Carpet Underlay Questions???

[55 Fargo]

Hi all, this spring I want to install carpet in the 47, but I want to cover the floor with underlay, and want to use the bubble insulation for the firewall, and other areas on the inside.

Which products should I use, how should it be installed, what do I need to buy?

[Norm's Coupe]

The picture below shows the carpet insulation pad that came with my carpet. Otherwise you can pick up a roll of fiber insulation with aluminum on one side from JC Whitney for about $30.

The light gray part is the insulation pad about 3/8 inch thick. The black part is the carpet folded over to show the insulation.

[bob westphal]

There are a number of masterials that you can use. Check out Home Depot. I used regular foam carpet padding(multi colored stuff). Works great and it cheap!

[55 Fargo]

Hi Bob, I have thought of using that type of material, it is cheap and would really deaden the sound factor.

How about moisture, say from rain, or whatever on your feet, I know this would not be a huge issue, as the car would not be used for winter driving, which results in snow and salt meltng allover the carpet and floor mats.

I could use this type of material, as the carpet may be just some cheap temporary stuff, until I can afford the real mccoy when the interior gets re-done.

I just want to get the bare floor covered for appearance and noise factor, for now..................Fred

[Norm's Coupe]

Fred,

Regardless of which type you use, like Bob's or mine it will hold moisture until it has a chance to dry out. The only way around that is to use one that has the aluminum foil covering, or the other expensive rubber stuff.

Either way, you can look at the original insulation. It didn't have any type of waterproof covering and it took; "How many years to rust the floor out?" And, that was with everyday usage. You won't be using the car like that.

[55 Fargo]

Your are Right Big Time, sometimes I forget how many generations this car has seen, the late 40s all the 50s, all the 60s, all the 70s, all the 80s, all the 90s, and most of the 00s...........Fred ps when you think of it, that is a long time

[homebrewer]

I read somewhere, Maybe Tex Smith's book on Mopars, where you can tar the sheetmetal with Henrys roofing patch, and then use the multicolored carpet padding over that before laying down the finish carpet/ matting. Sounded like a good idea to me, because the tar will certainly help keep the moisture and rust away. Good Luck, George

[Norm's Coupe]

I read somewhere, Maybe Tex Smith's book on Mopars, where you can tar the sheetmetal with Henrys roofing patch, and then use the multicolored carpet padding over that before laying down the finish carpet/ matting. Sounded like a good idea to me, because the tar will certainly help keep the moisture and rust away. Good Luck, George

Don't use a tar based coating or cement, it will get soft and roll when it gets hot in the car. Not to mention the smell. If anything use an asphalt based roof coating or cement because the asphalt will not soften and become sticky or roll from the heat. Better yet, just use some undercoating like they did originally. That was also asphalt based.

[55 Fargo]

I am not putting anything like than on my floors, they are already painted seamsealed and ready to be covered............Fred

[knighthawk]

another option ... I've used the alumin covered insulation used to insulate heating and AC ducts, not very expensivem get from local hardware store