Carpeting

[wanderer]

I am new to the 911 family as I just became the owner of a 83SC. My question is that the carpeting/ floor mats are not glued to the floor. I see the red floor beneath them. Is this normal? If it is not I was considering adding some sound proofing material before regluing the carpet to the floor. Any suggestions on which products work best. I did see on this forum that people have used the fatmat material. By the way it really smells old inside the car, like my old VW bug. I am guessing that is the carpet and headliner. Is there any sucess stories on getting rid of the smell, or is replacing said carpet and headliner the most commom cure? Thanks in advance for any direction.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Stock Porsche carpeting of that era was really cheap stuff. Horrible, most of it. (I have an '83 SC.) I can't remember if my carpeting was ever glued to the floor, but what I did when I semi-restored my car was to buy new Porsche stock crap floormats and then glue to them a layer of 3/8-inch foam--I think I got it at a local car-interiors shop--and put that down, not glued to the floor, then on top of them I put high-quality aftermarket floormats, can't remember the supplier but there are lots of them out there.

Unfortunately, the sidewall carpeting remains the Porsche "sliverknit" junk, which is glued to the pan. Glue it quick, because 3M contact cement will eat through that German dreck in minutes.

[ossiblue]

Welcome to the forum, lots of opinions on this, here's mine.

It's normal for the carpet not to be glued down (at least on early cars), and personally, I prefer it. These cars are notorious for water leaks and water trapped under wet carpet is a receipe for rust--even in galvanized cars. You should already have sound proofing on your floors, unless the PO removed it so inspect it carefully.

There's a bit of confusion between sound proofing and sound dampening. The factory puts a sound dampening material on the floors and in the doors and quarter panels (that's what gives the Porsche door that distinctive sound when closed.) This does not require total coverage of sheet metal as the purpose is to dampen the resonance of the sheet metal, reducing the vibrating frequency. Fat mat, Dynamat, and other stick-on/paint on products do the same. IMO, the factory stuff does a good job and doesn't need to be replaced, except if the floor material is cracked and you're very concerned about water reaching metal.

If you want to add some sound proofing material, you can get auto carpet padding at an upholstery shop. I did that on my 69 and it cut sound down considerably. Others use regular carpet padding, but some types can deteriorate in the heat of a closed car. Again, if you use padding, I'd suggest not to glue things down so any entry of water can be addressed and the interior dried out by pulling up the carpet and padding.

Ah yes, the smell...I think the only remedy is replacement of carpet, and maybe the headliner as there is padding above the headliner that can have that old car smell. However, if you strip out the carpet, thoroughly clean the floors, door panels, quarter panels, and replace with a new carpet kit, you may find the problem cured.

Hope this helps and remember, this is just one of many opinions you'll hear. Keep us updated and post a picture of your new (to you) 911--it's tradition.

[RWebb]

Wilton Wool

[wanderer]

My new car!!!

[sc_rufctr]

More details please... Sweet looking ride!

[berettafan]

only porsche carpet i've ever been taken by is what i believe is called square weave from 356's. kinda like the el cheapo lightweight stuff you see in early cars sometimes as well.

[wanderer]

Yes ossiblue I do have the sound proofing. It is mostly intact too. It does have the spider cracks, which I am sure is normal for a 26 yo car. It is not separated and it is rust free. So maybe just new carpeting or just drive with the windows and sunroof open. For now it has a few tears in the headliner, so that will be first on the replacement list.

[berettafan]

strip it all out and shoot it in white!!!!!

[wanderer]

Berettafan, I see you are from MD. Any exposure to people who do headliners for 911s?

[berettafan]

no but if you check dorkiphus.net you'll get sent in the right direction. i understand it's quite a tough job.

[83-911SC cab]

Welcome to the fold, our new sheep..Nice ride..

I assume that you are from Maryland and the "Nd" in your location of Westminster, Nd is just a typo... Either that or you are planning on traveling from North Dakota to Maryland to get a headliner done..

Just a little friendly ribbing

Gregg

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Putting in a new headliner is easy--takes maybe an hour. Not counting the fact that you have to first remove and then replace the windshield and rear window, which people who have done it would also rate as "easy" but that seems forbidding if you haven't.

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by wanderer

My new car!!!

Very nice, indeed! I can't imagine that car with an "old VW smell!"

Boy, you guys in MD sure have large front yards

[kodioneill]

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

Putting in a new headliner is easy--takes maybe an hour. Not counting the fact that you have to first remove and then replace the windshield and rear window, which people who have done it would also rate as "easy" but that seems forbidding if you haven't.

With all due respect I would rather do a engine overhaul that a headliner. I just did mine (sunroof makes it harder) it was a very difficult job.

[wanderer]

Well Steve, what is your hourly rate? I did replace the headliner in my VW. I had to remove the interior and windows, but it was my first one of that type. I think it came out ok, but I would not say that it is the easiest thing I have ever done. Changing engines was much easier, before I changed to dual carbs, i could remove the engine in less than 30 minutes. So about that hourly rate. New york is not that far away. I used to be stationed at Ft Stewart just outside of Newburgh.

[porschenut]

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

Putting in a new headliner is easy--takes maybe an hour.

Did someone spike your Cheerios? I just got done with my headliner install, and it took me 12 hours spread over 4 days, and that's in a car with all windows out and interior gutted!

It was a VERY difficult job and one that I would not want to repeat.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Sorry, but I've done it twice now in the last three years, including the sunroof--second time because I decided I didn't like the beige and replaced it with black.

Maybe "an hour" is a slight exaggeration, since I did wait for glue to dry here and there, but how you could have wasted 12 hours and four days on that job boggles the mind. At least mine. As for difficulty, I would rank it as a four on a one-to-10 scale

[porschenut]

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

how you could have wasted 12 hours and four days on that job boggles the mind. At least mine. As for difficulty, I would rank it as a four on a one-to-10 scale

I pretty much did it the same way as chronicled in this thread -- Restoration Porn: Headliner Install

Except I used a lot more clips than he did. I took my time and made sure it was PERFECT. Not a single wrinkle anywhere. Used a large tube of 3M Super Weatherstrip Adhesive, which was very messy.

Not one minute was wasted. I don't know how you or anyone else could do the same quality job in 1 hour, or even 4, but if you can, I'll fly you out to Colorado on my dime to do it next time.

I called it difficult because it was very tedious work and required a boatload of patience which I can't normally muster.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Understand that I'm not talking about the time taken to remove glass, rear shelf, seats or anything else, or to restore everything to final form. I'm talking only about the time to put the headliner in place once you have all your ducks in a row, everything measured, centerline established, sunroof hole ready, etc. Nor did I use messy weatherstrip adhesive; 3M contact cement works just fine and is much neater and easier to apply