Carpet/Seats/Belts Install Time?

[CaptB]

So I have fuel, brake and electrical ran w/brake and electrical tested. The interior is insulated, is there any reason why I should hold off on seat, belts and carpet install?

Basically I'm down to waiting on an engine and transmission but I didn't want to break out the carpet/sets and belts and install if there's something that would require me to pull something out.

FYI, I'm going with a diamond stitch tranny tunnel cover so the carpet would not be installed beyond the top of the sides of the tranny tunnel.

Thanks in advance!

[GoDadGo]

Do the carpet and other interior bits AFTER the bodywork is done.
That process makes a real mess so getting things cleaned will be a pain in the "You Pick The Body Part!"
If you are sending the car off to somebody like Jeff Kleiner, then you'll likely want to do the carpet, seats, and interior.
The video shown below was AFTER I cleaned up the car and the garage at the end of the bodywork phase:

https://youtu.be/po1Bb2_XDDk

Good Luck!

[egchewy79]

no reason not to. some wait on the carpet until body work is done to avoid getting dust all over everything, but you can also tape/cover off the interior when doing the body work.

[rich grsc]

WAIT till the body work is finished or while the body is at the painter to do carpet. The body needs to be installed on the car to get the seats in the correct place.

[Blitzboy54]

Do the carpet and other interior bits AFTER the bodywork is done.
That process makes a real mess so getting things cleaned will be a pain in the "You Pick The Body Part!"
If you are sending the car off to somebody like Jeff Kleiner, then you'll likely want to do the carpet, seats, and interior.
The video shown below was AFTER I cleaned up the car and the garage at the end of the bodywork phase:

https://youtu.be/po1Bb2_XDDk

Good Luck!


The only issue I see is once the body is on working back there to put the seatbelts in would be impossible if you installed the cubby. If you don't have it then no problem you can go in through the trunk. If you have a cubby then then you have to make a choice. I guess a compromise would be to just put in the back carpet.

My car is a mess right now for sure. I will be stuck cleaning it all up but it is what it is.

[NiceGuyEddie]

My carpet took me a long, long time. I did most of it with the body off (floors and rear cockpit), and finished with the painted body on (door sills and vertical footbox pieces.)

I had a few custom mods so I could not use the stuff from Factory Five, plus I upgraded to a higher-quality boat carpet. There was a lot of making off for the 3M spray, but I did use outdoor 2-sided tape in several areas per a forum recommendation. DO NOT DO THIS. After 10 years the tape became dry and crusty and I had to remove the seats and re-do several pieces. I used carpet tape in the trunk and that section is OK.

[CaptB]

The only issue I see is once the body is on working back there to put the seatbelts in would be impossible if you installed the cubby. If you don't have it then no problem you can go in through the trunk. If you have a cubby then then you have to make a choice. I guess a compromise would be to just put in the back carpet.

My car is a mess right now for sure. I will be stuck cleaning it all up but it is what it is.

I have the cubby. Thanks for the reply, I've been watching your build since the begining.

[Peeker]

Everyone has a different opinion and I’ve only done this once. I installed it all prior to paint and body. Maybe I got lucky but I don’t see a reason to wait. It’s hard to drive the car in gel coat without the seats installed. Plus I didn’t want to be working with knives and glue on a freshly painted body.

[CaptB]

Everyone has a different opinion and I’ve only done this once. I installed it all prior to paint and body. Maybe I got lucky but I don’t see a reason to wait. It’s hard to drive the car in gel coat without the seats installed. Plus I didn’t want to be working with knives and glue on a freshly painted body.

It's in progress! I will post some pics when done.

[Caddy Dad]

Like others have stated, it's a good idea to wait on the carpet until after the body work is done. Ask me how I know.....

[Peeker]

Like others have stated, it's a good idea to wait on the carpet until after the body work is done. Ask me how I know.....

I’m gonna bite, how do you know? As I stated, I did it prior to the body and honestly can’t think of a single reason to not do it pre body. Again, I’ve only done it once and maybe got lucky.

[Fixit]

Seats:
IMO they can go in once you've got the body at about 95% of final location (pre-bodywork/paint). Whether you are doing it or farming it out, the body isn't going to move more than 1/2" in any cockpit direction for final fit if you've got it down in the right place to start with.
Belts:
I'd recommend using the inboard/tunnel belt tabs as a pilot hole/guide, and drilling a 1" hole in the transmission tunnel pieces. This way you can get a socket in from the tunnel to run down the nut. Carpet right over the hole and use a rubber grommet to seal the hole from the tunnel side. Shoulder belts can be done at any time - with or without "cubby conversion". Personally I thought it easier to do with the cubby instead of reaching waaayyy up in the trunk.
Carpet:
I did the carpet post body install, pre-paint (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?27544-40-Watt-Garage-6200-miles&p=376731&viewfull=1#post376731). I had several thousand miles on the car before it went in for paint.