new carpets..

[midyearroadster427]

starting to install new front carpets from Al K. I have the cabin insulated and the carpets are sitting in there resting...now, the question...it appears there is some extra material and it will need some triming but also when I test fit and press the carpet up against the tunnel areas a wave forms...you can press most of it out but it tends to move towards the front....when you install carpets do you have to make a deep cut at the front corner to get this wave out..or..should i use alot of heat to see if this wave of material conforms down to the tunnel area...a smaller wave is on the outter side too....just exactly how much cutting and triming did you have to do to make the carpet lay down nicely???? first time doing this type of thing....sorry for the newbie questions...

 

[JohnZ]

Did you lay it all out in the sun first to soften it up and get rid of all the "box" wrinkles? That helps a LOT.

 

[midyearroadster427]

Yes, John..I did remember reading that beforehand..so those wrinkles are gone..the wrinkles that are bugging me are along the side...when I push up from the floor with my hand to smooth things out along the sides of the transmission tunnel..I seem to form a wave or large wrinkle of material...I know i have to trim along the sides to wrap over the top of the tunnel a bit but at the moment it appears that if I form the carpet to the tunnel and move forward I would have to make a decent slice in the front corner where the gas pedal is...I guess I am just trying see if there are any tricks to this before i begin to glue and stick the thing down hahahaha...thanks for your reply

 

[stepinwolf]

There are times when even with the best intentions, I have been obliged to slit the carpet slightly, in order to get the correct fit, and look. I have found that regardless of the section you are working on, it is ALWAYS preferable to work from the center to-wards the edges. This by the way also applies to the vertical sections of carpet, front and rear.

You also mention " insulated " , would I be correct in assuming that you are referring to under padding. If so, be informed that it does slightly modify the depressions in the floor sections, making it harder to get the correct fit. You are actually reducing the overall dimension of the floor pan into which the carpet must fit, so be aware of the final size.

The same applies to the few square inches that surrounds the seat belt pockets, because if you don't remove some extra under padding, once the carpet is glued down, you will have difficulty :bang in getting the seat belt hold down bolts, in place.

Stepinwolf

 

[midyearroadster427]

Slow but sure.....

Well I appreciate the tips from you all....I will begin the installation this week, slow and easy....using your tips. I do have to say one thing...I held the carpet up to the sunlight and I have to say it is pretty thin and holey...I was amazed at the poor quality..ie thickness or should I say denseness of this carpet...the carpet I took out is way superior in denseness and quality....Al Knoch must be cutting back .....or sending his stuff out to China...I have no alternative but to install this now and complain later because I need to get it done in time for Carlisle