trunk carpet pattern

[dinghyguy]

Hi All,

Does anyone have a pattern for a trunk carpet? I was thinking of making my own and am too lazy to make a carboard pattern if someone already has measured and sketched one up.

Thanks
Dinghyguy

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Sorry Dinghyguy, I don't have such a beast, but I was able to make one for my car without a pattern. I started with a rectangle of carpet* where the long and short sides were equal to the longest and shortest "distances" in the trunk. I kept progressively cutting pieces off (with a sharp razor blade) until it sort of fit in the trunk, including down into the body wells by the rear marker lights. From there, I used chalk to mark areas to trim, and kept carefully "chipping" away at it until I was done. Overall, I think it turned out very nice, and it's certainly far better than the crumbly rubber mat that I used to have (which I threw out years ago and thus the reason I didn't have a pattern).

*For the carpet, I used a rectangular commercial interior/exterior floor mat from Home Depot, charcoal gray, and I think it was 3' x 5' or 4' x 6' or something like that. Rubber backing. At the time, it was $12 or so.

-Bryan

[Broadsword]

I think someone had a link to download a PDF or CAD file for the trunk boards, so that would be a good start if you find the post?

[Johannes]

I have found the link for the CAD of the trunk carpet, but it is not working anymore.

Johannes

http://www.fiatspider.com/f15/viewtopic ... et#p274463

[dinghyguy]

thanks all,

I used the original wood bits to build new wood bit, the last coat of verathane is drying before reassembly. Then as suggested off to get a carpet scrap to make the new carpet.

I note that the vendors kit comes in two pieces one for the floor and one for the vertical section covering the locks and taillights. On my current cars, one has that part missing and the other one had a piece of crap hot glued on......how is actually supposed to be fastened?

cheers
Dinghyguy

[18Fiatsandcounting]

I can't help you there much, DG, as all my spiders as far back as I can remember just had the rubber mat in the trunk and no covering for the inner valance panel. I imagine snap fasteners would be the way to go, like the kind you would get at a sewing or crafts store.

-Bryan

[dinghyguy]

trunk work is done for now. New wood cut, stained, multiple coats of poly, hardware reinstalled and then installed in trunk. The custom shims make the floor firm, but still look correct even though there is a bigger profile tire in the well. Tapered them so the battery cover can still be removed and installed correctly, only raised the back near the taillights about 1/2".

Took a scrap of carpet and 20 minutes with scissors, chalk and the trunk is respectable.

Would love a nice rubber mat Brian, but they don't exist for later model cars as far as i know.

thanks all for the suggestions

time to drive it!

dinghyguy waiting for some sunny days.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

I think model years such as your had carpeting, such as:
https://autoricambi.us/trunk-carpet-1979-85/

Free shipping for orders over $99! (but perhaps not to Canada....)

-Bryan

[dinghyguy]

Brian,
Correct, and i can't go to my PO box across the line. No travel to the US.

It looks much better than before and that is what matters.

cheers
dinghyguy

[Nicketts]

On this subject, what is the original “wood” under the mat? On my 82 it seems like Masonite, and is warped. What do people replace that with? Plywood? Oh and the carpet is more like a grey felt mat, if that is helpful to anyone. Thanks!

[RRoller123]

Before: Crappy Masonite.



After: 3/8 Cherry Plywood.



But the carpet and box, etc cover it all up anyway. LOL

[dinghyguy]

Nice job Rroller123,
I used cheap 1/4" ply, stained and varnished. I didn't get the grain the same way on both pieces, and i didn't go right to the edges of the trunk like you did. Mine follows the original Masonite shapes. how do you slide the loose piece out or did you leave the bottom parts of the clips off so you can just lift straight up?

What did you use to paint the inside of the trunk and why? rust or ?

Also how did you handle the area by the filler pipe? did you make a vertical piece to fit and hide it or leave it black like the rest of the trunk? On the other side i am thinking of making a small piece to fit in flat, but then the jack will be disturbed....to be decided. But for now all is much better.

cheers
dinghyguy

[RRoller123]

What the pic doesn't show is a couple of sheet metal screws that hold down the pieces on either side. The piece on the right can be lifted/tilted up and pulled away from the coupler clips, then removed.

I didn't do anything with the sides, either side, as others have so elegantly done! Nor with the side along the trunk latch.

And I just used Rustoleum matte or Flat Black, applied with a cheap China Bristle brush. A few coats and it looks ok, not great, but not highly visible once all the other stuff is in there. I couldn't see the effort to spray in there being worth it.

A single sheet of cabinet grade plywood will get the grain to perfectly align if you cut it out carefully. 3/4" or 1/2" seemed too thick and heavy, 1/4" seemed way too flimsy, and like Goldilocks' porridge, the 3/8" seemed just right. I did add a stiffener along the length of the coupler edge, so that it would not warp, and alignment would be maintained. If you used 1/4" ply, a few strategically placed stiffeners might help overall.