A quick carpet install question.

[tcarollo]

I'm down to the final stages installing my carpet and I have a question. In the area where there is a dip in the floor for the lap belt retractor to mount (near the rear of the door on the drivers side); Is the carpet cut typically cut out over this dip? I don't have my original carpet to look at, but if I remember correctly the whole rectangle for this area was removed. I hope I've explained what I'm talking about well enough. Thanks, TC

[Bob Chadwick]

I just happen to be at the same stage you are with my 77. The carpet goes under the plastic square about 1/2 inch on the two sides.

Did you insulate under the carpet before putting the carpet back down? Take a look at what I did. http://home.attbi.com/~jchadwick/interior.htm

Bob

[tcarollo]

Pastic square? That make sense why I keep thinking the old carpet had a rectangle cut out of it there. It did. I'm just missing the plastic squares that go over the dip or whatever you want to call them. You don't know where I can get some do you?

[tcarollo]

Oh yeah, Insulation. I put some of the felt backed jute padding under the carpet in the back excluding the wheel wells. I also put some in under the drivers and passengers side. It's not the best looking stuff and makes for a real thick carpet considering the carpet already had a light pad formed to it. After looking at your pics, I'm thinking I should pull up my carpter and insulate it better. You did a great job! Where'd you get the insulation for the wall behind the seats. My kit didn't even come with insulation for that I just have carpet hanging.

[Bob Chadwick]

I just bought a rolls of the insulation. The stuff in the back I bought from www.tld-corvette.com for under $30.

The shiny stuff is called Reflectix and I bought that from Lowes for about the same.

I liked the Refelctix better because it is thinner and easier to work with. I didn't find out about it until after I had completed the back.

No idea where to get them. Try the junkyards. I think I have a couple listed under vendors on my site.

Bob

[tcarollo]

Click the link below to see the picture of the part I am/was talking about on your car. It's black plastic and goes over the lap belt retractor. This part does not go under the carpet? The carpet is cut around it? Sorry, but I just want to get this the way that it's supposed to go.

http://www.fidnet.com/~tcarollo/part.jpg

<a href="http://www.fidnet.com/~tcarollo/part.jpg">Picture</a>

Thanks, TC

[Bob Chadwick]

Under the square by a quarter to half inch. Too long and it blocks the holes for the screws. Too short and you'll end up using glue to hold it down. I put the carpet down, put the square over the top of it, made a rough first cut and followed with one final cut. Tin snips worked real well.

Bob

[tcarollo]

Alright, I feel confident how it's supposed to go now. BTW, thanks for the junkyard link on your site. After visiting their site I relized that their shop is just up the road from my town. I went up there and they had the plastic square I needed.

Thanks Again, TC

[Bob Chadwick]

Glad to be of help.