Rubber mat to Carpet

[match71gmc4x4]

I am thinking about changing rubber mat to carpet. How is the carpet cut for the 4 x 4 shifter? Here's a pic of my truck, it's finally almost done!

[1970blazin]

I may be mistaken, but I think my carpet kit wasn't cut out for the 4X4 shifter. I have to cut it when it comes time to install it. I bought the high hump kit for my 4x4 blazer. I am not sure if it depends on who you get the carpet kit from either. Mine was $199 for the front and rear and rear wheel wells.
BTW- That GMC looks soooooooooo great - nice job! Almost done is so cool- I am there too and am trying not to get impatient and do some thing wrong!

[match71gmc4x4]

I don't want to screw up cutting the carpet wrong, if any one has any pic's of how they cut their carpet it would be greatly appreciated.

[J.Lance]

I usually remove the shifter, lay the carpet down and then feel the hole in the hump and cut. Takes a little more effort but it is fool proof! Just make sure the carpet is laid in right where you need it first. I will also place weights all over the carpet and let it "settle" in a warm area for a couple of hours.

[Dean]

Geez....why didn't I do that. I should have removed that transfer case shifter before I cut. Would have been so much easier. You would have thought engineering school would have taught me carpet installation....lol

[matapalo]

When I did mine, I took out the old rubber matt and used it as a rough template, just cutting enough to get over the 4x4 shifter, then made the final cuts in place.

I think I've got another problem with my carpet kit though. The carpet is much thicker than the rubber matt and I think it's getting in the way of depressing the accelerator pedal to the floor. Any one else run into this problem? I'm sure it's probably saving me gas and tickets, but with how ever many pounds of Suburban and just a little 350 I need everything I can get!

[Perchjerker]

If you plan to get in the mud with that truck you might reconsider carpet. I really dislike carpet in anything, home truck, ect. You might too if you have pulled up enough of it. You would be amazed how much nasty crap that stuff traps, even with the best cleaning. Just my .02 cents

[JayDubBlazer]

Hey diane did you use ACC? if so what vendor did you use?

[67Fleetsidedream]

The way J. Lance described is the best and easiest way.

[Dean]

I'm putting in ACC right now. Just a pain with all the holes....bucket seats, console, seat belts, shifter, dimmer, gas pedal.......whew..

[1970blazin]

Jay-
What does ACC mean? I got my carpet from www.truckandcarshop.com I am happy with the quality. I still need to install the front area, just waiting to put in the roll bar (this weekend hopefully) I will take pics. I believe the whole kit was $200 (page 35)
Diane

[J.Lance]

I forgot to mention a very important step!! After I lay the carpet in and it has settled down, I use a sharp object like a needle to probe around and find the seat bracket holes etc... After I locate them, instead of cutting a hole out, I use a hot soldering iron and melt a hole straight through into the bolt hole and then lift the carpet a little and enlarge the hole just bigger than the bolt. This serves two purposes. One, it easily makes a nice, clean round hole. Two and most important, it seals the carpet so it doesn't unravel. It's just like taking a match to the end of nylon rope after you cut it. If you don't do this the bolt will often catch a thread as you're putting it in and pull a string just like on a sweater. Not as big of a problem with cut pile but with loop you have to be careful!!

I picked up a cheap soldering iron from radio shack just for this purpose and works great. Can clean it up later with a wire wheel.

ACC = Auto Custom Carpets, this is the brand I use as well and have never been dissapointed to date.

Good luck.

Jason

[J.Lance]

Originally posted by Perchjerker
If you plan to get in the mud with that truck you might reconsider carpet. I really dislike carpet in anything, home truck, ect. You might too if you have pulled up enough of it. You would be amazed how much nasty crap that stuff traps, even with the best cleaning. Just my .02 cents

Every truck I've bought with a rubber mat I always cringe because 95% of the time the floors are rusty underneath. Rubber mats just don't allow the floors to dry when they get wet...and water does make its way in there. Carpet will allow the floor to breath and dry out. I just pulled the front rubber mat out of my '70 Jimmy a couple of days ago. I've owned it for about 3 weeks and has been in the garge most of the time and has not seen any moisture when it wasn't. The previous owner had it in his garage as well. I still found moisture when I pulled it up! And yes, some mild surface rust which I'll be taking care of this weekend before the new carpet goes in.

Contrary to what people believe, DO NOT take a hose to your rubber mat unless you have done a spray liner or waterproofed in some other way. I'd hose off my carpet before I'd get my mat that wet!