Phillip
I replaced all the carpet except the tranny tunnel and the rear parcel
shelf. (They were in excellent shape.) This meant buying closed hoop
carpet to match. I could not find it reasonably priced with a random hoop
length exactly the same as the original - but what I have comes really
close.
Not doing the tranny tunnel meant I was able to nip and tuck the rest to fit
the contours. No heat used. Do not try to do under both seats with one
piece. The armrest on mine covers the seam. I am not sure if this would
work for early models. Contact cement and careful cutting is required. Not
a job for those with little patience.
I agree with Joe's comments on binding the edges - it is required in certain
places for originality. And to prevent unravelling as Greg mentioned.
However, if you do not use hooped carpet, you are not going original anyway.
Rather than pay $1.00/ft for binding the exposed edges, I cheated and cut
the carpet an inch too wide (or long), folded the carpet over with contact
cement. With tight fitting pieces it is very hard to tell there are two
separate pieces meeting in a 90 degree corner.
New carpet of course made the dash look very shabby.
Len Lubbers | '79 Spitfire | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
http://www3.sympatico.ca/lubbers
----- Original Message -----
From: "Luke Lewis" <lukage@home.com>
To: "Spitfire List" <spitfires@autox.team.net>; "Phillip"
<metaz76@earthlink.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 1:09 AM
Subject: Re: Carpet/Interior
I attempted to do just that, and believe me, it's TOUGH to do a good job.
I've now heard about such tricks as using a hair dryer or heat gun to mold
the carpet into certain shapes, but let me tell you, it's worth the money to
not have to bother!
Luke
'71 Spit "Fireball" - counting the weeks until it's out of custody
'85 Voyager "Temporary Transportation" - marching slowly to its doom
'73 MGB "Furniture" - may actually be driven this summer, but probably not
'97 Tercel "The Big Car" - still never get to fix it
----- Original Message -----
From: "Phillip" <metaz76@earthlink.net>
To: <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 9:25 AM
Subject: Carpet/Interior
>
> Has anyone made a carpet set for their Spitfire? I was at the home
> improvement store the other day and found some really nice marine grade
> black carpet with a rubber type backing on it, supposed to stand up UV
> really well. So I measured up some of the old carpet that I had left and
> compared it to the measurements of the car and I think that it would only
> cost about $39 for the carpet. The problem is that I am not sure what to
> do with the contours of the car and the transmission tunnel cover. Any
> suggestions would be great since this would be a huge money saver! My
> father-in-law also had found some seat covers from JC Whitney that will
fit
> the Spitfire, so they claim. And then I need to find a place that sells
> vinyl for the interior. As you can tell I am trying to save as much
money
> on the restoration as I can by custom making everything. I have also been
> thinking about redoing the door panels out of wood to match the dash like
> another list member did. Thanks for any help!
>
> Phillip
> 76' Spitfire 1500
> 85' Subaru GL
> Phillip Edwards
> metaz76@earthlink.net
> http://home.earthlink.net/~metaz76
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