Installation Questions - 1972 coupe carpet

[Glen C.]

Now that my seat belts are back I'm going to take some vacation and get the carpet and the seat covers in. I've never installed carpet before and my existing front carpet is not original and pretty much a bubba job so I can't use it as a guide. I posted earlier and understand how to remove and replace the rubber plugs but looking at photos from the archives and the car today I've got a handful of other questions that I hope someone can give me some guidance on:

1. There is a plastic lip at the top of the rubber plugs under the dash. Does the front lip of the carpet go under this lip and then the rubber plugs are inserted through the carpet?
2. Is the edge of the carpet tucked up under the shift console, emergency brake console and cluster or do I need to loosen or remove them to install the carpet?
3. Looking at some photos Patrick posted I can see that the cover for the lap belt cover is exposed with the carpet cutout underneath it but I can't really tell if there is a sliver of carpet between the rear of the cover and the bulkhead or if the carpet is just notched out in this area. My impression is that there is a sliver.
4. Does the carpet die into the bulkhead or does it turn up some distance on the bulkhead?
5. For the entire job I'm thinking that the best plan is to start at the rear and work forward of the car - is that how most people do it?
6. Any other info that I may want to consider?

I really appreciate any guidance anyone can give me.

Thanks,

Glen

[Alan S.]

Re: Installation Questions - 1972 coupe carpet

Hi Glen,
#2. I found that the floor carpet (from Al Knock) needed to be trimmed along the e-brake console, shifter console, radio access panel, and heater floor diffuser, in order to achieve a smooth fit.
If the carpet was left 'long' it extended too far up under the consoles and caused the consoles to 'bulge' out thus causing problems making them fit properly.
I also trimmed the carpet in the area of the diffuser so the carpet could slip under the diffuser and lay against the fiberglass tunnel.
I found that I had to trim the carpet at the door sill plate and kick panel too in order to get them to fit properly. If the carpet isn't trimmed carefully at the bottom and forward edge of the kick panel it will cause the kick panel to be held too far away from the hinge pillar.
I guess my main caution would be to be VERY careful when ever you cut, (I always cut in small increments), and continuously check the position and fit of the piece you're working on.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

[Reba W.]

Re: Installation Questions - 1972 coupe carpet

Alan has given some very good advice. Carpet sets have a lot of excess material that needs to be trimmed. Measure V-E-R-Y carefully in these areas. I have seen many cars that have a gap between the carpet and the item being fitted. In carpet installation, the old adage of measuring twice and cutting once should be changed to measure three or more times and checking the fit often.

I am getting ready to do this procedure in my 1972 also, and it is not a job I look forward to. My car does not have the original carpet so I will let Patrick address the underseat area.

[Michael D.]

Re: Installation Questions - 1972 coupe carpet

...For the entire job I'm thinking that the best plan is to start at the rear and work forward of the car...

I agree. I cannot comment on what "most" people do, but I started with the rear compartment and moved forward.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Installation Questions - 1972 coupe carpet

Yes, there is a little bit of carpet along the back edge under the seat.
In this photo you can see I have it pulled out from behind the carpet that is on the bulkhead behind the seat:



In this one it is just barely noticeable:

[Alan S.]

Re: Installation Questions - 1972 coupe carpet

Hi Glen,
I was reminded of a detail when I looked at the pics Patrick posted.
In preparing the front carpet for the 'flap' at the front 'foot' of the seat track notice that there is a rectangle of carpet removed immediately to the rear of the flap. Because of this, the entire front foot of the track sits directly on the fiberglass underbody, not on the carpet as the rear 'feet' do. You can see the small area of fiberglass if you look carefully at his pics.
As to your #1 question; the front edge of the front carpets were not tucked under that 'rubberized' flap on my mid-January 71. I believe the pictures in Patrick's link show the same thing in 72.
Regards,
Alan

[Glen C.]

Re: Installation Questions - 1972 coupe carpet

Patrick,

Thanks. Does thebit ofcarpet turn up underneath the bulkhead carpet forany distance?

Thanks,

Glen

[Glen C.]

Re: Installation Questions - 1972 coupe carpet

Alan,

Thanks for the information. I wouldn't have picked up on that.

Glen

[Glen C.]

Re: Installation Questions - 1972 coupe carpet

Reba,

I'm going to go slow and careful. I dn't want to have to do this twice.

Thanks,

Glen

[Patrick H.]

Re: Installation Questions - 1972 coupe carpet

Patrick,

Thanks. Does thebit ofcarpet turn up underneath the bulkhead carpet forany distance?

Thanks,

Glen

Not much, but that car is north of Chicago and I probably won't see it for a month or so.
If installing new it's better to leave any excess going up the rear bulkhead than to trim too short.

[Alan S.]

Re: Installation Questions - 1972 coupe carpet

Hi Glen,
I believe you'll find just how much the floor carpet should extend UP the bulkhead once you see how just how far DOWN the bulkhead the carpet extends.
Check it's fit first.
If you look carefully at the AIM, UPC 1asm, Sheet F 31, you'll see that the upper edge of the carpet piece for the seat bulkhead gets tucked under the forward edge of the storage compartment frame. So, it depends on how the piece was cut as to how near the floor it can or will hang.
Regards,
Alan