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Old 04-07-2010, 12:17 AM   #1
Wincks2
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If no carpet, what to do with wires?

Considering removing my carpet and going with rubber mats. Not the single LMC type that appear to cover most of the floor. Was thinking of simple individual floor mats on each side in the front and back.

Does anyone do this? Is there a reason not to? Have read about sound, heat, and warmth. Are any of these three intolerable without carpet and whatever is usually under it? I live in Canada, so maybe no heat insulation would be a good thing in the winter

If going with an appearance as spartan as I have in mind, what have you done with the wires that used to be under the carpets? Am putting in an electric back seat and possibly a screen somewhere. Is there a good looking engine detailing type of way to deal with them? Any photo examples?
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Old 04-07-2010, 03:02 AM   #2
BLE 'BURBAN
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Re: If no carpet, what to do with wires?

How many wires?
What size?
What length?
If it were me, I'd get some stainless steel tubing large enough to fit the wires, bend it with a tubing bender and route it to where I need it to go. As far as tee-ing it off goes run the wires through the tee before you fully assemble the tee.
Once you get it all set up the way you want it, pull it all back out and paint it to either match or contrast the interior of your truck.

Just a thought that popped into my head while reading your post and thinking about a plumbing problem that's come up.
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Old 04-07-2010, 03:22 AM   #3
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Re: If no carpet, what to do with wires?

Well as for me and floor temps. Over last summer I pulled much of my carpet because it was trash. And drove on the freeway for about 30 miles barefoot and had no problems. It was about 80* out, windows down,vent windows open, slider open, loven every min of it!
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Old 04-07-2010, 05:51 AM   #4
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Re: If no carpet, what to do with wires?

You can always drill a few holes and route the wiring under the cab
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Old 04-07-2010, 02:36 PM   #5
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Re: If no carpet, what to do with wires?

Quote:
Originally Posted by OARNGESI View Post
You can always drill a few holes and route the wiring under the cab
:|

if you like fires
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Old 04-07-2010, 02:38 PM   #6
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Re: If no carpet, what to do with wires?

just buy some indoor out door carpet from a hardware store and go to town. route wires INBETWEEN insulation and carpet.
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Old 04-07-2010, 02:39 PM   #7
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Re: If no carpet, what to do with wires?

i am considering doing the same thing and rhino lining my floor.

i was thinking about routing my wires under the floor as well.

if they are properly shielded i don't really see what the problem is
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Old 04-07-2010, 10:22 PM   #8
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Re: If no carpet, what to do with wires?

/w/ gromets i could see all the pass thru's being fine.
Its the emelnts that get to them. Look at all the factory wiring. That was /w/ high quality wire, even if you do find modern wire that meets the standards of stock.
Todays wires is aprox 96% foreign. almost all of that being from china and japan. Its cheap /w/ low copper ratio. 3x's recycled insulation. And lets be honest..the more a pice of plastic is recycled, the more the properties change.

Quote:
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i am considering doing the same thing and rhino lining my floor.

i was thinking about routing my wires under the floor as well.

if they are properly shielded i don't really see what the problem is
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Old 04-07-2010, 11:56 PM   #9
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Re: If no carpet, what to do with wires?

why not just re install your sill plates after removing the carpet and route your wires under them? they would only be exposed from along the toe kick (put them inside a piece of wire loom to dress them up if you like) and the back of the cab.
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Old 04-08-2010, 12:52 AM   #10
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Re: If no carpet, what to do with wires?

Could you cut a hole in the kick panel by the fuse box and somehow run the wires through the hollow rocker panel and out behind the seat somewhere, does that make any since? If it were me I would put as much insulation as possible in there, because in the summer time with my old dually it would just about cook you alive. With 100+ degree weather and all the heat coming off that big block me and whoever was riding with me would hold the doors open driving down the road to get as much air through there as we could! I dont know what the deal was with that truck but it would get HOT inside, thats the main reason i sold it.
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Old 04-08-2010, 05:49 AM   #11
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Re: If no carpet, what to do with wires?

Can you run the wires up overhead? I'm thinking behind the plastic trim over the doors (plus could get them out from underfoot.

I went without carpet/floormat for 1 winter. The truck was colder, I can dress for that, but it was the frozen coffee, snow, and slush on the floorboards that was a PITA. The floormats would slide around when ice built up between them and the floor. With the plow on, my truck was only used for short trips. Not enough time to dry out the floor between uses, but enough time to melt the snow off of my boots.
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Old 04-08-2010, 09:04 AM   #12
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Re: If no carpet, what to do with wires?

Thanks for the excellent ideas!

Am still considering whether to leave the plastic running up between the doors. Am thinking of leaving the head liner and plastic up top.

Hadn't considered where the melting run-off from boots would drain to.

I wonder where the thaw point will be? But I can't see the half inch of insulation and carpet down by the floor making a significant difference to where breath and body heat and whatever the heater blows in condenses in a truck. Probably the windshield like usual
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The Old Smokey project: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=390518
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Old 04-08-2010, 09:37 AM   #13
staggerd86c-10
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Re: If no carpet, what to do with wires?

if its for speaker wires, rca wires, power wires for amplifiers i dont think everything will fit underneath the kick plates. What exactly are you planing to run wires for? amplifiers and a full sound system or just for the rear speakers to run off of the radio.
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Old 04-08-2010, 01:50 PM   #14
Wincks2
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Re: If no carpet, what to do with wires?

The new back seat is electric. Hadn't considered rear speakers yet. Possibly reading lights for my kids.
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Old Smokey: 85 GMC 3/4 ton long bed crew cab originally a 5.7 gas engine now with an 84 6.2 with a 92 serpentine belt system, a banks sidewinder, torque converter, and a shift kit. I bought her this way from someone handy - and now am trying to figure out how all this truck works.

The Old Smokey project: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=390518
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Old 04-08-2010, 02:02 PM   #15
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Re: If no carpet, what to do with wires?

what is so wrong with carpet??

lmc rubber mat that thing
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