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Carpet and Panel Replacement (Part 2)

Replace Rear Cockpit Panel and Deck Carpet

Figure 10: Mark the holes in the rear cockpit panel. Figure 10: Mark the holes in the rear cockpit panel.

Using an awl or ice pick, punch a hole through the center indentation at the top of the panel, then line up this hole with the center bracket on the car, hold the panel in position and mark the other holes in the panel where they will attach to the outside brackets (Fig. 10). Screw or pop rivet in top of new rear cockpit panel. Use the appropriate trim ring or snap button, and screw or rivet into existing holes in bracket. Put the bottom of the panel in place and use the awl to punch the hole for the bottom rivets or screws, then attach the panel.

Figure 11: Apply the glue to the deck panel and back of carpet.

Put the carpet for the vertical panel behind the seats in dry, to check size, and check the fit into each corner. The top corners should overlap to cover the area in front of the wheel arch.

Apply glue to the deck panel and back of carpet, (do not apply to the vinyl strip yet) and when tacky, press into place (Fig. 11).

Figure 12: Fold back the edge of the vinyl strip.

Start at the center and work outwards and downwards, making sure to line up the edge of the carpet with the top edge of the deck for a smooth edge when the vinyl is turned back. Apply glue to top edge of deck and to the vinyl strip, carefully protecting the carpet from overspray with a scrap of cardboard or plastic. Turn over edge when tacky and press smooth along the edge, starting at the middle. At the sides, where the reinforcement section is, the vinyl must be cut and folded back under the carpet (Fig. 12). Check the fit of the rear deck carpet and glue it into place.

Figure 13: Trim holes in the rear quarter panels to allow for the convertible top hardware.

Using scissors, carefully trim a small hole in the rear quarter panels for each of the 3 convertible top bolts (Fig. 13).

Attach clips to the back of the quarter panel and slide the rear portion in behind the edge of the rear cockpit panel. Snap the top clip into place, and push in the bottom of the panel.

Figure 14: Slide the radio console out to the passenger side and tie up and out of the way.

Remove the screws on the sides of the radio console and slide it to the passenger side (Fig. 14).

The console may be tied out of the way to the passenger side by looping a string through any hole in the console and tying the other end to the sun visor or rear view mirror.

Loosen the nut and washer around the hood release cable, remove the screws holding the radio console backing panel and pull out the old panel.

Figure 15: Align the new and old panels. Punch screw holes in the new panels as the old panels are removed.

Depending on your car’s year, the new radio console panel may be taller than the old one, and you may have to cut it in order to accommodate the choke cable and hood release cable. Mark and punch in all of these holes in the new panels, as well as the screw holes, using the old panel as a guide and another old panel or cardboard to protect the floor (Fig. 15).

Foot Well Carpets and Panels

Unscrew the door check straps from the outboard kick panels, noting how the reinforcing plate is attached under the strap. Unscrew and remove the shelf beneath the passenger side dash, then unscrew and remove the kick panels on both sides. Pull the rest of the old carpeting and vinyl out, including on the transmission tunnel, again noting the placement and size of the vinyl scraps and the extra vinyl attached to the panels.

Figure 16: Replace the vinyl between the carpets and panels.

Replace the vinyl first, coating both surfaces with glue and applying when tacky (Fig. 16). Replace the carpet strip that covers the inside reinforcement along the transmission tunnel, being careful to align the back edge where it meets the floor cross-member. Check the fit of the carpet and kick panels before gluing the carpet, then trim and glue in the carpet on the cross-member (Fig. 17).

Figure 17: Carefully fit in the cross-member carpet.

Figure 18: Bend the top of the ring clip points using a flat head screwdriver to secure them.

Replace the kick panels and the radio console backing panel. Put the foot well carpet in place, then push the points of the ring clips through the carpet, centering them where you can feel the snaps beneath. Working on a hard surface, turn the carpet over, add the ring clip backs and bend the points over with a flat head screwdriver to secure (Fig. 18). Then snap carpet into place.

Figure 19: Replace the shift gaiter and ring

Remove the ring surrounding the base of the shift gaiter, and unscrew the shift knob (Fig. 19). Replace the shift gaiter and reattach the ring, driving the screws through the vinyl gaiter. Refit the shift knob.

Check the fit of the transmission tunnel carpet, then glue it in place, noting where the ashtray screws back in. Lay the front transmission tunnel carpet in place and attach the clips as on the foot well carpets. Screw the radio console and new door sill panels in. Use the awl to locate the screw holes in the transmission tunnel and screw the ashtray back in place.

Lay the back floor carpet into place and check the fit. The carpet should slightly overlap all the other carpet. Trim the carpet as needed, and cut holes just large enough for the seat bolts and seat belt warning wire to fit through. Glue the carpet into place and bolt in the seat belt latches. Replace the door seal and chrome seal cap using screws and rivets as before.

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