JP Posted August 18, 2023 Share Posted August 18, 2023 Mt rebuild is progressing nicely and I'm coming to focus on the interior. The car used to be carpeted before the stripdown, but as part of the rebuild, my interior panels have all been nicely finished with black powdercoat. I think it could look quite good with no carpet and just a transmission tunnel top...Does anyone here have any comments. Has anyone decided not to carpet and then wished they had done so? Does the carpet offer some insulation for the passenger from engine bay / exhaust heat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 18, 2023 Member Share Posted August 18, 2023 Tips and experiences with rubber: https://www.caterhamlotus7.club/forum/techtalk/crossflow-carpets-and-trim https://www.caterhamlotus7.club/forum/techtalk/carpet-floor-matsJonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted August 18, 2023 Share Posted August 18, 2023 If you want cooler tunnel panels, I'd suggest using a tunnel insulation kit rather than carpets. And then, to protect knees, an SBFS touring tunnel bag does the job nicely.Personally, I like powder-coated panels plus tunnel top. That's how my R400D came. But my earlier 1.8K was fully-carpeted, and I was happy enough with that.JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted August 18, 2023 Share Posted August 18, 2023 I have carpet on the tunnel sides. Removed it from floor and replaced foot well area with 6mm fine ribbed rubber matting bought by the metre on eBay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP Posted August 18, 2023 Author Share Posted August 18, 2023 Thanks. I guess if I change my mind later its just a matter of pulling the seats and harnesses and gluing in the carpet panels... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted August 18, 2023 Share Posted August 18, 2023 Removed ours after years of soakings on European tours, and staying wet for days as it was trapped under the seats. Much better without. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP Posted August 18, 2023 Author Share Posted August 18, 2023 Thanks #6. Going to give it a miss when refitting. I will refit the carpet behind the seats and I have the footwell mats which are a combination of carpet and a heel pad that secure in place with poppers. However, that was when I had std floors. I've fitted lowered floors for my rebuild...hopefully they will still fit... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby S Posted August 18, 2023 Share Posted August 18, 2023 Carpets on tunnel but not on floor - always been that way although I do have some mats I can put in although prefer just bare Ali floors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted August 18, 2023 Share Posted August 18, 2023 When I rebuilt mine I did refit carpets, tunnel and rear bulkhead, but instead of gluing them in I fitted poppers and bases to the tunnel carpet/tunnel (there is no need on the bulkhead as it just hangs in place) in suitable places.Recently, I decided to remove all carpets (7 is now basically used for sprinting/hillclimbing) and the tunnel top. As an when I return it to road usage it's a 10/15 minute job to replace the carpets.Rubber mats in the footwell ahve gone long ago and replaced with 2 strips of skateboard grip tape on the floor of wach footwell as this prevents sliping when getting out IYSWIM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team 700newtons Posted August 18, 2023 Leadership Team Share Posted August 18, 2023 I have had a Seven with carpets/mats and one with just powder coat.Better without I saySimon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hulie Biasion Posted August 18, 2023 Share Posted August 18, 2023 I carpeted mine after driving it a year without. Tunnel, bulkhead and boot. It has tidied up the look of the car as the aluminium was not painted. It has also got rid of background noise and rattles. It made a significant reduction in heat from the tunnel which is good in the summer but missed in the winter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted August 19, 2023 Leadership Team Share Posted August 19, 2023 I ran for 10 years without carpets after re-panelling the interior and having it all powder coated. Then about 5 years ago following a respray I decided to add a layer of sound proofing and carpet to the bulkhead and tunnel sides. Definite reduction in gearbox and diff noise and cooler on hot days. Rubber mats on the floors though, my car has had a good soaking numerous times and the rubber mats are easily lifted to dry out. Nothing under the seats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP Posted August 19, 2023 Author Share Posted August 19, 2023 Thanks all. The tunnel set is only about £75 and so it's tempting just to re-carpet the tunnel (I would re-use the other carpets anyway), but it might look quite nice with bare black powdercoat... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative paul richards Posted August 19, 2023 Area Representative Share Posted August 19, 2023 Following my rebuild I ditched the carpets. I just have ribbed rubber mats in footwell and boot floor. So much easier to dry out when it gets wet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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