TR2/3/3A tr3a carpet installation

[ekamm]

Does any one have some pictures of an original or correct carpet install for a tr3a? In particular the area behind the seats. I am getting ready to install mine and want to my best to get it right. Also any pointers, what did you glue, did you use snaps, were there any trim screws involved etc?

 

[Geo Hahn]

I would suggest you use no glue (except for the sills and rear shelf piece). Sooner or later you'll get caught in a soaking rain and will want to take all the carpet out to air dry.

Snaps are correct and appropriate, but FWIW my carpet (in the TR3A) is loose (except as noted above) and doesn't seem inclined to go anywhere. The tunnels are held by being tucked under the floor carpets.

<span style="font-style: italic">PS: Close examination of the carpet pictured will reveal slits in the sections that go under the seats... this allows quick removal of those pieces if you are in the habit (as I am) of never putting the top up even when I really should. </span>

 

[martx-5]

I used snaps on the rear shelf area. Four across the horizontal section...two on either side of the diff hump, and four near the bottom on the vertical section...two on each side. I used those carpet snap clasps that disappear into the carpet so you can't see them.

You can see the pronged rings here.

 

[TR3driver]

FWIW my carpet (in the TR3A) is loose (except as noted above)

How do you keep the long pieces in front of the seats from sliding around under the pedals, and the upturned end from falling over on the passenger side?

 

[ekamm]

I am using the rubber mats that came originally with the car. They snap and are held at the top by the clips. I also have the sloping piece at the back of the floor not the square shelf like Art's. However the snaps sound like a possibility. What kind specifically are they and where did you get them?

 

[Geo Hahn]

Clips + a set pf Amco-knock-off rubber floor mats are keeping the front piece in place.

On the sloping rear section -- mine has that too and that piece (IIRC) was mounted to a piece of thick cardboard which might make those Veltex snaps difficult to use. But then this was a TRF kit and the cardboard backing may or may not have been as original.

Veltex snaps are available from the usual suspects, e.g. Moss:

https://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/SearchResults.aspx?SearchText=veltex&WebCatalogID=0

 

[Don Elliott]

All the carpets in my early 1958 TR3A are loose. They are not glued into place. I take out the seats and rails and remove the carpets if they become wet. I have the black rubber mats but I only use these at TRA or VTR to keep the judges happy. I have red carpets for the front floors which are also loose. The ones up the side walls of the foorwell are screwed into place with the #4 trim screws and cupped wasers - up the "A" posts.

 

[Don Elliott]

Here is the rear. My TR3A is still a 96 point concours car after 20 years and 102,000 miles since I put in this interior while I was doing my restoration from 1987 to 1990.

Oh - I forgot the piece of carpet over the tunnel to the rear of the seats is glued into place, but not near the front where you will need to roll it back to grease the front end of the driveshaft. The horseshoe carpet up above the gearbox tunnel on the inside of the fire wall is also glued - more like "tacked glued" into place to hold it up there. But it's easy to pull out if I ever need to pull the transmission.

The carpets ( black rubber mats) are held in place with snaps as well as the carpet over the gearbox tunnel.

 

[ekamm]

I'm starting to like the veltex snap Idea. Do you have to use the tool to install them.