Installing new carpet, need advice

[UATahoe]

First off, this forum has been awesome! It has provided a ton of information for me and my father as we have just recently started restoring an 87 R10. I have posted a few questions so far and have received a ton of advice and information.

Now for the task at hand. We just finished pulling up the carpet and are planning to put down the new carpet kit ourselves. When we pulled up the original carpet, the carpet pad portion in the drivers and passengers floor pan stayed glued to the floor. The black backing on top of that also remained. So the actual carpet was all that came out. All of the padding and black backing is adhered really well to the truck. Should i go through the effort of removing this, or should i just leave it in and install the new carpet on top of it? Also, i am guessing that if i leave it then i will not need to order carpet with the mass backing? Would ordering it with the mass backing just add another layer of sound proofing and still install nicely? Thanks for the feedback guys. I am going to try and get pictures up tonight of our progress.

[UATahoe]

Sounds like i really do need advice. After talking with some of the carpet suppliers, it sounds like my situation may be unique? They told me that it sounds like the padding was installed upside down. Normally the padding is attached to the carpet and then the backing. This would make the mass backing, or rubber part, as the layer that lays down on the floor pan.

Curious to know what others have found when removing there carpet. Did you have a carpet pad type material glued to the floor with rubber coating on top?

[hartbraker]

the padding should not be glued to the floor at all. if you are going through the time to restore the truck correctly, while you would be the only one that would know the padding wasn't "correct", I would recommend that you take a heat gun or blow dryer and a scraper and peel up the existing padding and install it correctly... just my $0.02

[esbstuff]

Picture(s)?

[UATahoe]

I can get pictures tonight. I will post them this evening. Really thrown for a loop with this one.

[riz]

I'd pull it all up and redo it correctly. It will be worth the time to pull the old stuff off. Good luck.

RIZ

[UATahoe]

Actually talked with George from Varkmotors and he said what i described was ok and normal. The padding was an extra sound barrier with the tacky black rubber layer then added on top. He said the carpet would be fine installed directly over. Seemed to really know what he was talking about and was a really nice guy.

[UATahoe]

Here is a picture of the floor. Threw in one of the interior overhaul in progress as well. LOL

[esbstuff]

That is factory sound deading and instulation. I would not disturb if you don't need to... If you lived in a northern state I might peel up the corners on the bottom of the floor boards and check for surface rust, but since you are in AL, I would leave it there, untouched. Just put your new carpet/rubbermat down and run with it!

BTW, to save you hassels later, MAKE SURE you recoat ALL the bolts you remove with anti seize. The factory anti seize is that blue stuff on the bolts that is coming off on flakes. In fact if you have never messed with an older truck before, just go buy a big bottle and use it liberally on all bolts you remove. It will save you big headaches down the road.

[UATahoe]

Thanks for the quick feedback. That is going to be my plan going forward. Do you think i should order carpet with or without the mass backing?

[6772fan]

Agree with esbstuff. Leave it alone. Your new carpet should make up just fine on top of it. I don't think I've ever seen new carpet without the jute backing on it. Check with a few vendors who sell carpet and see if it's even available.

[UATahoe]

Yeah, the jute backing is always there i think. The mass backing is the extra layer of rubber that some offer for added sound dampening.

[bilfman]

I agree, just leave the stuff on, it looks to be in good shape. But if you have a rusty floor now is the time to take stuff off and fix it. Otherwise it will be fine going right over it with the new carpet

[riz]

Yup. it's not carpet backing. Don't pull it up. Lay the carpet over it with no issues.

Pics sure help, huh?

RIZ

[UATahoe]

Definitely. Was hoping to get them up sooner but we have been kind of busy working on the truck. LOL. I think i will go ahead and get the mass backing on the carpet as well. I think that extra layer will do nothing but help. Thanks again guys!