1970 Carpet install help

[Joe W.]

Greetings!

After 8 months of working on my project driver,
Patrick and I (Patrick Hulst) finally got my 70 up and running.
Horray! Man, does it run nice. Saturday it got new shoes. It sat on 1st
generation steel belted tires which, were wearing through the tread.

This week, I unearthed the box of N.O.S. light saddle carpeting
that came with the car. Last winter, I removed this nasty custom
installed shag carpet from the late 70s which was dry rotted. After
letting the carpet rest in the sun for a few hours, I began to install it.
Only it didn't come with any instructions. There were no pre cut holes in it.

Has anyone replaced their carpeting recently or have memory if it
needed to be cut and trimmed into place? I've only installed the drivers side
and am running into difficulty putting in the lower vent / kick panel.

Any comments and or photos would be appreciated in addition to
photos of all locations for the various carpet sections. Also, what did
you use to adhere the back storage area? I also put down an aluminum
heat barrier between the carpet and the floor. It is amazing how poor of
condition the seat tracks and seat adjustors were. I refurbished all and
re-installed. It looks and functions so much better now.

Thanks.

Joe

[Chuck S.]

Re: 1970 Carpet install help

...Has anyone replaced their carpeting recently or have memory if it needed to be cut and trimmed into place?

No doubt...but I can't help you with the proper cuts since mine didn't have original carpet either.

Also, what did you use to adhere the back storage area?

You can use a spray adhesive made by 3M to secure the carpeting, but you'll never find anything like the same stuff they used. It was a really heavy bodied gooey spray glue that was sprayed all over everything...except the rear compartment floor; not much there. It was applied heavy to the sides of the floor pans to hold the carpet to the curve of the floor, transmission hump, all over the bulkhead behind the seats, with some on the rear wheel wells.[/quote]

[Pat M.]

Re: 1970 Carpet install help

Joe - My Al Knoch carpet needed to be trimmed. Did your old shag carpet fit well? If it did, and you've still got it, you can use it as a template to see what needs to be cut. Simply place the old carpet pieces over the new, and then trim the borders of the new pieces until they match the old. When I replaced my carpet in my 70 a few months ago using this method it worked perfectly.
Otherwise, you may have to trim the pieces in place in the car, which will be more of a hassle.
Good Luck

[Harmon C.]

Re: 1970 Carpet install help

Greetings!

After 8 months of working on my project driver,
Patrick and I (Patrick Hulst) finally got my 70 up and running.
Horray! Man, does it run nice. Saturday it got new shoes. It sat on 1st
generation steel belted tires which, were wearing through the tread.

This week, I unearthed the box of N.O.S. light saddle carpeting
that came with the car. Last winter, I removed this nasty custom
installed shag carpet from the late 70s which was dry rotted. After
letting the carpet rest in the sun for a few hours, I began to install it.
Only it didn't come with any instructions. There were no pre cut holes in it.

Has anyone replaced their carpeting recently or have memory if it
needed to be cut and trimmed into place? I've only installed the drivers side
and am running into difficulty putting in the lower vent / kick panel.

Any comments and or photos would be appreciated in addition to
photos of all locations for the various carpet sections. Also, what did
you use to adhere the back storage area? I also put down an aluminum
heat barrier between the carpet and the floor. It is amazing how poor of
condition the seat tracks and seat adjustors were. I refurbished all and
re-installed. It looks and functions so much better now.

Thanks.

Joe

The lower kick panel is eaiser to install if you remove the bottom screw from the dash panel and the sill plate must be off.
I would cut the carpet as needed to fit. Take your time so you make no bad cuts. Patrick should have any picture you need on file.
I found a yellow glue used in installing rubber roofs in the building trades works well and is brushed on.

[Paul C.]

Re: 1970 Carpet install help

Replaced the carpet in my 71. Didn't use any adhesive except on vertical surface behind seats. If you ever need to take it out it will be easy and it looks fine. The hardest part was replacing the rubber plugs that hold the carpet. There was alot of extra--cut just a little at a time--if you cut toooo much you're in BIG trouble. Any questions email me.
Paul

[Alan S.]

Re: 1970 Carpet install help

Hi Joe,
I believe I replied to a question much like this one at a place far, far away. Glad your here too.
Here are 2 pictures showing me laying out for the seat track front flap. I hope this is a little help.
Regards,
Alan