69 Carpet Install Process

[Don W.]

I have a set Al Knock replacement carpets for my '69 coupe. I have not installed carpet before and I was searching the archives for a good step by step process and I did not see any posts. Anyone have have any suggestions or links?

On the rear pieces over the wheel wells; how do you locate and cut the holes for the rubber drain tubes and T-Top hold down straps?

How do you locate and cut the front seat bolt holes and seat belt slots?

How do you get a good fit?

What area is best to start with and finish with?

Thanks,

Don

[Joseph K.]

Re: 69 Carpet Install Process

Don

The best thing to do is remove the entire old carpet and use it to answer your questions. Allot of cutting will be done as you install. You will find that the carpet has been cut long and you will have to trim some sections. You should have been given glue to glue certain areas. You will see these areas as you remove the old carpet. It really does not matter where you start, front or back.

[Edward J.]

Re: 69 Carpet Install Process

Don, Use your carpets that were removed as template. I personally would start from the back and work forward since you will be crawing around the front area while measuring the rear carpets, and the rear carpets on a coupe are alittle more work. aways keep in mind that its aways alittle easier to leave alittle extra carpet,and trim it as you go with each piece.

The other thing about the t-top hold downs, Is after each piece is cut to correct size put in place and use a ice pick, peel the carpet back and punch a hole through, not to worry if its not the exact location, it will not show just try and make it right the next time.the seat bolt area use your origianl carpets as a template they should be flaps on the two front bolts and the rear ones use a pick again.

As Joe says there will be extra carpet on the front pieces that will require triming, I think the toughest piece will be the carpet on the rear area were the dome lamp sits, I have found that theres aways a carpet problem with the way its trimed at the factory. good luck Ed

[Jim T.]

Re: 69 Carpet Install Process

After installing the new carpet, a awl or ice pick can be used from underneath the car to show where the new seat blots will be. I removed my t-top strap holders so many years ago, to reinstall them I am going to come from under the car with a awl to show me the original hoes if I have to. Don't have any intentions of the reinstallation anytime soon though since I don't remove the t-tops anymore where they cannot be left at home for a short cruise to exercise the engine.

[Jim M.]

Re: 69 Carpet Install Process

Don, I recently installed a new set of carpets in my 69 and thing I did, that seemed to work pretty well regarding the t-top hold down strap btackets, was to take a couple screws of the correct size, trim off the head of the screw and file a point on that end. I used my grinding wheel for this. Then install those in the holes and when you get the carpet pretty close to where you want it, glue it in place and feel with your fingers where those two pointed screws are located. Then take a small quarter inch drive socket on an extention, place over where the pointed screw is located and tap with your hammer and they will pop through. Remover screw and install your bracket with the correct screws. Hope this helps, worked for me anyway.

[Alan S.]

Re: 69 Carpet Install Process

Hi Don,
On my 71 I installed the front carpet and then located where the flap for the front of the seat track should be. I measured 2-3-4-5-6 times and then cut. I used the original carpet as a guide for the size of the flap.
I did the rear pieces first, then the bulkhead behind the seats, and then the front 2 pieces.
I found the 2 rear wheel-well pieces the most time consuming. Any time I cut anything I tried to cut only 1/2 of what I thought it should be so I could 'nibble' down to the right size and shape.
Good luck!
Regards,
Alan

I believe you can see the tape marking for the front flap. Note the track's rear bolt is in place, but loose, so the track can easily be pivoted and checked for position.

[Sal C.]

Re: 69 Carpet Install Process

I recently had the chance to view a set of original carpets that was removed from a 1971 Coupe. In the area on the wheel wells where the t-top brackets are installed slots where cut and the brackets poked through. I know that this is not the way it is outlined in the AIM and I am wondering if anyone else has ever noticed this.

[Don L.]

Re: 69 Carpet Install Process

Guys, I think it was Lyle Chamberlain's tip for cutting holes in carpet that I recently used to install the rubber plugs with great success.

Mark the hole first with an awl. After making sure you've got the hole in the right location, use a hot soldering iron to open the hole to the needed size.

Works like a charm! Thanks again to Lyle! Good luck with your project.