Who makes the best quality carpet sets for the 68-72 ? I was thinking about buying some ACC, are they pretty good ?
There's only two places that mold the carpet for our cars (not aware of any others)...ACC and Trim Parts. Both places buy carpet rolls from the same mill. You're "safe" with either one I think. Both have had numerous reported problems so I think it's an coin toss. Don't know if the heel pad on the Trim Parts carpet is exact or not (I assume it is but haven't seen a set of their carpet yet). Tips: >Ask for a set with plenty of extra on the bare ends......I've installed numerous sets of ACC carpet that were cut short up by the firewall pad and by the kick panels. Also...I've seen them with less-than-what-I-like amounts of extra carpet that runs up under the rear seat bottom. >TEST FIT as soon as you get it or at least get it out and take a look for any glaring errors. >KEEP THE BOX....if you have a problem they'll likely ask for it as it has lot #'s and/or other supposedly "important" info on it they will claim they need to "refer to" for a return. I had a buddy that had a problem with an ACC set but not having the box gave them the excuse they needed to deny any remedy. >Sure...you may likely spend plenty of time trimming off the excess but that's A LOT more preferable to finding that ACC or Trim Parts cut it short in an effort the save a few cents on materials costs. Doing this on a '70 Olds right now and the ACC carpet was left with a lot of extra material.....but that's allowing US to make it fit nice without any gaps, etc. >If it's a 4 or 3 spd manual floor shift car DON'T specify that....order a set for a non floor shift car or an auto floor shift car. The "hump" they typically mold into the manual floor shift carpet is a MESS....way too big(ran into this on another '70 Olds 4 spd car)..probably a "generic molded in hump" in an attempt to cover numerous Abody lines (that used different shaped/sized humps from the factory).
Patton, I greatly appreciate your insight on the carpet. It's been lot's of years since I have bought any. That reminds me, I have one here still in the box I bought from a guy over 10 years ago, and I'm sure he had it around a couple years or more. I just looked, and it's ACC. Thanks, Tim
use it....it's likely fine although it may need to sit out awhile unfolded to see if the creases will work their way out of the material. But...check for "short cuts", etc as well.
I notice that ACC carpets come with either poly or mass backing. Do you have an opinion on which is preferable? According to what I've read, mass backing is thicker but I'm going to be putting in a Quiet Ride kit so maybe I don't want thicker carpet backing?
Dennis - I haven't had my hands on one of their new "mass backing"-backed carpet sets....I've heard of it or read about it somewhere but don't see anything on ACC's site about it right now. As you mention, it would likely be overkill if you are already installing or have a separate sound deadening kit. No need to spend the extra $ IMO. The poly is a grey jute like material (called "poly" as it's a polyester jute instead of a natural jute I assume)...approx 1/2 to 3/4" thick. That's what they've had as a backing on these sets for years. I'd recommend going to a local upholstery place and getting additional jute to fill in some voids that are present in the carpet sets (ie molded too large in places). Makes for a bit nicer, smoother look/fit.
Concur on ALL that pglade has said, especially on the 'no hump' carpet, and getting the 'unfinished' carpet. I also like to leave the carpet out in the sun for several hours to allow it tp soften a little. I used an additional heat shield and sound depener under my most recent project, and it made a WORLD of difference in the noise and heat. (The old carpet was a cheap cut-to-fit with little backing.)
Got a two-piece ACC carpet set with mass backing for my 1971 Riv last April. Ran out of time last season and was now recently installing. Found rear carpet section to be too large, way too large in width and length. Luckily, I still had original GM carpet and box ACC carpet came in. Got ACC to agree to a return. I sent them their carpets and also my originals for a comparison and the creation of a more exact set. I'll post the outcome. Hopefully by the end of April.
I used ACC carpet was very happy with the quality of the carpet. see link below go to post # 4 I have posted some pic's http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?233068-Carpet-for-70-72-s
