IML: carpet replacement

["Pete Engel" <peter.engel@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tom,

You want to run a die on the seat mounting studs before you try to loosen
the nuts.  Otherwise the nuts will jam on rust and/or undercoating and the
studs will break off.  That definitely will ruin your day.  I can't remember
the correct size die at the moment. 1/4-20?  5/16-18?

As far as replacement carpeting, I've worked on a lot of cars in the past 30
years and I have yet to find any replacement carpet that come even close to
matching the factory stuff.  Some replacement carpet is better than others
but I've never been happy with any of it.  I've tried everything from
Carlisle vendors to ACC.  A lot of the preformed stuff is a joke.

Be prepared for the fact that the replacement carpeting will not have jute
padding attached or it will be a poor excuse for the original stuff.  Get a
can of spray adhesive, pull the old stuff off your original carpeting, and
transfer it.  Also, the replacement stuff usually isn't punched for seat
belt bolts or seat mounting holes.  Use your old carpeting as a pattern.

If anyone out there has found a supplier that truly makes original
style/quality carpeting I'd sure like to know about it.

Pete in PA



From: Crestonave@xxxxxxx
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2006 12:32:23 EST
Subject: IML: Replacing carpet in my '68 Imp Convert

I submitted this post not long ago and for some reason it never appeared in
the digest (or if it did I missed it) so I'll try again. 

The (black) carpet in my '68 convert is probably the original and is kinda
worn in some spots.  It's time to replace.  I'm considering doing this
myself over the winter when the car will be off the road.  From what I've
seen on the internet I can probably pick up the correct carpet (80/20 loop)
for about $135, and supposedly it will come "preformed" for the car.  

I know I  can take the front seats out by removing some bolts from
underneath the car.  As  to the carpeted areas on the seatbacks,
etc.,they're in good shape except for  fading.  I'm thinking of hitting them
with some black carpet dye to bring them  back to life. 
 
On the surface it seems like a fairly simple and straightforward job.  Doing
it myself would give me an opportunity to look for rust on the floor pan and
deal with it, if there's any there. I'll be doing the trunk at the same
time. 
 
Am I overlooking anything that's likely to cause me to wish I had never
started this job?  Any advice and suggestions would be welcomed.
 
Tom




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