Transmission Tunnel Cover Edges

[CFranks]

Hello all. I am starting to work on finishing my transmission tunnel. I’ve been driving it in bare aluminum while in gel coat and am now ready to cover it and make it look pretty. My slight challenge is I bought this as an unfinished build and the previous builder cut the carpet fairly low along the transmission tunnel. When I put the tunnel cover on, no way it will be able to wrap around the carpet and it’s going to 1) look ugly even if I put some kind of finishing on the carpet edges and 2) I run the risk of the carpet pulling back eventually since the edge is not pinned. I’d like to have the cover in vinyl and I’m fine if I have to use some visible trim screws along the side. I don’t have a metal brake so can’t make my own oversized one. Any recommendations?

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49442000157_be9ef0b1b1.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ik2b7z)

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2ijXzVF]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49441299813_3e8ac89f0c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ik2b7z)[url=https://flic.kr/p/2ijXzVF]

[edwardb]

Don't know if it helps, but on the ones I've done like that I don't try to put the carpet under the cover. Adds too much thickness and the cover doesn't fit properly. I've put binding on the carpet that rests against the lower edge of the wrapped cover. Looks like yours could be done that way, although wouldn't be as easy to bind the edge with the carpet already attached. And a hint in case you didn't know, don't try to remove the carpet if it's firmly glued down and you want to try to re-use it. The yarn will pull out of the backing.

Another option is to install two new carpet pieces for the sides of the tunnel. The pieces aren't that big. Get your tunnel cover wrapped and installed. The cut new carpet to fit right below it with binding and glue the new into place. Factory Five sells the carpet by the yard and it's not that expensive.

[Papa]

I used the FFMetal tunnel cover on my car and after covering it with leather with a 1/8" Landau pad on the top (none on the edges), my cover fit snugly over the carpet. I used a heavy duty 3M product to attach the cover.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007OXK1AK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I like the way it turned out and looks very finished.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=95880&d=1540080964

[CFranks]

Another option is to install two new carpet pieces for the sides of the tunnel. The pieces aren't that big. Get your tunnel cover wrapped and installed. The cut new carpet to fit right below it with binding and glue the new into place. Factory Five sells the carpet by the yard and it's not that expensive.

Thanks Paul, i haven't tried to pull it off because as you mention I had assumed it would get destroyed. If I can't figure something else out I may go this route and just replace it with a taller piece as you suggest.

[CFranks]

I used the FFMetal tunnel cover on my car and after covering it with leather with a 1/8" Landau pad on the top (none on the edges), my cover fit snugly over the carpet. I used a heavy duty 3M product to attach the cover.



Thanks Papa. Yours is one of the ones that I had downloaded previously as a model of exactly how I'd like it to look! My primary concern is that the carpet was cut just a little too low on the firewall to do what you suggest. Is the FFMetal one any bigger? I had thought it was the same dimensions just a bit thicker metal and no hole cut.

[Papa]

Thanks Papa. Yours is one of the ones that I had downloaded previously as a model of exactly how I'd like it to look! My primary concern is that the carpet was cut just a little too low on the firewall to do what you suggest. Is the FFMetal one any bigger? I had thought it was the same dimensions just a bit thicker metal and no hole cut.

If I recall, the FFMetal cover was very slightly wider than the FFR piece. I'm wondering if you could have them make you one with more material on the edges? Maybe worth a try.

[GoDadGo]

F.Y.I.

If you need to trim the thickness of any cut pile carpet down, then know that you can use a Wahl Hair Trimmer to handle the task.
I've used this trick when re-carpeting Bass Boats to make the hatches fit.
You just need to be careful to not over do it.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

I ended the heat shield padding at the cover line & bought the carpet about 1/2 way up the square tube. I bent the cover ends out very slightly & pressed it on. 4 black upholstery screws hold the cover in place.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazine.com-vbulletin/850x566/80-carpet_a58c378af3f1e858faffe8e554099725d4c11cbf.jp g

[mmklaxer]

Is there a reason few people apply vinyl to the sides of the transmission tunnel? I was thinking if I wanted to go with a different color than black for the dash and transmission tunnel, would be nice not to have the black carpet all the way to the top.

[CFranks]

I used the FFMetal tunnel cover on my car and after covering it with leather with a 1/8" Landau pad on the top (none on the edges), my cover fit snugly over the carpet. I used a heavy duty 3M product to attach the cover.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007OXK1AK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I like the way it turned out and looks very finished.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=95880&d=1540080964

Hey Papa, what type of insulation do you have on the side of the tunnel and how high up did you go with the insulation and with the carpet?

[Papa]

I installed ThermoTec up to where the edges of the cover come to. About where your carpet was cut. My carpet comes all the way up to the edge of the tunnel.

[frd2]

Is there a reason few people apply vinyl to the sides of the transmission tunnel? I was thinking if I wanted to go with a different color than black for the dash and transmission tunnel, would be nice not to have the black carpet all the way to the top.

I hope not. I did my entire tunnel in vinyl, with a new top slightly oversized so it hangs over and is removable.

I once saw someone talk about all the carpet being one of the things that make it look like a kit. Production cars have carpet on the floor and something else on vertical surfaces.

Greg