Tips on Installing New Carpet

[GTWilliams]

So I bought a pre-molded carpet for my '77 truck. Material was very nice for $150. Directions said let it sit in house over-night to let it soften up, but that didn't help much. My neighbor is a retired carpet installer and he gave some great advice: You can't rush this! You have to work with the carpet and not force it. Even at 60 degrees the carpet was not flexible, so we heated up the cab with a propane heater set outside the truck (no, my heater does not work in my truck). We let it run for 15 minutes and the whole shop got warm. We worked the carpet in for a bit by hand, then heated it up again. Repeat until lays nice.
After we cut an X in the seat bolt-hole locations. We then put the seat in. Don't forget to slide the seat forward when working on rear bolts. And do not tighten until all bolts started. But we should have cut a full hole for the bolt so the fibers would not have prevented the bolt from getting a bite. You can use an awl from under the truck to poke and find the holes too.
Reminder: If you are going to lube the seat tracks or paint the flanges, do it before you put the seat back in.
Notice we have not cut the carpet yet! Do not cut carpet until after seat bolted in because only then will you really know how the carpet will lie. We waited a overnight then heated it up again and then cut the overhang.
If I had a choice I would do this in summer. Let carpet sit on hot concrete to get flexible. Or plan on cranking on your heater and work fast as soon as you open the doors. Heat up, massage in, repeat, repeat. But either way, be patient and realize pre-molded carpet still needs to warm up and a lot of massaging. It does look nice!

[GTWilliams]

Full team effort

[GTWilliams]

So I needed to run an errand. Like you haven't done it!

[GTWilliams]

Carpet may look greenish bit it is very blue like the mat. Key point: Make sure that heel mat is in right location and work from that point out.

[Ranchero50]

3M Spray adhesive #27 does amazing things to help carpet lay flat and follow the contours of the hump.