molding ACC carpet

[Takid455]

Any input on molding bulk carpet from ACC? Want to do the trunk area. Thinking a heat gun would work? Anybody do this?

[jpdeuce]

The bulk carpet does not have the lined backing to allow it to be molded. It is pretty flexible but not very good around compound curves. That is where the molded outshines the bulk. You may be able to buy the bulk lined but I'm not sure. If you did try to mold any with a heat gun I would be careful. The true molding temperature might not be very far from the melting point of the carpet. If you could get some lined I would try a sample piece first.

[hookemdevils22]

...says the guy with a crinkle-painted trunk

[WEAVER]

DO NOT USE HEAT GUN...It will melt the nylon in carpet,

[Takid455]

heat gun n/g for carpet side. it does melt and mold the backside but that will be tricky. Perhaps a steamer. thought about using a torch to heat the trunk pan (donor car) to say 200-300 deg while someone else presses the carpet.

I have some cut offs for practice

There are really only 3 or 4 areas that need extensive forming. the carpet lays pretty good over the remaining areas.

[jpdeuce]

No carpet for me. I just did a trunk in bulk ACC though. It was all flat so it worked out great. Curves are another story.

[KUSI]

Takid,
Did you already search for molded carpet for your trunk area or did you have some ACC bulk left over that are trying to make work? I am all for saving money if at all possible on these cars but I will say that the molded carpet I bought for my Camaro was one of the very few parts I have bought that needed NO tweaking. It laid right in and followed all the curves just like it should. I believe it was just over $125 for mine but I am not sure exactly what you are putting it in. Anyway, just a thought. Good luck with the project.

[Takid455]

they dont make molded carpet for the application. There is a felt-like product available, but it is rather cheap and doesn;t fit to my liking. If there was one made, I would buy it too. I have 4 yards of bulk at the moment.

[Takid455]

for those interested in molding carpet, the following worked:

1)Find a buddy w/ beer.
2)Clean top side/ molding area and use light flame to burn off light stuff
3)have buddy heat underside of of pan w/ torch with a not cutting flame. Use heat gun on top side.
Since the metal will cool and the carpet will absorb some heat, I found that mid to upper 200's are fine.
4) place carpet and apply pressure work it into the mold. concentrate on one area at a time. heat should be in that area but also feather outward. Too much heat will melt carpet. you will be able to feel the heat through the carpet.
5) Use heat gun on small areas.
6) cut and use heat-glue tape for larger increasing contours as carpet will not stretch all that far.


thats about it. Took a good bit of time to do the trunk but it looks nice.

I full size male can fit in the trunk of a 2nd gen F body surprisingly.