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"Proper" Carpet Replacement: What should it involve?

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Old Jun 23, 2016 | 01:47 PM
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Default "Proper" Carpet Replacement: What should it involve?

My 79's got a measly 14.9k miles on it so the carpet, in general, is in really good shape, but while it was sitting for a decade+ some mice decided to use some of the back carpet to make a bed...


As I start to investigate my desired projects and prioritize them, I'm trying to track down the full cost and a rough labor estimate for each project, SOO: what's actually involved in a proper carpet replacement?

I'd like to make the cabin a little less hot when the engine heats up and a little less noisy while I'm at it.


Should I be doing rust rememediation when I pull up the carpets?

Do I need "insulation" or "underlayment"?
Is there a good material that will provide both sound deadening AND insulation?
I'll need to take the seats out, won't I?

Is there a trick to getting the carpet to lay down nicely and not have any ripples and not stretch out in the future?

Even custom carpet kits need to still be trimmed to fit properly, right?

If I were to try to just replace the rear carpets would the replacement carpets exactly match my OEM color and texture or should I just replace the whole thing?


Thanks for any and all help.

Adam
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Old Jun 23, 2016 | 02:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi Adam,

"If I were to try to just replace the rear carpets would the replacement carpets exactly match my OEM color and texture or should I just replace the whole thing?"
Unless the interior color happens to be black the chance of a partial set of new carpet matching the rest of the original carpet in color and exact texture is slim.

"Is there a trick to getting the carpet to lay down nicely and not have any ripples and not stretch out in the future?"
"Even custom carpet kits need to still be trimmed to fit properly, right?"
Installing the carpet well is very doable. It takes a good bit of fitting and trimming and an extra dose of patience.
Regards,
Alan
Well, my carpet happens to be black, but I think I'm just going to do the whole thing at once.


Patience ?!?! Well, time to scrap this project. -I refreshed this thread probably 5 times before anyone replied; patience is probably a step too far for me.


Adam
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Old Jun 23, 2016 | 02:24 PM
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Originally Posted by NewbVetteGuy
...what's actually involved in a proper carpet replacement?...
Not to over simplify, but it's a matter of taking out the old and installing the new.

...Should I be doing rust rememediation when I pull up the carpets?...
You may not find any rust. The rear compartment is fiberglass. Only the floor pans, tranny hump, and seat riser are steel.

...Do I need "insulation" or "underlayment"? ...Is there a good material that will provide both sound deadening AND insulation?...
You will find factory applied sound deadener/undercoating of both sides of the underbody. You can add Reflectix if you want. It's cheap.

...I'll need to take the seats out, won't I?...
Rhetorical question?

...Is there a trick to getting the carpet to lay down nicely and not have any ripples and not stretch out in the future?...
Work carefully as you go.

...Even custom carpet kits need to still be trimmed to fit properly, right?...
Yes.

...If I were to try to just replace the rear carpets would the replacement carpets exactly match my OEM color and texture...
Possibly not. While your fronts might look good, keep in mind the sun has been on them over the years.

...or should I just replace the whole thing?...
Your choice, but if you're going to all the work to do the rear, might as well do the fronts at the same time.

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Old Jun 23, 2016 | 04:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Easy Mike
Not to over simplify, but it's a matter of taking out the old and installing the new.... You will find factory applied sound deadener/undercoating of both sides of the underbody. You can add Reflectix if you want. It's cheap.
I'm confused; why do these products exist and what do they do then? Underlayment: https://willcoxcorvette.com/corvette...ont-only-73-79
Insultation Kit: https://willcoxcorvette.com/corvette...it-front-68-82

Originally Posted by Easy Mike
You may not find any rust. The rear compartment is fiberglass. Only the floor pans, tranny hump, and seat riser are steel.
Are you sure the 79 has a steel tunnel? --I asked this exact question on a 700r4 swap thread and was told that the tunnel was fiberglass so I wouldn't be able to just dent the tunnel to make a little bit more room for the trans lines, as in other cards. (I'm not saying you're wrong; but I'm definitely saying that either you're wrong or the other guy's wrong.)



Adam
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Old Jun 23, 2016 | 09:50 PM
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Sharp blade a must have
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