Victoria British Ltd-Sports Car Parts Source for MG, Triumph, Austin Healey and Sunbeam.
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Carpet and Panel Replacement

Getting Started

Unsnap the convertible top boot and remove the convertible top retaining bar. Unsnap and remove the convertible top, frame hardware and attachments using the #3 Phillips screwdriver. Remove the door seal trim by unscrewing the chrome finisher plate, drilling out the snap rivet (Fig. 1), and pulling loose the trim. Check for wear and store for later use or purchase new trim. If replacing, keep the old trim as a measure for length on the new piece.

Remove Seats

Figure 1: Remove the chrome finisher plate.

Push the seat as far forward as it will go and using a 7/16" socket wrench, remove the bolt at rear of each runner (Fig.2). Then push the seat back and remove the front bolts. These bolts attach through the floor boards underneath the car. Use the socket wrench below and an open end wrench above

Figure 2: Move seat forward and remove the rar seat bolts.

(Fig. 3). CAUTION! Make sure that the car’s exhaust system is completely cool before attempting to remove these bolts!

Figure 3: Front seat bolts attach underneath the car.

Disconnect the seat belt warning switch under the driver’s seat. Unbolt the inside seat belt latches from the transmission tunnel using a 5/8" wrench. The wire to the seat belt warning system will need to be disconnected on the driver’s side. You do not need to unbolt the seat belt unit attached to the wheel wells and behind the door sill, because the carpet is easily cut to fit around it.

Remove Carpet And Rear Side Panels

Remove rear deck carpet by simply pulling it up from the deck. Remove the rear cockpit panel by drilling out the rivets (Fig. 4), and place aside. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the lower door sill panels. Pull loose rear quarter panels above the wheel arch. Pull out

Figure 4: Drill out the rivets in the rear cockpit panel.

Figure 5: Pull out the rear quarter panel from the bottom.

on bottom of the quarter panel first, where it is clipped into place (Fig. 5).

Remove the rear wheel arch carpet, as well as the strip of carpet that covers the rear deck reinforcement area.

Using the Phillips screwdriver, remove the 2 peg stud fasteners located above the transmission tunnel on the panel located behind the seats (Fig. 6).

Remove the ashtray on the transmission tunnel, then pull the carpet loose from the panel and the rear section of the transmission tunnel.

Pull up the old carpet from the rear floor sections, and clean

Figure 6: Remove the peg stud fasteners.

all areas well. USA specification cars built after 1972 may have extra heat insulation material under the carpets due to the catalytic converter system. Be sure to reuse this insulation, if possible, to avoid a fire hazard.

Replace Vinyl, Carpet And Panels

Remove the vinyl pieces that cover the B-post and the small ridge on the rear deck that protrudes from the carpet, as well as any other small pieces used to cover gaps in the panels or carpets. Note the placement of these as you remove them, and use them as templates, using scissors to cut new pieces of vinyl for replacement. Leave plenty of overlap area for the carpet. Clean these areas well, then apply glue to the new vinyl and to the metal. After the glue is tacky, position the new vinyl as before.

Figure 7: Glue the B-post vinyl in place

On the B-post vinyl, lay the vinyl along the flat side of the post, and eliminate any wrinkles or bubbles (Fig. 7). Starting from the mid-point of the post, fold the vinyl around the front edge. Carefully cut slits in the ends to meet the corners and fold these flaps neatly over the top edge, trimming as needed at the top and bottom.

Figure 8: Align the rear deck reinforcement carpet with the front lip of the rear deck and the bottom of the wheel arch.

Check the fit of the rear deck reinforcement carpet pieces by aligning the front edge of the carpet to the front lip of the deck, and the outside edge along the wheel arch (Fig. 8). Glue them into place. The stitched line in the rear wheel arch carpet will lie on top of the arch running back parallel with the side of the car when fitted properly.

Figure 9: Trim the wheel arch carpets for a better fit.

Press the dry carpet in place and check for fit. You may have to cut a slit for the seat belt unit a little farther in for proper positioning. Trim the inside of the seam, if needed, to get a better fit. Work the carpet down with your hands to press smoothly into place, then hold the new quarter panel in place to check the fit. Apply glue to both wheel arch and carpet back and press into place when tacky. Trim away excess overlap of the reinforcement section (Fig. 9). Repeat for other side.

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