Replacing carpets - Ay advice? Lessons learned?
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Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 238
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From: dallas TX
Replacing carpets - Ay advice? Lessons learned?
I am about to replace the carpet in my 71 convertible. I have a kit, however the Video tape I purchased on how to d this cam ine blank.. Anyway,, I have torn out all the old carpet, and seem to have some sort of rubber for carpet padding left. The back parts of the carpet were glued in. What is the appropriatte glu to use to replace it, and what parts should be glued. What else should I know??
Safety Car
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From: Pearland TX
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Replacing carpets - Ay advice? Lessons learned? (kfede1)
I'm in the middle of replacing the carpet in my '71. The carpet set I bought came in preformed and fits right in. I am not gluing the carpet to the rubber mat as you noted and have the driver's side in. I'd keep the old carpet around until you are done as it is a good reference as to what needs to be trimmed off around the sides and any holes that might have been cut for the seat rails to be bolted to the floor.
Safety Car
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From: Pearland TX
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Replacing carpets - Ay advice? Lessons learned? (kfede1)
Smokehouse gave me the tip of making sure you have some light source under the vette when reinstalling the bolts on the seat so you can see when you have the seat aligned right. Otherwise, my floorboards are intact with no fatigue or cracks, so I just cleaned everything up good, oiled the bolt holes and went back in with new carpet. Some are putting in insulation in between to deaden the sounds outside, but I just left the factory rubber mats underneath. And I also put in 4x6 speakers in the kickpanels since my dash speakers DOA'd probably many years ago.
Safety Car
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From: Pearland TX
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Replacing carpets - Ay advice? Lessons learned? (kfede1)
kfede1,
Here's a pic I took last weekend of the excess carpet I had on the outer side. The carpet almost covered up the holes that the trim plate sat down on the way it came in. That's why it was good to have the old carpet to see how much the old overhang was. I ended up leaving about 1" laying on the flat surface to brace down to. The driver's side is done. I also had to do some trimming around the console. A good exacto knife... a thin tipped marks-alot... and a straight edge is all I needed.
Here's a pic I took last weekend of the excess carpet I had on the outer side. The carpet almost covered up the holes that the trim plate sat down on the way it came in. That's why it was good to have the old carpet to see how much the old overhang was. I ended up leaving about 1" laying on the flat surface to brace down to. The driver's side is done. I also had to do some trimming around the console. A good exacto knife... a thin tipped marks-alot... and a straight edge is all I needed.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 625
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From: The Villages FL
Re: Replacing carpets - Ay advice? Lessons learned? (kfede1)
While you are down to the pan, put in as much insulation as will squeeze in everywhere under the carpet. It will pay dividends if you drive the car very much.
Spike
Spike
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,493
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From: Bloomington MN
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Replacing carpets - Ay advice? Lessons learned? (spikezz4)
All of the carpet pieces are bigger than you will want. Cut it little by little. Better to cut off too little than too much. It sure looks nice when you finish. :cheers:
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,411
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From: Okeechobee Florida
Re: Replacing carpets - Ay advice? Lessons learned? (A C)
you may want to check on some of my recent posts...
i am redoing my complete interior however i just started puting the carpet in tonight...
im taking (and posting) many pix as i go...
i did the back tonight and it went pretty well except that i dont know how im supposed to attach it to the door jam...
heres a pic...
the original carpet had an "edge" sewn in there that slipped over the ridge along the door jam...the new carpet dosnt...hhhmmm???
ho are you going to do that?
i am redoing my complete interior however i just started puting the carpet in tonight...
im taking (and posting) many pix as i go...
i did the back tonight and it went pretty well except that i dont know how im supposed to attach it to the door jam...
heres a pic...
the original carpet had an "edge" sewn in there that slipped over the ridge along the door jam...the new carpet dosnt...hhhmmm???
ho are you going to do that?
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Advanced
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 68
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From: Oklahoma City OK
Re: Replacing carpets - Ay advice? Lessons learned? (SIGNGUY)
So nobody's glueing it back, just laying it in?
Im in the same boat as the rest of you. Just riped out the old carpet and the new seats arrived yesterday. I found a lot of the trim pieces... console, radio side panels etc etc all seemed sticky, even after using ArmorAll. Like the surface is breaking down.....Any suggestions
Im in the same boat as the rest of you. Just riped out the old carpet and the new seats arrived yesterday. I found a lot of the trim pieces... console, radio side panels etc etc all seemed sticky, even after using ArmorAll. Like the surface is breaking down.....Any suggestions
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Aliso Viejo CA
Re: Replacing carpets - Ay advice? Lessons learned? (swallace)
Same boat here... I didn't glue anything yet... and might not have to glue any EXCEPT on the center console area... on the plyboard parts.. the carpet has no way to stay on those pieces... and I can't find a good glue.. or other method to keep the carpet there... any ideas would help.. sounds like I am not the only one in this boat!
-Mark
-Mark
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Lake Wylie, South Carolina
Re: Replacing carpets - Ay advice? Lessons learned? (Bill Oxley)
Did mine about 3 months ago. here is my advice.
1. Measure twice cut once and only a little at a time.
2. Insulate, insulate, insulate.... As much as you can.
3. I Only used adhesive on the rear wheel wells co I could get a tight clean fit. I used the strongest 3m adhesive.
4. Lay the carpet in the sun for an hour or so. This will make the job much easier as the carpet will be more pliable.
And finally take your time. it is avery simple proccess but needs to be done carefully.
Good Luck and have fun. This was actually one of the more enjoyable and rewarding jobs that I have done. You will be amazed at how much difference new carpet will make.
[Modified by BlackRat, 10:40 AM 10/19/2003]
1. Measure twice cut once and only a little at a time.
2. Insulate, insulate, insulate.... As much as you can.
3. I Only used adhesive on the rear wheel wells co I could get a tight clean fit. I used the strongest 3m adhesive.
4. Lay the carpet in the sun for an hour or so. This will make the job much easier as the carpet will be more pliable.
And finally take your time. it is avery simple proccess but needs to be done carefully.
Good Luck and have fun. This was actually one of the more enjoyable and rewarding jobs that I have done. You will be amazed at how much difference new carpet will make.
[Modified by BlackRat, 10:40 AM 10/19/2003]
Racer
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 341
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From: Levittown Pa
Re: Replacing carpets - Ay advice? Lessons learned? (BlackRat)
I am in tthe same process but I had no old carpet to use as a guide front not a problem but the rear cago area I don't quite understand the floor and the back wall around the convertible spring area. Seams I need to cut it but not sure how or wear anybody with picts or instructions.
help
help
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,282
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From: Lake Wylie, South Carolina
Re: Replacing carpets - Ay advice? Lessons learned? (Pat71vette)
Like I said in my other post. Lay it in the sun and let it get warm. For the rear peices that you are working on yes you will have to do some triming around the top and in the back where the spring is. What I did is test fitted it first. If you haved the molded carpet fit the hump and glue it down first. This will make sure that it is centered. Now work your way up and tuck it under the lp at the top. Work slowly to the back. I didn't have the old carpet to go by either but I did look at other guys Vette's. I only trimmed enough at the back to go around the spring. But I did not cut much at all.
Hope this helps.
:cheers:
Wade
Hope this helps.
:cheers:
Wade
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: 30 mins north of Charlotte NC
Re: Replacing carpets - Ay advice? Lessons learned? (BlackRat)
I put a layer of dynomat then a layer of the bubblewrap (with foil on both sides). keeps it cooler and quieter. make sure you dont get too much material under the gas pedal (dynomat+bubble insulation+carpet+jute padding=no full throttle)
Safety Car
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From: Pearland TX
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Replacing carpets - Ay advice? Lessons learned? (BlackRat)
I agree with BlackRat. Seeing the new carpet in the finished state is very satisfying. I didn't have to use glue anywhere and if you think it out as you go you can make vertical slices(a little at a time) in the rear corners to make everything fit correctly. A fair warning! When you trim the carpet on the inside in the parking brake console area be sure and leave it as high as possible. Granted... you have to make space for the screw that bolts to the side of the console, but leave everything high from there on back. I trimmed too much on one side in the back and had to do some minor *Bubba-ing* adding in a small piece of carpet to blend in. You can't see it, but I know it is there. Fitting the vent vinyl parts probably took the longest as I cut a little... try fitting... cut a little... you get the point.
And I got called Friday that my seats were ready with the new foam & leather covers. Got to wait until Thursday to pick them up as I can't get away from work and they are about 45 miles away in Spring, TX.
We go :steering: next weekend. :cheers:
And I got called Friday that my seats were ready with the new foam & leather covers. Got to wait until Thursday to pick them up as I can't get away from work and they are about 45 miles away in Spring, TX.
We go :steering: next weekend. :cheers:
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Pearland TX
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Replacing carpets - Ay advice? Lessons learned? (bgrice)
By the way... I believe that most of the vette vendors carry carpet by Auto Custom Carpet. The set I got was well molded and ready to go.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,411
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From: Okeechobee Florida
Re: Replacing carpets - Ay advice? Lessons learned? (bgrice)
i just got my rear in...heres a pix...
you may be able to tell that i went with the 80/20 loop pile...
sorry fans of the plush...but it is not for me...
i always loved that loop pile in the 60's cars... :)
also my other thread on this job has been updated with some new pix if you are interested... http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=673691
[Modified by SIGNGUY, 7:26 PM 10/19/2003]
you may be able to tell that i went with the 80/20 loop pile...
sorry fans of the plush...but it is not for me...
i always loved that loop pile in the 60's cars... :)
also my other thread on this job has been updated with some new pix if you are interested... http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=673691
[Modified by SIGNGUY, 7:26 PM 10/19/2003]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Where are the Smoky Mountain Cruisers? Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Re: Replacing carpets - Ay advice? Lessons learned? (kfede1)
I have not finished my carpet install in the back of the car, but when I finish it this winter, I'm thinking about using Velcro. I think that stuff might be available at a craft store.
