February, 2012: My New Interior Project Begins ...

It sure has been a quiet time these past few years ... I haven't been posting new projects at all -- but that, my friend, is about to change! Getting the truck's body restored and painted was an amazing feat, but that's all behind me now and, after all the time it's taken me to repair a hundred problems that ensued because of it (all the wiring mess-ups fixed and the entire fuel delivery system replaced) I'm finally moving ahead again.

I've fabricated mounts for my buffalo hide seats (see "2008/2009 Projects"), with the help of my good friend Ernie Zadotti | EZautoGlass.com and we installed them. Now I need to remove the seats, install FatMat for sound dampening (I ordered the 100 Sq. Ft. Bulk Pack) and, once I clean up the interior and install the FatMat, I can install new jute underlayment, then my new black carpet ... and then I can put my seats back in.

By the way, if you purchase FatMat and have any questions ... they have a phone number, but don't bother using it! All you'll ever get is a recording saying that all their operators (numbered zero) are busy, and asking you to leave a message so they can return your call ... but believe me, they will never return your call. I left 3 separate messages on 3 separate days, I was very polite, I gave them my number to return my call, and one month later - I'm still waiting. But wait! You can email them via their web site! Isn't that cool!? Except they'll never respond to you that way either! Their product may be cool, but they deserve a listing in the Guiness Book of World Records for offering the worst customer support efforts anywhere on the planet!

Please don't ask me where I bought my carpet from ... I'm sorry to tell you this, but I kept no records on that! I can't believe it - I'm usually very detailed about these things (as you know), but I can't find my notes or anything about the carpet. All I can tell you is I ordered 4 yards (more than enough) of black loop carpet, and the type that is more flexible; there were two types and when I asked what the difference was, they said one is more flexible, so I said "Give me that one."

March 11, 2012:
The weather is finally warming up here in New Jersey. I have to have 70-degree weather before I can start; the FatMat, as well as the High-Temp adhesive I'll be using on the jute and carpet, requires warm temps ... so I hope to start this project next week.

I'll be looking at a finished floor for the first time since I bought this truck 9 years ago!!!

What a difference this is going to make! I can't wait!!!

March 18, 2012:
Surprise, surprise. I started tearing up the floor to get it clean and ready for the FatMat application and look what I discovered: Floor rot in the left and right front corners of the cab floor.

Driver-Side Floor Rot:


Passenger-Side Floor Rot:

So this is the next project I'll be doing before I can get to the FatMat and carpet. I have a great mechanic these days, who is all about Old Scool and has a beautiful shop nearby, and he'll be doing the repair work for me in about two weeks. I honestly had no idea this was going on ... but I'm actually glad to see it. At least now I'll know my floors have been restored! Once this project is done, I'll take pictures and continue this blog ... see you then!

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[Carpeting Begins! • Click Here]