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  • 1962 Corvette Restoration: Carpet Installation
  • From "Classic Car Restoration"
    episode DCR-208
    advertisement

    Click here to view a larger image.

    The newly installed black carpet provides a striking contrast with the freshly painted red exterior.

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    Figure A

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    Figure B

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    Figure C

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    Figure D

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    Figure E

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    Figure F


    Carpet Installation

    In this segment, a new carpet-kit is used to re-carpet the Corvette's interior. Carpet sets like the one we used are reasonably priced at around $150, and are relatively easy to install. Individual carpet pieces come pre-cut and pre-trimmed for an exact fit in a particular model and year of vehicle.

    Note: This is a summary of steps included in the automotive restoration procedures shown in this episode of Classic Car Restoration. These are general guidelines for restoration procedures on this particular make and model of vehicle, and for the level of restoration selected for this project. There may be variations in procedures depending on model, condition of vehicle, level of restoration undertaken and the types of replacement parts or upgrade kits selected. Always follow proper safety precautions, and read and follow manufacturer's guidelines, diagrams and safety notices that come with any replacement parts or kit that you select.


    Materials:

    Carpet kit
    Spray adhesive
    Utility knife


    Steps:

    • Begin the installation by maneuvering the bulkhead carpet-piece underneath the defroster box and centering it across the bulkhead (figure A). Tuck the driver-side piece underneath the gas pedal. This piece does not need to be glued down.

    • After removing the gearshift knob, position the console carpet-piece. Fold the front section back, and cut a small slit to accommodate the gearshift using a utility knife (figure B).

    • The carpeting is tacked in place using a general-purpose spray trim-adhesive. For each piece of carpet installed with adhesive, spray both the carpet-back and the floor to which it will attach.

    • Spray the back of the console-piece and the surface beneath it, and immediately lay the carpet piece in place. Overlap the front section of the console piece under the rear piece, tacking both pieces in place with adhesive.

    • Continue the installation with the passenger-side piece. Before gluing, position the carpet piece and adjust the size and fit (figure C). Fold the rear portion back and work it beneath the seat frame. Use a blunt tool, if necessary, to tuck the carpet underneath the frame.

    • Once the piece is positioned properly, tack it down with spray adhesive (figure D). When gluing down the carpet, apply adhesive only to the borders of the carpet -- not the center areas of each piece. This allows the carpet to "settle in" over time once it has been installed.

    • Use a single-edged razor blade or utility knife to cut away any excess carpet in the door threshold area. Once the sides are in position, secure the edges by reinstalling the door-rocker sill plates.

    • The next step is to accommodate the center-console pieces in. To do this, you'll need to mark the area of carpet that will need to be cut out to accommodate the console pieces. Use chalk to mark the carpet (figure E), then use a single-edged razor to cut out the piece that needs to be removed.

    • With the necessary section of carpet removed, reinstall the console pieces, seating the rubber shift-boot first followed by the shift-surround trim (figure F). Re-install the center-console ashtray, the final piece of trim, and the shift-knob.

    • Repeat the steps to attach the edges of the carpet in the area of the driver-side door.

    In the episode that follows, the 1962 Corvette restoration is completed with some finishing touches to the interior.


    RESOURCES :

    Corvette Black Book : 1953-2001
    Model: 0933534477
    Author: Michael Antonick

    Corvette: The American Legend
    Model: 0785343741
    Author: Consumer Guide Editors

    Classic Car Restorer's Handbook: Restoration Tips and Techniques for Owners ...
    Model: 1557881944
    Author: Jim Richardson
    Order this book from Amazon.com
    H.P. Books

    Classic Car Restoration Guide: The Complete Illustrated Step-By-Step Manual
    Model: 1850108900
    Author: Lindsay Porter
    Order this book from Amazon.com
    Haynes Publishing

    Special Thanks, Classic Car Restoration: 1962 Corvette (Companies and Products)

    Companies and Products

    Corvette Central
    Full line of Corvette parts and accessories.
    Website: www.corvettecentral.com


    Dunshee's Corvette Parts
    Corvette restoration specialists.
    7304 W. Villa Rita Drive
    Glendale, AZ 85308
    Phone: 602-938-8895
    Fax: 602-938-9081
    E-mail: 4vetteparts@cox.net


    Quanta Restoration and Performance Products
    Website: www.quantaproducts.com
    Restoration specialists. Quanta Restoration carries (among other specialty items) "correct" fuel tanks for vintage cars.


    Lectric Limited
    Website: www.lectriclimited.com


    Eastwood Company
    Unique automotive tools and supplies.
    Website: www.eastwoodco.com
    Eastwood carries assorted tools, supplies and parts (many hard-to-find) of interest to the auto-restoration hobbyist.


    House of Kolor
    Automotive paints, primers and painting systems.
    Website: www.houseofkolor.com


    Strip Technologies of America
    A media-blasting facility specializing in coating-removal & coating applications.
    4001 Bruhin Road
    Knoxville, TN, 37918


    Bend-Pak Inc./Ranger Products
    Bend-Pak provided the large equipment used throughout the Corvette episodes of DIY's Classic Car Restoration.

    NAPA Auto Parts National Automotive Parts Association. Customer Support: 877-805-6272
    NAPA provided many items that used throughout the Corvette series.


    3M Corporation
    Products available at retail stores worldwide.
    3M provided many general supplies, including all safety equipment, used throughout the Corvette series.



    Special Thanks, Classic Car Restoration: 1962 Corvette (Organizations)

    Vintage Corvette video and photos provided by General Motors Corporation.
    Used with permission, GM Media Archive.
    Chevrolet's website: www.chevrolet.com


    Corvette Organizations

    The National Corvette Museum
    Website: www.corvettemuseum.com
    The National Corvette Museum is open to the public and offers plant tours and other services and products, including Corvette accessories and memorabilia. The museum also offers library and archive information, build-sheets and a database of information. NCM also sponsors events and gatherings.
    For DIY's Classic Car Restoration, the NCM supplied research material and photographs used in episode #201.

    National Corvette Restoration Society (NCRS)
    Website: www.ncrs.org
    The NCRS (National Corvette Restoration Society) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration, preservation, history and enjoyment of Corvettes made from 1953 through 1986. The group offers publications, database information, resources and discussion boards. They also sponsor Corvette events and NCRS Judging programs.

    East Tennessee Corvette Club
    The East Tennessee Corvette Club is a non-profit organization of Corvette enthusiasts in the East Tennessee area.

    Corvette Expo
    Website: www.corvetteexpo.com
    Corvette Expo is a promoter of Corvette shows, swap meets, and auctions.



    Special Thanks, Classic Car Restoration: 1962 Corvette (Books and Publications)

    Books and Publications

    Classic Auto Manuals
    1910 E.S.E. Loop 323 #317, Tyler, TX 75701, 903-566-1939
    Classic Auto Manuals offers factory-original shop manuals, service manuals, body manuals, repair manuals and auto-parts manuals on CD format. They provided the 1962 Corvette manual used as reference in the Corvette series for DIY's Classic Car Restoration.


    Standard Catalog of Corvette: 1953-2001
    ISBN #0-87349-235-8
    Krause Publications
    Website: www.krause.com
    Book and photos featured in #201 (Corvette History).


    Classic Corvette: The First 30 years
    by Mike Mueller
    ISBN #0-7603-1358-X
    Motorbooks International (MBI) Publishing Company
    Book and photos featured in episode #201 (Corvette History).

    Corvette Buyers Guide 1953 - 1967
    by Richard Price
    ISBN #0-7603-1009-2
    MBI Publishing Company
    Featured in Classic Car Restoration episode #209.

    Corvette: Fifty Years
    by Randy Leffingwell
    ISBN #0-7603-1180-3
    MBI Publishing Company

    101 Projects for Your Corvette: 1984 - 1986
    ISBN #0-7603-1461-6
    MBI Publishing Company
    Author Richard Newton featured as guest on episode #209.

    Motorbooks (MBI) catalog & information
    Website: www.motorbooks.com

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