2010.03.11 - Carpet Installed
- Installed insulation and carpet
Today (technically yesterday--the 11th) I got my new carpet installed. I still have a few odds and ends to tidy up, but it is basically in the car.
Before installing the carpet I installed some insulating materials along the floor and transmission tunnel. I cut a couple of footwell mats from 1/4" thick rubber heavy duty truck mudflaps. These will not only serve to protect the carpet from the seams/ridges in the metal floor pan, but will also significantly block sound and heat. For the transmission tunnel, the rear bulkhead wall, and the rest of the floor I used "Reflectix" bubble pack foil insulation. It is extremely lightweight and should help reduce transmission of heat and noise into the cabin through the floor.
Once I was finished with the insulation, I laid the old carpet on top of the new carpet and used chalk to outline the original holes. I compared these to the items in the car and made a few conservative cuts for areas that I knew would have to be cut. Then I placed the carpet into the car and began trimming and positioning things as necessary, starting from the transmission tunnel and working my way forward under the dash, then around the edges at the doors and eventually to the rear bulkhead wall. Once the carpet bottom was essentially in place, I traced the cuts for the rear bulkhead carpet and made them. Unfortunately, one of the holes in the new carpet somehow got misplaced, but it is hidden by the rear deck carpet so it is not really a big deal.
I had a hell of a time getting the seats back in because the new carpet and padding was so thick, but after some deftly crafted cursing I was able to get them in place and properly secured.
$23.47 - Reflectix insulation
Today (technically yesterday--the 11th) I got my new carpet installed. I still have a few odds and ends to tidy up, but it is basically in the car.
Before installing the carpet I installed some insulating materials along the floor and transmission tunnel. I cut a couple of footwell mats from 1/4" thick rubber heavy duty truck mudflaps. These will not only serve to protect the carpet from the seams/ridges in the metal floor pan, but will also significantly block sound and heat. For the transmission tunnel, the rear bulkhead wall, and the rest of the floor I used "Reflectix" bubble pack foil insulation. It is extremely lightweight and should help reduce transmission of heat and noise into the cabin through the floor.
Once I was finished with the insulation, I laid the old carpet on top of the new carpet and used chalk to outline the original holes. I compared these to the items in the car and made a few conservative cuts for areas that I knew would have to be cut. Then I placed the carpet into the car and began trimming and positioning things as necessary, starting from the transmission tunnel and working my way forward under the dash, then around the edges at the doors and eventually to the rear bulkhead wall. Once the carpet bottom was essentially in place, I traced the cuts for the rear bulkhead carpet and made them. Unfortunately, one of the holes in the new carpet somehow got misplaced, but it is hidden by the rear deck carpet so it is not really a big deal.
I had a hell of a time getting the seats back in because the new carpet and padding was so thick, but after some deftly crafted cursing I was able to get them in place and properly secured.
$23.47 - Reflectix insulation