Hi All:
I'm going to be putting a carpet in my '68. My question is: Do the front seat mount bolts, the two bolts on either seat closest to the dash, go through the front carpet peice or does the front carpet peice rest over the seat mounts/frame and bolts after the two bolts are installed on each seat frame? I've seen it both ways and I'm just wondering which way is actually correct..
Thanks!!

Dan
'68 Convertible

I looked at an unrestored, unmolested 69 Yenko at the reunion last September. Here's the way seats were installed I assume 68s were the same:

Back feet on the seats.... The carpet was cut out in a "U" shape and the carpet pulled back so that the foot would sit directly against the metal floor. Then, after the bolts were in, the flap was laid back down over the feet, to cover the bolt and the foot. In other words 3 sides of the square were cut out so that the "hinge" would be to the rear. (I had to trim a little off mine to make it lay flat)

Front feet.... The rear carpet piece is cut out to allow the foot to sit directly on the metal floor. The front carpet piece is adjusted so that the aft edge fits over the bolts and rests against the riser on the foot.

I located the place to make the cuts by laying the rear carpet down first, and finding the bolt holes with an awl. Then I placed tape over the carpet and positioned the seat. Then marked the location of the cut outs on the tape.

Thanks Unreal!
So the front section of the carpet does not get cut at all in terms of mounting the seats. Basically the seats should be totally bolted to the floor BEFORE the front carpet section is put into place correct??

Thanks!

Dan
'68 Convertible

Maybe I didn't do it "by the book" but I laid my carpet first and then put a hole in the carpet just big enough for each seat bolt - the seat then went on top and helps hold the carpet in place. I do believe that my front seat bolts went through both pieces of carpet.

It was a pain to get the holes right and the seats installed originally, but now removal and reinstallation of seats is a snap.

Dan, That is correct, the seats can be totally installed before installing the front half of the carpet.

Lots of guys place the seats over the carpet, and certainly that works. I was just describing the way it came from the factory, based on the unmolested one I paid careful attention to.

Interesting side note. While I was talking with the original owner of this particular Yenko, a couple of guys came over and were inspecting the door latch to determine if the latch itself (the actual hook) should get paint on it. (The latch was installed before the door was painted, so the latch bolts get body color.) It was determined that the latch must have been masked off, as there was no evidence of paint in the mechanism.

Anyway, I figured these guys must be interested in minor details, so I showed them how the trunk weatherstrip had the little orange mark on it, and how the mating point on the weatherstrip was 8-10" off center to the driver side. The guy said, "I don't care about that, that would be anal!" I thought that was pretty funny. Paint in the door mechanism is not anal, but locating the weatherstrip is over the line. :D

To me, part of the fun of the restoration hobby is learning about, and trying to duplicate all the little nuances from the factory. If something is not true to original on my car, it's either because I did not know any better, or couldn't find (or couldn't afford) the correct part.

(Before you ask, yes I did go base coat/clear coat on the paint. ;) )

I have a 68Z (Norwood built) car with original carpets (still has GM tag with info on back). Front and back feet rest directly on metal floor. Front carpet has almost no cut. Rear carpet has a two sides of a rectangle cut to fit around the foot. I suspect many techniques were used to cut and fit the carpet. I can give you a better description later if you need it

Thanks guys. I'll probably just bolt the rear seat bolts through the carpet and put the front carpet peice down after the seats are mounted.
The less cutting i have to do on the carpet the better in my opinion!

Dan
'68 Convertible

Wow!!! How ironic. I JUST got off the phone ordering $400.00+ for my spring project. Some of the things ordered were new covers for the front seats/headrests and a new carpet kit. I was also not sure on how the rear seat was to come out. I was also unsure of how the front seats were to be bolted on the carpet. This will be helpful.
graemlins/beers.gif

I have had new seat covers and front buns since Xmas. Today I got the sound deadener and new carpet so I was definitely glad to find this info. Thanks a bunch.

I put new carpet in my 68 about 5 years ago and I have a suggestion. I laid the carpet in the car and poked around with an awl. when I found a hole or a place were a bolt needed to be I stuck a tooth pick in its place. Then I heated up an iron, the kind used for soldering, stuck it in the place of the tooth pick. This gave me a perfect hole that would not fray. No one will know the difference if you do it right. I found this to work very well and all by accident. I cant seem to work on one thing at a time! :D

just went out and checked our 1st week of March 68 NOR conv. with 719 interior and the front half of the carpet is laid without bolt holes and lays up at an angle to the front custom bucket legs, like it was installed after the seats and I confirm the previous comments, never noticed before, but I confirm at least for our car.
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steve

cambird68, thanks for the soldering iron tip. I installed new carpet in my '69 last night and used the soldering iron to make the holes for the seat belt bolts. Worked great graemlins/thumbsup.gif