I need some input on my floorboards/carpets/mats

[david05111]

Hey gents-

I’m still doing a lot of mechanical work on my ‘80 SC Targa, but I’m trying to knock out some cosmetic stuff as well. When I inherited the car, sections of the carpet had been removed years prior because they were destroyed. A cat had been living in the car at one point and they were just toast. I’m attaching pictures of what I’m working with right now.

The sliver-knit that’s still in the car is in nice shape. Rather than replacing all of it (don’t really want to tackle that at the moment), I’d like to match what’s there and basically replace the missing sections. I have a few questions regarding that though.

1). Are those carpet sections that are missing considered mats? Or did mats sit on top of those sections, like most other cars? I get conflicting information on this when I search.

2). If I wanted to install rennline pedal boards on the driver and passenger side, how does that work with carpet? Should I be looking for carpet of custom template for use with those?

Basically, bottom line is that I want the car to get the rennline floor boards and then have appropriate carpet and/or mats to go with them.

How should I proceed? Is there a company recommended for this? Apologies about the pictures; I know they’re crap.

[HarryD]

i see missing carpet for the passenger side and missing floor mats. In my car, I took them out and put Cocomats in.

[EC900]

Your missing sections are “carpet” direct to metal whereas anything going on top of a carpet is a mat such as a Coco Mat. etc.
I haven’t found any source that would sell only a carpet section that I needed & I’m too finicky to put in someone else’s old carpet section (for many reasons) as these show up time to time.
It’s easy to refurbish the original plywood footboards, sand/stain/laquer which is what I did, I think Renns FBs can be either under or over existing carpet utilizing the OEM hold down brackets.
If you find used sections, you can boil/hose/power spray and air dry any funk out of them until you’re ready to do a full and complete glue down set.

[911obgyn]

If you have a keystone fabric store in your area they have a good selection of carpet for cars, also sunbrella fabric. They also sell the best spray contact cement.

[WMichelsen]

I agree with above comments that there are both carpet sections and mats. Both the foot area carpet sections and mats are cut to shape, with the carpet sections covering a bit larger area than the mats.
However, in my '87 the carpet is -not- glued. I remove the foot sections, regularly, just like the mats when I vacuum the car. And, I've lifted other areas when accessing the tunnel, etc.

[david05111]

So if I find a company to sell me the carpet pieces I'm missing, how do they work with the Rennline floorboards? Do you just punch holes in the carpet and bolt the floorboards through the top of it?

[Ian Comerford]

If you are fitting Rennline boards it is usual to leave them exposed as a visual effect (they don’t lighten the car…..), so cut the carpet to meet the Rennline board

[EC900]

Originally, the floor carpet fits over to cover the floor board stud and hold down bracket from being visible. The carpeted pedal cluster section that covers the floorboard is also loose.

I don’t know if that pedal cluster carpet section goes back on top, under or removed when installing the new Renn floor board (seems like it’s removed) but the larger Renn floor board tucks up to the point it sets into the bracket hold down stud, and still likely covers the bracket.

So no cutting a hole is necessary - if a hole in a new floor carpet is needed, mark the location of the stud with a dab of paint/chalk, etc, lay over carpet press down, the mark transfers to the backside of carpet, heat up a soldering iron tip or a red hot nail and pierce a new hole, why? …it melts any nylon fibers and backing and eliminates any future fraying from carpet moving from getting in/out.

[WMichelsen]

I realize I may have posted bad info above. I'll just post pics, instead. Here's the layup on my passenger side. Driver side is similar, except there is an extra "carpet" piece over the pedal cluster board/plate. (please pardon the condition.. working on it)

[PeteKz]

This is where I rant about Weathertech not making floor liners for our air-cooled buggies.

Rant off.

[david05111]

Originally Posted by Ian Comerford

If you are fitting Rennline boards it is usual to leave them exposed as a visual effect (they don’t lighten the car…..), so cut the carpet to meet the Rennline board

In an ideal world, I'd be able to get custom carpet that was cut and bound like factory but to the dimensions that would leave the boards exposed. Basically a carpet I didn't have to cut.

[Cherry Bomb]

After installing new carpet, I cut the driver floor piece to 1.5" beyond floorboard lower stud. Then, cut a relief in carpet to allow stud/mount to the top side. Then I installed RLine floorboard on the top of carpet to keep it in place.

Works perfectly!

[Cherry Bomb]

You could purchase carpeted floor mats from our host. I have this set for my Cab. They are very thick and will be fine above or even without floor carpets in place. I modified the driver side to end tightly against RLine floorboard. They are a perfect match to the Lakewell Classics carpet set. Pardon the dirt...

[david05111]

Originally Posted by Cherry Bomb

After installing new carpet, I cut the driver floor piece to 1.5" beyond floorboard lower stud. Then, cut a relief in carpet to allow stud/mount to the top side. Then I installed RLine floorboard on the top of carpet to keep it in place.

Works perfectly!

Originally Posted by Cherry Bomb

You could purchase carpeted floor mats from our host. I have this set for my Cab. They are very thick and will be fine above or even without floor carpets in place. I modified the driver side to end tightly against RLine floorboard. They are a perfect match to the Lakewell Classics carpet set. Pardon the dirt...

Both of these ideas have merit. I'll have to give them some thought, thanks.

Regarding just putting the mats down, you don't have any issues with them sliding around at all?

[Cherry Bomb]

No movement. The fronts are locked in place via bolt in brackets that lock them down. Brackets bolt to front bolts of each seat rail.

Rears are free birds however.