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Which carpet material to use?

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Norton47

Jedi Warrior
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I am redoing a friends interior,and we are asking are ourselves "Do we want to use wool or nylon?"
The wool to us looks nicer. We are concerned about our damper environment here in the Northwest and how well the wool carpet will last.
I am thinking as long as the car is sound, in that there are no constant leaks, the wool will last just fine. Would the nylon last better, or is the backing what really gives out.
Am I all wet?
This car is in very sound shape no rust that I have found yet, the floor boards still have the original paint on them. But the old interior is just gone, rotted, sagging, faded away.

Also what is considered better, jute pad or synthetic?
 
I would have bought either, but Dave at TRF (who I know well and trust) said that the best value and most practical, if you are going to drive and be in and out of the car a lot, is the Magic Kit nylon.

That was the original material used in my 74 anyhow.
 
Not how to install for goodness sake. His reasoning for the Nylon.
 
That's not my reason! Details, details details!!! Gee whiz!!

I did the nylon because it was original in mine and several guys who did wool complained of a smell when it got damp or wet.

I liked the looks of both, so I went with the nylon and spent the difference on some other parts for the car.
 
Who has wool and what are there thoughts. I will be buying an interior at Christmas(hoping TRF will have a big sale then) and was leaning wool now PAUL has me doubting myself. Gee thanks Paul
 
No problem. Happy to help confuse you.

Just let me know what you want me to screw up next. I'm quite good at that stuff, you know!

Seriously, all the guys here in NE who I talked to that had done carpets, including those with wool all agreed, that unless you are going concours or TQ, it's overkill. Very nice, but overkill.

Like I've never done anything like that!!!!
 
Dang it, I really like the way wool looks, but had a feeling about this.
Dare I ask, has anyone used Heritage Interior's?
If so how did it work out.
What about the underfelt?
I have heard the jute when wet smells like a wet dog, or maybe a sheep! Any discerning noses out there?
 
Norton, we're both in the same boat. Wet winters ,oh heck with that,WET most of the time. I was planning wool too.
 
My car has black wool. I was told it came either from the Northwest, or possibly from England. The prior owner put it in, and like a few other things he did, he did it right.

I really like it in my TR4A. I'd recommend wool because of it. It has a very high quality look. It also has special stitching, trim and detail, and if I replace it one day I hope I can find someone to replicate that kind of detail.

If you lean toward wool, do it.
 
I have had both. I like the wool I have now better. Nicer look and feel.
 
I have the wool. Very nice to the touch. It seems durable enough and it's easy to clean. The few times that it's been wet I've been very careful to hang the floor pieces out to dry.. but I would have done that for nylon too.

I drive my car a lot (when it works) and so far have no regrets with installing wool carpet.
 
I used TRF wool carpet over the jute backing, and am very pleased with this combination. The carpet has never been wet, so I can't comment on possible smell. I DO think the carpet could be cleaned properly, to avoid odor; it would be the jute backing that could get interesting, if wet. My 2 cents.

Bob
 
rchakr said:
I DO think the carpet could be cleaned properly, to avoid odor;
Click to expand...
You've never owned a dog, have you ?
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Well the owner has decided on wool, it's a nice tight car and she doesn't use it as a daily driver anymore. So I will get to see how it all works out.
Looks like it will be Heritage also, carpets, seats and panels.
I will post some pics when complete.
Thanks
 
Have you thought about carpet squares? A friend of mine and I did the back of his van... just cut them to fit with his mom's electric knife to make his hippie pad. All you do is peel and stick, bud.

I hope this helps.

P.S. Shag is best.
 
I purchased the wool and I dont drive in the rain or when the roads are wet but I got caught in a rain storm, the car was sitting still at a friends house while we were eating dinner I forgot to shut the scuttle vent and found a huge puddle in the floor board thank god I had a rubber floor mat , sopped it up with a towel and let it dry out for days and no problem and no smell, I hope that never happens again
 
DanNagy said:
Have you thought about carpet squares? A friend of mine and I did the back of his van... just cut them to fit with his mom's electric knife to make his hippie pad. All you do is peel and stick, bud.
Click to expand...

OK, Dan, I guess that's the signal to confess. I don't mind, so I will. I put purple shag in my TR4 back in high school. That and an 8 Track player. What was wrong with me? I'm haunted to this day. Happy now?
 
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