Carpet Installation

[Dan D.]

Getting ready to install new carpet in my 57. I believe there are suppose to be some screws holding the carpet in place.

Section A, sheet 1 of the AIM shows 2 screws, one on the firewall, just below the firewall insulation at the transmission tunnel; the second directly below it where the floorboard goes horizontal. The screw kit I bought from CC has 4 screws and ferrules. So I might assume these are the locations, but my car has no holes any place near there where screws might have once been installed.

The original carpet was long gone way before I bought the car so I have no history.

Can anyone who has installed new carpeting in a 57 lend me some insight on this? My car is a mid-May 57 build, if that makes any difference.

Thanks in advance.

-Dan-

[Dan D.]

Re: Carpet Installation

Okay, I have the screws figured out; now one last question;

Would you take the accelerator pedal out and put the carpet in behind it, or just cut the carpet out around it?

Thanks,
-Dan-

[Mark B.]

Re: Carpet Installation

There was a slot in my carpet with a sewn vinyl edge that goes around the pedal

[Dan D.]

Re: Carpet Installation

Hi Mark,

I just looked at mine and it too has a vinyl slot for the pedal. Don't know why I did not see this sooner. I most likely would have figured it out sooner or later, but this is one less thing I have to worry about. I should be installing my carpet in the next couple of days.

You are the only person that has responded to either of my questions and I really appreciate it. Thanks again.

-Dan-

[Mark B.]

Re: Carpet Installation

Hey, no problem Dan. We are all in this together. I kinda creep the 56-57 stuff pretty often because I have a 57 and I'm new to early corvettes so I try to immerse myself in as much information as I can find. in the process if I can offer any help to others I jump on it.
Sometimes people won't answer questions they feel are insignificant, but I think all questions deserve a polite answer, and someone once told me that there are no dumb questions, but there are dumb answers lol.

[Richard M.]

Re: Carpet Installation

Hey Dan, I just found a old photo of a '56 AK carpet set I installed about 5 years ago. Forgot I did that or I'd have added some info.

Yes it has the bound cutout for the pedal. Sorry I didn't find it sooner for you.

Rich

[Chuck B.]

Re: Carpet Installation

Rich, interesting picture of your AK 1956 carpet from five years ago. I also have AK 1956 beige carpet that was purchased over five years ago. The heel pad on mine is beige, just as it is on yours. It looks great. The current TIM&JG says all heel pads in 1956 should be black. AK carpet is usually spot on, so don't know if Al has a different thought on the heel pad color than NCRS, or what. I installed my carpet some time back, and just did discover the Judging Guide info, so don't think I'll pull the carpet to make the change. Was your car judged, and was there any comment about the heel pad color?
Thanks, Chuck

[Richard M.]

Re: Carpet Installation

Rich, interesting picture of your AK 1956 carpet from five years ago. I also have AK 1956 beige carpet that was purchased over five years ago. The heel pad on mine is beige, just as it is on yours. It looks great. The current TIM&JG says all heel pads in 1956 should be black. AK carpet is usually spot on, so don't know if Al has a different thought on the heel pad color than NCRS, or what. I installed my carpet some time back, and just did discover the Judging Guide info, so don't think I'll pull the carpet to make the change. Was your car judged, and was there any comment about the heel pad color?
Thanks, Chuck

Chuck, That was a friend's car. I'm unsure about the heel pad info. This was the carpet I took out but I don't know if it was original or not. Unfortunately for some reason I didn't take a picture of the driver side and don't recall exactly but i don't think the heel pad was black.



Here's a closeup of the loop patterns....

[Chuck B.]

Re: Carpet Installation

Rich, Thanks for the additional pictures. AK '56 carpet must have been evolving 5-6 years ago. The carpet I have is a darker brown, more like the picture of what you were replacing, and also has the diagonal weave pattern of your old carpet. I'll email John St.Peter, the 56-57 Team Leader,
to confirm that all heel pads in 1956 were black from the factory.
Chuck

[Richard M.]

Re: Carpet Installation

Chuck, As I recall, they had/have 2 grades. My friend opted for the non-original weave.

Rich

[Dan D.]

Re: Carpet Installation

Thank You Mark and Rich. Now that you guys fixed the notch for me, I have a couple of more questions. I have a lot of carpet that seems to fit under this poor accelerator pedal, and it is short on space under there. The upper tunnel carpet dresses back of the pedal, so does the next tunnel piece. And combined with the floor carpet, that is a lot of material, and it don't fit too well. The photo below shows the tunnel piece with a large tab that has to go back of the pedal. Question is should I trim this piece to reduce the amount of carpet in that area? It could be because I have installed insulation - about 3/8 thick. Maybe I should remove the insulation back of the pedal.

My carpet is ACC from Corvette America, purchased about 5 years ago.

While I am on a role here, question about the heal pad. Mine is red, but I thought they were suppose to be black. Supplier says no, 57s are red. Your thoughts?


Ops - forgot to add the photo.

Photos won't load. No idea why. I re-sized to 600x800. Still won't go.

-Dan-

[Richard M.]

Re: Carpet Installation

Thank You Mark and Rich. Now that you guys fixed the notch for me, I have a couple of more questions. I have a lot of carpet that seems to fit under this poor accelerator pedal, and it is short on space under there. The upper tunnel carpet dresses back of the pedal, so does the next tunnel piece. And combined with the floor carpet, that is a lot of material, and it don't fit too well. The photo below shows the tunnel piece with a large tab that has to go back of the pedal. Question is should I trim this piece to reduce the amount of carpet in that area? It could be because I have installed insulation - about 3/8 thick. Maybe I should remove the insulation back of the pedal.

My carpet is ACC from Corvette America, purchased about 5 years ago.

While I am on a role here, question about the heal pad. Mine is red, but I thought they were suppose to be black. Supplier says no, 57s are red. Your thoughts?


Ops - forgot to add the photo.

Photos won't load. No idea why. I re-sized to 600x800. Still won't go.

-Dan-

Dan, check your email. Send me the photo(s) and I'll try.....

Yes you may have to squish that 3/8" down flatter or remove some of it behind the pedal.

Five+ years ago I had troubles with ACC '59 driver side carpets( 3 sets on 3 cars) not fitting right in the past, and I wonder if they had issues 5 years ago on their 56/57 sets.

Here are some pics of the AK set my friend installed in his '56, albeit a little trouble fitting the forward tunnel piece as you can see a small gap. Also some photos of a original '57 interior which may shed some light.

'56 AK non-original weave.




========

'57 original

[Dan D.]

Re: Carpet Installation

Thank You Rich. The photos are a big help.

I have worked on cars my whole adult life, but I have never done any upholstery work. And now in my old age I am much more conservative than I used to be. When I used to just dive into an unknown, now I am frightened to death of screwing it up. It took me over a week to install the AK door panels. I bought just the panels so I had to transfer my trim, and I just double and tripled checked everything. Just the thought of messing up those expensive panels was on my mind all the time. But they came out pretty good - will try and send a photo in a separate post.

Question or two - was that a real air box car - with the steering column mounted tack - or was that just added? Also, what was mounted to the right of the brake pedal? I see two holes and the outline of a bracket of some kind.

I will try some photos again, as this carpet does not lay very good in several areas. It may be because of the insulation.

-Dan-

[Richard M.]

Re: Carpet Installation

Thank You Rich. The photos are a big help.

I have worked on cars my whole adult life, but I have never done any upholstery work. And now in my old age I am much more conservative than I used to be. When I used to just dive into an unknown, now I am frightened to death of screwing it up. It took me over a week to install the AK door panels. I bought just the panels so I had to transfer my trim, and I just double and tripled checked everything. Just the thought of messing up those expensive panels was on my mind all the time. But they came out pretty good - will try and send a photo in a separate post.

Question or two - was that a real air box car - with the steering column mounted tack - or was that just added? Also, what was mounted to the right of the brake pedal? I see two holes and the outline of a bracket of some kind.

I will try some photos again, as this carpet does not lay very good in several areas. It may be because of the insulation.

-Dan-

Dan, Those first 2 shots from just a hotrod '56 with a aftermarket column tach. The other shots from a '57. Not sure what was mounted to the right of the brake pedal, but the owner used the car for rallies so maybe something for that, unsure.

I got your photos to load after all. Here they are. If you have more trouble uploading send to me and I'll pop them in here for you.

Dan's pics.... I think you may have to pull all of the insulation near that pedal to get it to lay in better. Also, you may have to trim a bit near the pedal from that tunnel piece, but verrrry carefully.

[Dan D.]

Re: Carpet Installation

Hi Rich,

Going to try and load some more pics for you.

This first pic shows the floor step plate area. The floor carpet does not go all the way to the edge. The tab appears to be too far inboard. Hope I explained this okay. Struggling for the right words.



Here are a few general pics for your viewing pleasure. The first 2 are the new AK door panels.





Still fitting around the shifter. It does not lay well where the carpet necks down to the smaller driveshaft area.


Looks pretty




As you can see a PO 'customized' the rear tailpipe area. Would like to revert this back to original, but the tailpipe tunnels have been been removed. I bought new tunnel pieces, but everything back there has been fiberglassed over and it appears that it is going to be a major effort to do this.



This pic shows a flap on the seat cushion that covers up part of the seat position handle. I just don't remember this before. Is this correct?



I am going real slow on this effort for fear of messing up expensive material.

Rich - stay dry, and be safe, my friend. Same to all others in this storms path.

-Dan-