new Carpet

[wililowman]

Going to replace my carpet and wanted to know if any of you guys have suggestions or warnings about what to get or where to get it. Mine is a black '86. Any comments? Thanks!
-bill

[indiana dave]

ACC is about the only option... Call Late Model Resto www.50resto.com The owner is a sVO owner, and will make sure you get the right color.

[bigwingsaleen]

aftermarket carpet

There is NO good quality aftermarket carpet...ACC is the only option, inferior plastic backing, inferior dye, inferior fit, thats what you will get.

My SVO carpet faded from the factory grey color to a greenish color in about 6 months. My Saleen carpet came from 5.0 Resto with the driver side heel pad attached to the carpet too far up onto the trans tunnel, wasn't noticable until I had already started cutting carpet to fit around shifter/e-brake.

INSPECT CAREFULLY before starting any installation!!!!

[Alan]

The fit of my ACC carpeting in my '87 Foxbody was marginal. Quality was top notch, but it just never really fit correctly in the transmission tunnel area up in the foot wells. Other than having to cut all the holes for the shifter and whatnot...it was a pretty decent product.

[85svo1C]

What he said...

I had the same bad experience with ACC, since they are only about an hour and a half from me I bought the hole kit, front and hatch carpet, approx $200 worth with heatshield, tax and shipping, it sucked to say at the least after 6 months. I drove it down there and they were like, that carpet is years old, I had a receipt and promptly had a new set on the way. It didn't matter though, the greenhouse effect on this set was worse than the first, the fit wasn't too bad, but the quality of the carpet wasn't as heavy nor was the backing as good as the original.

I won't ever buy anymore.... Someday there will be a better alternative to that crap...

If you can get a deal on a set for $100 get it, but be prepared to tint the windows, keep the car in the garage and out of the sun and replace it every year or two...

[GAboySVO]

Has anybody tried this stuff?

"VHT Penetrating Color Dye for vinyl and carpeting is a one-step process that restores or changes the color of vinyl or short nap carpeting found in today's boats, watercraft and automobiles.

It is ideal for use on stiff or pliable vinyl, simulated leather and plastic. VHT Penetrating Color Dye is not a paint but a true dye which permanently changes the color of the substrate.

It is extremely resistant to cracking or fading. Ideal for use on auto interiors, motor-cycle seats, boat interiors, snowmobiles, personal watercraft, household and office furniture."

http://www.caswellplating.com/vht/vht_spec.htm

[indiana dave]

Well, I've seen this before... If you guys wouldv'e checked the product reviews, you'd seen the thread there on carpet. ACC is the only manufacturere out there. I put additional sound deadoner under my carpet, and it fits fine. I also garage my car, so fading isn't a problem. I've had it for 2 years now, without any problems.

[KevinK]

One word of advice on ACC, it's cheaper to buy it from a reseller than to buy it directly from them.

I only bought the floor mats. They constantly shed. It can only be due to poor quality carpet material.

[Alan]

Never had any fading problems with my ACC carpet. I had my black carpet in my convertable Mustang for 3-years before I sold it, and it still looked like the day I took it out of the packaging. My car wasn't tinted and spent most of the time baking out in the sun. Since it was a convertable, it was also exposed to more UV light than a hard top.

Perhaps the grey dye is at fault.

[SVOeric]

oh yea- -- black is MUCH more fade resistant than gray.

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Originally posted by MikeFleming
So ... Uhm ... I should get black when I replace next time?

-Mike Fleming
/***/

Yes Mike. Buy black and do a cheap white dye job on it. Maybe it will fade to grey.

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Originally posted by MikeFleming
OK Pat,

Just for that I'm making a special trip to LA and we can talk about this.

-Mike Fleming
/***/

OK. I'll stock the liquor cabinet!

If my 84 SVO is back from D&D, I'll be able to show you the greenest SVO grey carpet in the world. Hey, maybe Phil C would like it for Kermit. It's not easy being green!

[Eyelawdoc]

VHT Penetrating Color Dye

I have used the VHT Penetrating Color Dye on Dashcaps, but not on the carpet. I dyed one of Pat's Dashcaps for him and it looks very good. The color is great, but it takes forever for the smell of the stuff to go away. Perhaps I'll use some on an old piece of carpet to see how it works.

Maybe we should try it on the green 84 carpet when Pat gets it back!

[wililowman]

Thank you all for the input. I'll probably get the ACC carpet from 50resto.com and let you all know how it fits. Sad that noone makes a really good reproduction. Wonder who makes it for the factory? Maybe I'll follow up with a post about fade later. I hope to keep it more sheltered after I get the paint and interior done.