Hi - I've never installed new carpet in a car before but my 71 GS coupe needs it. Besides taking out the bucket seats, what else is there? Does the console have to come out as well? Or should I just let an upholstery shop deal with it? Thanks.
Seats, console, toe board, name? for the chrome door strips,seatbelt anchors on the floor. Pretty sure the rear seat & kick panels can stay. Trim & tuck carpet up inside the bottom. Rear side panels should be OK too. Make sure you leave lots under the chrome door strips. My first attempt left me buying another carpet set as I cut them too close. Once it settled a bit from use it started to pull out.Be careful cutting holes for seats etc., don't want to create a run in the carpet. Spread the carpet out on the floor for a couple days before you install it. Helps get some of the major wrinkles out. Easy weekend job.....just take your time wth it. Good time to inspect your floor pans for any rust issues. I was fortunate & only applied a coat of rust inhibiting paint.
You need to also take out the rear seat, console, front kick panels, back side panels and door sill stainless. Pay close attention to where the old carpet is cut and duplicate it. Test fit and cut a little at a time. Always less than you think because once it is cut your all done and can't put it back! Take your time. Lay carpet out for several days and let it take shape. Also I forgot that black trim plate that is under the gas pedal needs to come out. You also have to cut in the new high beam grommet. wait for everything else to be in place and do this last or it will be off and then you are screwed as well! Still want to try it?
Steve beat me to it! Forgot the seat belts. Maybe can leave kick panels, I just found it easier to take it all out.
like everyone said--take as much out as you can....then work FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOR OUTWARDS----you don't want to start trimming carpet out by the rocker area or under the rear armrests/door windlace and then find you cut it too short. Start in the center---figure out what extra padding, if any, you are using (the carpet should have a jute backing/pad already glued onto the back of it so you may not want anything additional). Karate chop the carpet to get it down in the nooks and crannies (like they do on those TV shows like American HotRod at Gabe's upholstery). When I say "cutouts" I really mean just slits wherever possible--you don't want to remove sections of carpet only to find later that the console, etc doesn't completely cover the hole you just created. Slit and install inner front seat belts and snug them up---this will pull the carpet in somewhat also (see--you don't want to trim the outer edges yet!) Seat tracks???---use slits again and let the carpet flap up over the ends of the seat tracks instead of bolting down the seat tracks on top of the carpet. Areas to really watch include the outer edge of the carpet where it meets the base of the door windlace and tucks under the rear armrest (ash and well cover)....it's easy to get this cut too short. Take your time - if you are reasonably able and have a little patience there is no need to pay to have this installed. When you trim the outer edges try to leave plenty of extra in there and just tuck it in under the various parts---this stuff probably shrinks slightly and/or "settles in" with time so you don't want to trim the edges too much.
Dave, I just replied to another thread on a '71 Sandalwood bucket seat interior. Mentioned "another member" from Worcester Ma. had a very long wait for his interior too. That you?
Another neat trick for adding holes is to use a hot soldering iron. No rough edges to fray down the road, either. Just make darn sure you have the carpet right where you want it, then the tip of the iron becomes the pilot right through carpet & through the weld nut in the floor. Stinky, but tidy! Devon
