carpet help

I'm thinking about new carpet for my 78 IM Speedster. Will carpet for a 356 fit in our cars, or does it have to be custom. I know I can get carpet from IM and the others but I was hoping to save a few dollars, and I found a couple I really like from other places. Is carpet something I can cut and install or do I have to go through a local shop? If anyone has any advice on anything about carpet for these cars I really need some direction. Thanks

I don't see why you couldn't do it yourself. All the pieces are flat with no fitting. Most carpet places will edge it for .50 cents a foot.

When I got my car I did the first carpet myself. I went to Home Depot and bought deck carpet. (in case it gets wet, and we know these cars leak. Is that why it's called a TUB? ) I cut the pieces myself and you know what? It looked good. See some of my pics. Trying to fit around the gas tank and sides was not too good but it was OK.

Because I was heading to Carlisle I wanted Fern to look great so I bought a kit from VS and installed it. I needed to cut a few pieces anyway but it looks much better.

I would recommend that you can do it yourself but if you had a pattern from an old carpet it would be much better. There are too many curves and funny shapes that fit alot better....

I wanted a custom look and made the error of purchasing and installing a jute backed carpet..what a time getting that to "bend" and fit flat. Best to go with SB VS or JPS supplier.

I found a big remnant at (of all places) Home Depot which is a perfect color match for my carpets from CMC. Haven't done anything with it yet, but since I have the carpets out drying from the trip back from Carlisle, I think I might make some cut-to-fit pads and see how they look.

Thanks for the help all. I'm going to try it myself: rip my car apart, probably hurt myself once or twice, and eventually I'll send money to IM like I should have from the start. Oh well.

Go to a W mart of a K mart and buy a bolt of felt for edging in the color you need ,its almost a perfect match to what V.S. uses and makes a nice edging. I trimmed and glued it on with the Clear 3M sticky glue and then carried it to a good sewwer. The excess glue come off with NAPA (Klean Easy) or mineral spirits

I like the Klean Easy, Its a great bug and tare remover as well. it also lifts out oil stains in carpet, even bubble gum.if its not to mared in.

Barry are you saying that NAPA (mineral spirits) will clean the carpet of stains? I have never heard of this? I have a couple of little stain in my back seat carpet area and wondered what works the best. I also have a couple of small stains on my fabric top and was wondering what works best for the top.

KLEAN EASY will pull oil stains .

OR!!! Mineral spirits ,,which will only remove the 3M glue .

Before You go all out,with something as agressive as CLEAN EASY. first try TuffStuff

Work it in then wait 5 mins,and wipe it up with a clean towel being carful to roll the towel along in a reverse action to lift out the stain .

It may take 3 times but its less likely to pull the color right out of the carpet. with practice you'll catch on to the towel trick.

If you have white or sand carpet be mindfull not to re contaminate the carpet with the dirty part of the towel (roll and lift) When you run out of towel surface grab a clean towel.and start again.

TuffStuff it is then thanks

Charles,
I jumped this thread since I'm installing my carpet now for the first go-around. I really enjoyed your comment above on 5/25; sounds like something I'd do!! :-) Enjoyed a chuckle
-Tim
PS The 'OEM' carpet is going in pretty well, but not without it's flaws either...

tim
when you say OEM - do you mean Porsche OEM - if so let me know how its going - still waiting on samples from other people - thanks

Charles,
No; CMC carpet. The carpet that comes with the car. I've had to make a few unexpected cuts to remove wrinkles and fix lengths. I'm finished for the moment; there's a big crack that needs filling and some under-dash work to clean up, but 95% is in. Good luck!
-Tim

RE.Stain removal," mineral spirits" is good but ODORLESS paint thinner is better.