securing carpet

[cameron02]

Hi Boys and girls,

I have cut and shaped my carpet and underlay. I am at the point where I must decide how the carpet will be secured.

In some areas like the rear wall it seems pretty straight forward...glue the carpet on?

Other areas appear more difficult...like the trans tunnel, especially where it widens. The carpet really needs to be held firmly in place. I dont think glue is an option in this area because it has underlay (dont imagine glueing carpet to felt underlay would be effective).

The only idea I've been able to come up with is to drill holes into the trans tunnel and use those Christmas tree caps. Is this a good option? Anybody do it differently? HELP!!

[1985 CCX]

I have used a few SS clinch and pins (as per on body for top and tonneau) as well as some originals I have seen. I also use small SS srcews with dress up washers. Nice added touch!

Jeff

[Blair]

Only words of advice I can give you is; whatever you do don't glue or secure carpet to the bottom of the footwells. Make sure these are removable! Whenever it rains the bottom of the footwells become small dams and you have to remove the carpet to dry it out otherwise the carpet in the Cobra will stink.

Until you actually drive through a heavy shower in a Cobra you won't understand. I reckon more water comes in through the door hinges then over the windscreen. Thus soaking your carpets. RRRaaa

[Lowell W]

Drill some small holes in the floor.

Seriously.

Lowell

[cameron02]

Great idea Jeff. Seems like a better solution than the one I was working on. Thats what I love about this site. Thanks heaps.

Thanks Blair and Lowell. Yes I anticipated the potential water problem and have predrilled holes in the floor. The floor carpet and underlay is fully removable. Maybe I should have purchased Marine carpet?

Suprised about the water comming in through the hinges though Blair I will have to have a think about that and see if I can come up with some sort of barrier. Off the top of my head.....maybe ribbed aircon tubing over hinge between door and body?

Any more ideas for securing the carpet?

[sambo]

I'm thinking of using velcro or some other fastener for things like kick panels and the boot lining - would that be strong enough to hold floor carpet in place?

[400TT]

We've always glued the floor carpet to marine ply boards that can be removed to dry out if it gets wet. Also makes it easy to clean. They've always been professionally trimmed in carpet with vinyl edging, heel pad etc.

And as above, always have drain holes, you can buy little covers(I think marine ones, covered front, open back) that stop the water splashing into the drain holes...handy when your travelling through really, really heavy rain.

[cameron02]

Hi Sambo,
I thought about velcro too. I dont think its a viable option where felt underlay is used as the felt would move around too much. Might be ok on some carpet only areas though such as boot floor.

[PCC]

Cameron,

I have velcro on my floor mats and the work excellent - Do not move one bit!

On a DRB water enters around the window stays dropping right on your legs.

I'm on with my carpet etc to the boot (once my bloody plush pile turns up) and will be sticking to the sidewalls with other areas removable on ply / underfelt)

For the cockpit floor, I like the stainless screws with finishing washers idea.

[cameron02]

Thanks Peter,

Have you got mats on top of your carpet (to protect the carpet) or do your mats cover the entire floor area?

Hmmm.....stopping water from entering there seems challanging. I wonder if some silicon might do the job? What do you think?

I was also wondered wheter water would come in under the hard top behind the seats where there is a depression between the boot and the rear wheel arch? I was contemplating making a funnel type arrangement to catch the water and divert it out through the floor.

[400TT]

Originally Posted by cameron02

Have you got mats on top of your carpet (to protect the carpet) or do your mats cover the entire floor area?

We fitted removeable mats to our first Cobra. Yep, they covered the entire floor area.

I wonder if some silicon might do the job? What do you think

Where Widscreen Uprights enter through the body should be sealed up with silicone. Also any other holes you make for windscreen squiters, mirrors etc.

I was also wondered wheter water would come in under the hard top behind the seats where there is a depression between the boot and the rear wheel arch?

When stationary water doesn't tend to come in from the rear due to the natural slope of the Cobra rear. Also doesn't seem to blow in there.

When travelling long distance in rain it seems to blow up over the doors and in, also blows up the windscreen and sneaks under the edge of the soft/hard top. Also depending how much pressure is on the lower windscreen seal, it can sneak under there. A bit of duct tape solves this for long trips. You can just make a ridge just after the windscreen across the door and that stops the water from blowing around the screen.

[Wazza]

Originally Posted by cameron02

Thanks Peter,

Have you got mats on top of your carpet (to protect the carpet) or do your mats cover the entire floor area?

Hmmm.....stopping water from entering there seems challanging. I wonder if some silicon might do the job? What do you think?

I was also wondered wheter water would come in under the hard top behind the seats where there is a depression between the boot and the rear wheel arch? I was contemplating making a funnel type arrangement to catch the water and divert it out through the floor.

The Marine flutes as Craig (400TT) mentioned work very well.
i.e. they stop water blasting up through the holes in the floor, and any water collecting from above, gets "sucked" out by the wind flowing over the flutes.

Also,
I've mucked about with a couple of products from Clark Rubber.....that sounds good doesn't it !??....
The attached photo shows the first attempt, using a high compression rubber simply cut out using a cardboard stencil,
They sit snug under the carpet mats, or can be glued on to the back of the mat.





They feel great under the heels, and stop a lot of noise, as well as water.
They sit flat against the holes in your floor, and lift out to allow for any water to drain and evaporate away.

I've since upgraded this idea slightly, by finding a very similar product in the same rubber store, but the new stuff also has reflective insulation on one side, which does everything the old stuff did, but keeps ALL the radiated heat away from below.

Gotta LOVE the Rubber store...I've found heaps of good stuff there apart from the mats, and door seals, boot seals, trimming edges etc. etc.

Hope this helps,
Regards,
Warren.

[sambo]

Guys, where do we get these marine "covers" or "flutes" from? I've tried google but I think there's probably a more correct name for the part, as I'm not finding much.

Clark Rubber certainly looks promising... http://www.clarkrubber.com.au/index....46&pageID=4852

[Wazza]

Originally Posted by sambo

Guys, where do we get these marine "covers" or "flutes" from? I've tried google but I think there's probably a more correct name for the part, as I'm not finding much.

Clark Rubber certainly looks promising... http://www.clarkrubber.com.au/index....46&pageID=4852

The best I could find was on the attached page...
http://www.western-marine.com/page60.htm

Scroll down to "Stainless steel midget vent"....once you know what it looks like, it shouldn't be hard to get from a Marine supplier somewhere.
Hope this helps,

Regards,

Warren.

[cameron02]

Thanks heaps guys, this has turned into a great thread. Hey Warren, I love the paint job on your Cobra, looks great.