1972 Carpet removal question

[Glen C.]

I ran a search and I can find several recommendations on re-inserting the rubber plugs holding the carpet in the rear and in the footwells but no mention of the best way to remove them. Are there any tricks I should use when pulling these out. I have non original carpet in the front and whoever installed it just laid it over the plugs so I don't have any carpet to use as leverage in extracting them. In the rear I have the carpet that I can use for a bit of leverage if that's the way to go.


Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Glen

[Terry M.]

Re: 1972 Carpet removal question

As for installation -- there was an article in The Corvette Restorer between 1999 and 2005 on that subject, and John Hinckley posted how the factory did it on this very board a while back.

[Jim T.]

Re: 1972 Carpet removal question

In an effort to save the plugs for reuse you could get under your 72 with some petroleum jell and lubricate the end of the plugs and push them through the flooring.

[Mike F.]

Re: 1972 Carpet removal question

This is what I did,

To remove the "christmas tree" plugs, use a flat ended drift or dial rod to push the tip of the tree away from you, this stretches it out and reduces the diameter. Here comes the fun part, while doing this you also need to pull on the flat end towards you at the same time, to get it out of the hole. Mine where 42 years old (so some were dry rotted), I had about a 50% success rate removing them without any damage.

To install new ones, just use the drift, some vaseline and a hammer.

[Alan S.]

Re: 1972 Carpet removal question

Hi Glen,
I found that putting the orignal plugs in some hot water for a few minutes to soften them a bit before using the installation methods described, seemed to help get them back in place without tearing them.
Regards,
Alan