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 326
Likes: 7
Made some progress!
I got everything dynamatted and underlayed, and even ran some audio cables for a potential future amplifier. I found that the area under my battery was about to fall-through. "Bubba" had just laid some cardboard under there.. lol. I had to wire brush it real good and put a whole bunch of new fiber-glass filler in there, but it's lookin good now.
My rear compartment doors were also completely gone. All the screws were rusted in, the hinges were rusted, and it was all basically shot, so I ordered a whole new unit from Ecklers for $170. I must say, even though it's a bit pricey, this is the first interior piece I have ordered that I'm actually really happy with the quality on. I'll snap a pic if anyone is interested.
After much cursing, I actually got the carpet installed on one of the wheel-wells too.
Anyone know how to handle the wiring that goes back on the driver's side? Just carpet over it and leave the lump? (check my last photo)
I got everything dynamatted and underlayed, and even ran some audio cables for a potential future amplifier. I found that the area under my battery was about to fall-through. "Bubba" had just laid some cardboard under there.. lol. I had to wire brush it real good and put a whole bunch of new fiber-glass filler in there, but it's lookin good now.
My rear compartment doors were also completely gone. All the screws were rusted in, the hinges were rusted, and it was all basically shot, so I ordered a whole new unit from Ecklers for $170. I must say, even though it's a bit pricey, this is the first interior piece I have ordered that I'm actually really happy with the quality on. I'll snap a pic if anyone is interested.
After much cursing, I actually got the carpet installed on one of the wheel-wells too.
Anyone know how to handle the wiring that goes back on the driver's side? Just carpet over it and leave the lump? (check my last photo)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 803
Likes: 4
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
I need to 'educate' you on American automotive repair strategy:
It's the responsibility of the vendor to sell the shoddiest piece of garbage that can still be sold, and for as much as the purchaser will [begrudgingly] hand over.
Then:
It's the responsibility of the purchaser to stuggle beyond all reason to get that piece of junk installed so that his/her peers will not laugh themselves silly about the installation.
There! Now that you understand our roles, don't you feel much better about this?
______________
P.S. With this post, my tongue is only partially planted in my cheek....
It's the responsibility of the vendor to sell the shoddiest piece of garbage that can still be sold, and for as much as the purchaser will [begrudgingly] hand over.
Then:
It's the responsibility of the purchaser to stuggle beyond all reason to get that piece of junk installed so that his/her peers will not laugh themselves silly about the installation.
There! Now that you understand our roles, don't you feel much better about this?
______________
P.S. With this post, my tongue is only partially planted in my cheek....
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
Believe it or not, reproduction parts have come a long way from what they used to look like. They are getting better every year. Especially sheet metal panels. I just did a major overhaul on a 68 Shelby GT500KR, and you wouldn't believe how nice these repro panels fit...I couldn't believe it.
I also just replaced the carpet in a 1981 z28 Camaro. It took time, but the fit was superb.
I've learned in the past that you have to be strategic when replacing any part on a classic car. It doesn't matter whether its a Corvette or a cuda, you pick your battles on every part. What it comes down to is experience...the more you do, the better you become at fitting that part which doesn't fit.
I also just replaced the carpet in a 1981 z28 Camaro. It took time, but the fit was superb.
I've learned in the past that you have to be strategic when replacing any part on a classic car. It doesn't matter whether its a Corvette or a cuda, you pick your battles on every part. What it comes down to is experience...the more you do, the better you become at fitting that part which doesn't fit.
Last edited by stinger12; Feb 18, 2013 at 12:31 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,164
Likes: 4,243
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi,
Perhaps the detail of how the current padding is shaped and applied compared to the original padding has something to do with how the wheel well carpet fits.... or doesn't fit?
I think it's most important that the perimeters of the wheel well carpet be too large on all sides so it can be cut to fit each installation. Certainly better too long than too short.
Regards,
Alan
Perhaps the detail of how the current padding is shaped and applied compared to the original padding has something to do with how the wheel well carpet fits.... or doesn't fit?
I think it's most important that the perimeters of the wheel well carpet be too large on all sides so it can be cut to fit each installation. Certainly better too long than too short.
Regards,
Alan
Sounds like its going to take a lot of patience and beer.