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I have been working on my 631/2 fastback it seems like forever, I removed the old carpeting which was really bad (original) and began working on the floors. Mostly surface rust which came off easily enough, then cleaned and treated the floors before putting down 2 coats of POR-15. I bought a roll of sound deadener, 1/4 inch thick with bubble type stuff between the foil backing on both sides.
The problem I am faced with is it'a been so long since I took out the old carpeting I really don't know how and where to start. I wish I wouldn't have thrown the old carpet away now and I would have had maybe a little help from it. The car is a 500 XL with a 4-speed and console and need some advice on how to cut/trim/ measure for the console. I have the dimmer switch and gas pedal removed when I done the POR-15. The heater is removed as I rebuilt it and coated everything metal inside with POR-15 and put in a seal kit. Also have installed a new firewall cover. The steering column is out of the car also. The cover to the hump for the shifter is ready to go back in.
If anyone has done this lately please give me some tips on the proper install of carpeting. I bought the carpet kit from Buds which is the Auto Custom Carpets. Also the shifter is off as I rebuilt it too and put in a new reverse lockout cable. I am starting to install the soundproofing now with a little 3M adhesive. Thanking you all for any input you can send my way. Bud
Car is black with black interior.
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I did a carpet install on my 61 Galaxie recently. The most important thing to start with is to lay the carpet out for a while. My carpet arrived rolled up in a box for who knows how long and actually looked like the wrong carpet. I rolled it out and left it alone for three weeks. Every couple of days I would try and shape it. As time went on it started to come around. I installed it after three weeks of being layed out. I should have waited another week or two.
As far as install, I marked the centre of the carpet with a few chalk marks so that I kept it straight as I glued it down. I kept the chalk line on the centre of the transmission tunnel to keep straight. I used 3M spray adhesive. Spray small areas at a time rather than the entire floor board. Make sure you don't apply adhesive to thin or it won't hold. I started down the centre of the car and worked outwards towards the doors alternating right side then left side. Also started at firewall and worked towards the back of the car. Don't pre-cut holes, cut as you go to ensure your cuts line up with things like dimmer switch, bolts, seatbelt holes etc...I used a blow dryer to soften the carpet backing for sharp bends. I used a soldering gun to punch holes in the carpet, worked great.
It was a lousy job and my work is far from perfect but turned out pretty good and looks much better than the old stuff I removed. If you are using sound deadener, that will have to be secured first with adhesive. The sound deadener will have to be cut and formed to fit. It is not moulded to fit like the carpet. Maybe check out some YouTube videos for other hints and tips. Good luck.
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Thanks, Dan I have the carpet laid out on 2 sheets of 3/8 plyboard up on some saw horses. I'll keep them there for quite a while I guess and keep forming them with a hair dryer.
The part that has me wondering is how do you mark the legs of the console for cutting the carpet. Also, how far does the carpet go up under the firewall cover, and how close is the front of the heel pad to the base of the gas pedal. Also, how far does the rear of the front carpet lap over the holes for the front of the bucket seats? lots of questions that I have tried to find on the internet to no avail. found out how to install carpet in GM trucks, Jeep Wranglers, etc but no 62 thru 64 Galaxie 500 XLs.
Thank You for your info as it will be handy when I get started. Bud
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Regarding the firewall, I put my carpet up the firewall as high as it would go. It stopped at the heater core/AC housing unit and wouldn't go any higher. I tried to tuck it up under the housing unit but I couldn't do so unless I loosened the housing unit off of the firewall to create some clearance.
Regarding the console legs, do you have to cut the carpet? Could you not install the legs over the carpet? Maybe by removing the underlayment/sound deadener the carpet will lay flat enough in that location to work. If not, I would consider installing carpet first, laying down the console legs in the correct location and then mark area of carpet to be removed. You can always punch holes in the carpet for the bolts from under the car and come up thru the floor boards unless you have bolts mounted on the floor for the legs.
The heel pad location will be determined by how high you run the carpet up the firewall. I wasn't too concerned about the exact heel pad location as I use floor mats which cover the heel pad. So if the location wasn't factory correct, it wouldn't show.
Regarding the overlap of the front and rear sections, I just guessed that one. I looked at pictures on the net for ideas. Again, I wasn't too concerned about that one. The overlap is under the buckets so the only place you can see the seam is between the outside bucket seat edge and the door sill trim piece. About three inches or so.
If you are trying to get a factory install, I am not able to provide you with that information. The hardest part is trying to install the carpet over and inside all of the contours and not end up with wrinkles. Hope this helps.
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