Ok, started the carpet replacement on my '78 yesterday. Got all the old carpet out, vacuumed up all the mess on the floor from the mice droppings, etc (3 mice nests I found throughout the car when I bought it that happened when the PO had it sitting outside for 2-3 years), and started installing the new carpet.

2 questions for those with '78's and '79's that have replaced their carpet:

1. on the rear carpet section at the very back where it connected just under the cargo cover there is a metal lip that the plastic edging of the carpet has to go over. Any tricks to getting that done. I fought with it for over an hour and accomplished exactly nothing.
It looks as if the metal plate that is attached to that rear bulkhead that the carpet fits over is held on by 3 bolts - is it safe to loosen those bolts to give some play on that metal plate to get the carpet edging to sllipe over it? I'm noy sure if those bolts go into tack-welded nuts or similar or not and there is no access at all behind that plate. i'm just afraid of loosening the bolts than not being able to tighten them up again. If these 3 bolts simply go into tack-welded nuts than loosening them shouldn't cause a problem.
is there a better way to go about this? The assembly manual for the car calls for raising up the front of the cargo cover to allow enough room to get the carpet edge over the metal plate lip but without removing the rear trim molding that's impossible and i hate removing plastic trim pieces unless ABSOLUTELY required since the plastic tends to get brittle and easily crack as it gets older.

2. the welt in the doorjamp that is only there on '78's and '79's fit over the doorjamp perfect except at the very bottom it seems too long and where approx an inch or two of the original carpet welt fit down into the little metal triangular piece at the bottom of the doorjamb the new carpet has over twice that amount going to the metal cover plate. This is too much and won't allow the metal plate to sit correctly and screw down in position. Should i simply cut off the excess welt to shorten it up? I can't slide it up any at all at it's already up as far as it can go.

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

 

I replaced the carpet on my 78' and don't recall having any problems hooking the retainer over. I did remove all the trim.

 

The rear cargo cover is attached with 5 bolts. 3 on the black metal you describe and 2 tucked back into the fender well. Just use a long socked extension for those. The front 3 are in welded/threaded holes so you can complete remove. The back 2 have metal threaded inserts encased in a rubber type material. My passenger side insert was screwed up but the remaining 4 old the cover very securely.


Can't comment on the second question, am just starting the new carpet install tomorrow. Here's the posting on the project if it is any help

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1970651

 

Duke, yep, with all the trim removed it would be a piece of cake done in about 10 seconds. With the trim still on is another story of course...........

BTAL, thanks for the info on the bolts, just what I needed. knowing they are threaded into welded nuts/holes is the info I needed. Last thing I needed was to unscrew something and hear a loose nut on the backside fall out that I can't retrieve!

 

BarryK, you're welcome. BTW, the "official term" for the above situation is an "IGNO-SECOND". It's that split-second time between the (usually dumb) action and the realization of what just happened. A similar Igno-Second is the slamming of the car door as you see the keys still in the ignition.

 

if yuo didn't insulate before installing new carpet, your troubles are meaningless

 

good one. been there, done that many times with many different situations which is why i've learned to ask BEFOREHAND when I get into unfamiliar territory when working on the cars. It's easier to ask first than try to find a solution to fix the issue afterwards.

 

not at all. The replacement carpet has the same jute on the backside as the factory carpet does. Plus, when I removed the old carpet the factory foil heat barrier was in excellent shape so I left it.
I had purchased two rolls of Reflectix to put down than decided not to bother and I'll return those two rolls and save the $40.00.
The car gets very limited driving and miles (only 11,600 original miles on the car so far). Between the limited driving and the working AC (works great and is icy cold) the heat in the car is really a non-issue and the little bit of extra insulation the reflectix would provide I don't need and can live without and I can keep the car in a more correct stock condition.
I made the decision to not add the reflectix based on MY use of the car and my wants or needs. Others that use their cars more often or don't have AC will probably decide it's better for them to add the additional insulation.

 

yes barry, i guess the earlier year C3's were much better insulated. i know my '79 was padded under the feet with minimal insulation that seemed to be more of a cushion than an insulation.Glad you don't have that problem

 

well, only one year difference between my '78 and your '79. Most likely the same insulation and padding.
Like I said though, someone that drives their more than I do mine may benefit and want the extra insulation but i don't need it. For the limited use the car gets if it gets too hot I just turn on the AC and it cools it down very well.