71 CARPET QUESTION--4 spd or Auto.

[Doug J.]

I just received my new carpet from Al Knoch..for my 71 coupe w/4spd..when I ordered it, the woman asked if I had a 4spd or Automatic..I have a 4 spd, so, I ordered the one for a 4 spd..make's sense, right. On the outside of the box it reads: 71-2 Dk Saddle Cpe, Plush Cpt--AUTO. I called Al KNoch, spoke to some woman, told her what was written on the box and she said it would fit fine even though it says it's for an Automatic. I know there is a difference in the trans tunnel, I have always had a stick so I really don't know how big the difference is, and I can't recall seing the difference in someone else's car.
My question is this. DOES, Al KNoch sell two different carpets, for stick/auto, if not, why bother asking what kind of trans you have. If they do, I would assume she just didn't want to admit to screwing up.
If only Auto. style carpet is available, I obviously have no choice, if that's the case, how will it fit?

[Jim T.]

Re: 71 CARPET QUESTION--4 spd or Auto.

Doug, I have a 70 with turbo 400. I am not 100% positive the 1971 were made this way.
However with the turbo 400 that started production in the Corvette with the 1968 model, I believe that the tunnel had to be modified a little to fit the turbo 400.
The 3 speed and 4 speed C3 did not require any modificaton.
I don't know what they were doing in at the factory in 1971.
All 71's could have larger tunnels to accept either the 4 speed or the turbo 400's.
I would have to examine my 70 again to see if there was any modification. Have not had the original carpeting out of my 70 to note any change.
If there was a change I believe it was on the passenger side of the upper tunnel near the firewall back.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 71 CARPET QUESTION--4 spd or Auto.

Doug,

4 speed vs. auto are different with regard to the passenger's footwell as Jim mentions. The auto carpet will "fit" but poorly. Yes, I have first hand experience.

Return the piece for a correct 4-speed passenger's footwell.

Patrick

[Doug J.]

Re: 71 CARPET QUESTION--4 spd or Auto.

Patrick,

He does make the pass. side footwell for a 4 spd....correct?

Doug

[Patrick H.]

Re: 71 CARPET QUESTION--4 spd or Auto.

Patrick,

He does make the pass. side footwell for a 4 spd....correct?

Doug

Yes. I had the same issue with them 10 years ago.

[James B.]

Re: 71 CARPET QUESTION--4 spd or Auto.

My experience with Al Knoch:

I had pre-ordered carpet for my '72 (with 4-speed) from Al Knoch for delivery to me at a swap meet that they were scheduled to attend. Upon examining my ordered carpet at the swap meet, I noticed that the box containing my carpet was marked "72 Corvette Coupe - Plush Dark Saddle - Manual". The carpet fit was excellent.

James

[Doug J.]

Re: 71 CARPET QUESTION--4 spd or Auto.

Not only was the carpet for an auto. instead of manual, I ordered and paid for the jute padding to be on the back..carpet came with no jute padding. My experience with Al Knoch has not been good, started 4 years ago with carpet for my 72, car is stick, they sent carpet for auto., from door panels that I had to elongate the holes on the door lock/opening mechanism on the door because the hole in the panel was not in the right place, leather seat covers that were sewn too loosley on the pleats on the back, so no matter how tight you pulled the cover, it was still loose..he wanted me to send them to Texas from NYC to have them fixed..but could not guarantee if the color would match correctly..he's got to be kidding! Now here I am again with an Al Knoch screw up..it's not only the product screw up, it's the time wasted and the time lost when you have to fix, adjust or more importantly, wait for a replacement..it sets you back days and weeks sometimes.

[Les G.]

Re: 71 CARPET QUESTION--4 spd or Auto.

I Ordered New Carpeting From Them At Strictly Corvettes In Atlantic City, It Took 5 Weeks To Recieve And The Heel Pad Was Incorrect For My 1970. Still Waiting For Correct Door Side Carpet. Not To Happy At The Moment.

[Dick W.]

Re: 71 CARPET QUESTION--4 spd or Auto.

Call Knoch back and ask for Dale. He is hard to get on the phone sometimes, but he will take care of your problems.

[Jim T.]

Re: 71 CARPET QUESTION--4 spd or Auto.

With the problems mentioned from Al Knoch Interiors perhaps another means of communication could correct the problem.

A written letter (typed) to the owner Al Knoch explaining your order problem may help in getting the needed attention.

Letters take time today in todays world of instant communication, hopefully they are opened and read by the person sent to.

[Les G.]

Re: 71 CARPET QUESTION--4 spd or Auto.

Dale Is The One Who Is Correcting The Problem. It Just Set Me Back In Time. They Did Not Have Any Matching Carpet In Stock So I Had To Send Back The Drivers Side Carpet And He Is Going To Install A New Heal Pad.

[Doug J.]

Re: 71 CARPET QUESTION--4 spd or Auto.

I have spoken to Al Knoch recently,on the phone on more than one occasion, and I have dealt with Dale years ago, he did fix the problem...but after numerous phone calls, and him asking me if I knew what I was talking about.
Fast forward 4 years..door panels not right, leather seat covers sewn wrong..and Al Knoch himself trying to tell me that the person installing them doesn't know what he's doing..who he knows personally..and knows the good quality work he does, now back to the same problems with the carpet..only worse.
Does anybody really do quality work anymore, and actually take pride in their work?
I personally would never reccomend Al Knoch for anything other than aggrivation and wasted time.