I'm a long way from ordering carpet, but I noticed Classic Industries sells a whole interior kit but it has a note "Call if four speed as it requires a special carpet, not listed". And if I check my parts book, I can find only green and black carpets for four-speeds, I can't even FIND the red carpet part number.
But what makes a carpet a four speed carpet? With the console installed, you'd imagine they'd be the same between TH and ST.
hi Dave, will get back to you with the 4spd carpet info
Dale @ NOS Canadas largest Auto Custom Carpet dealer
hi Dave; first of all Classic Industries purchase their carpets from Auto Custom Carpet. The 4spd offered is a 65 / 66 application - higher hump. Also it is recommended for a car without a console. So order an 'automatic' carpet for your application. Check out our web site for carpets etc
thanks, Dale @ NOS
-- Edited by NOS on Thursday 8th of February 2018 12:14:39 PM
Thanks! I'm wondering if in this case "four speed" really means "Floor shift without a console". I don't even know if you could order the M20 with a floor shift and no console, but I imagine you could. Maybe -that's- the special carpet? Youd' figure they'd just cut a hole for the shifter in the regular carpet!
Factory rugs were different for floor shift due to the carpet being molded with the bulge to accommodate the shifter porch. They also were different for applications with and without console but that involved mostly just cut patterns for various hardware issues related to console and or shifter mounting for manual or automatic consoles. Factory carpets also varied for bench versus buckets and convertibles were cut differently in back to accommodate rear armrests being wider.
One issue to watch is that Pontiac fullsize had a different length carpet at the front where it met the firewall pad as compared to Chevy. I'm not sure which carpet length a Canadian car would use? It does have a Pontiac dash but the firewall is chevy.
Dale @ NOS Canadas largest Auto Custom Carpet dealer
hi Dave; first of all Classic Industries purchase their carpets from Auto Custom Carpet. The 4spd offered is a 65 / 66 application- higher hump. Also it is recommended for a car without a console. So order an 'automatic' carpet for your application. Check out our web site for carpets etc
thanks, Dale @ NOS
Hey Carl, (Stevenson)
When you put that big block and 4 speed in your 66, you may have to change your carpet to accommodate the 4 speed........or do you have another plan?
My understanding is this. 1965, 66 and 67 four-speed cars would use the same relatively flat carpet as a column shift car would because these years use quite a small hump over the shifter mechanism. 1968 and 69 used a larger floor hump and the special 4 speed carpeting with the moulded bump in it would be the right one for car like Daves. When I bought carpet for my 1967 4 speed car from Dale at NOS I bought the regular flat carpet because the bulge in the four-speed carpet would not have worked. So check everything with Dale but Im pretty sure Im right on this one.
Dale @ NOS Canadas largest Auto Custom Carpet dealer
hi Dave; first of all Classic Industries purchase their carpets from Auto Custom Carpet. The 4spd offered is a 65 / 66 application- higher hump. Also it is recommended for a car without a console. So order an 'automatic' carpet for your application. Check out our web site for carpets etc
thanks, Dale @ NOS
Hey Carl, (Stevenson)
When you put that big block and 4 speed in your 66, you may have to change your carpet to accommodate the 4 speed........or do you have another plan?
A very timely question George as I am in the middle of figuring out what to do when I put the 4 speed in this car.
Mondo Poncho nailed it perfectly in his post above.
When I had my black car and put the 4 speed in, I ordered a 4 speed carpet. As soon as I took it out of the box I knew it was for a 4 speed 68-69, I recognized the bulge for the metal floor hump. And here is the part that amazes me---not one reproduction seller that I can find has it listed correctly. As Mondo says, the correct carpet for a 4 speed 65-67 is the same carpet as an automatic. The parts book confirms this. 68-69 uses a carpet that is unique to 4 speed cars, 65-67 does not.
By the way Davepl, I got that incorrect carpet from NOS and they promptly issued a refund and had me return it. Maybe they still have it, and it's red! I got the regular carpet and Tom installed it after he bought the car from me.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Pretty! If they still have it maybe it fits, I don't know! Aside from that I need some spare red 1969 carpet for my console restoration. If anyone knows where I can buy/find that, please let me know! Dale?
-- Edited by davepl on Thursday 8th of February 2018 03:02:30 PM
Dale, would an automatic carpet really fit the shifter bulge in a console 4-speed car? It's fairly pronounced.
In my coupe I have a TKO-600 so the shifter pokes right out of the console and it's no different than an automatic. But this Convertible is original so has the add-on shifter hump. It's actually a cool setup, the shifter is completely isolated from the drivetrain.
I got thinking about this, and Dale might be right. Your console will ucover most of the hump, so a carpet for an automatic car will likely be sufficient.
When I had my black car and put the 4 speed in, I ordered a 4 speed carpet. As soon as I took it out of the box I knew it was for a 4 speed 68-69, I recognized the bulge for the metal floor hump. And here is the part that amazes me---not one reproduction seller that I can find has it listed correctly. As Mondo says, the correct carpet for a 4 speed 65-67 is the same carpet as an automatic. The parts book confirms this. 68-69 uses a carpet that is unique to 4 speed cars, 65-67 does not.
To take this one step further, I spoke tonight with a man who is considered to be one of the most knowledgeable, if not the most knowledgeable 66 B body restorers in the USA. He confirms what I wrote above, that all reproduction listings for 65-69 B bodies share the same mistake. The 4 speed carpet listed as fitting 65-69 is ONLY correct for 69-70, it is NOT correct for 65-67 4 speed cars.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Yes, the hump in the 68-69 cars is larger than 65-67. However, in Dave's application (1969 4 speed with a console) I'm thinking the console covers most of the hump, and he's likely ok ordering a carpet for an automatic, and cutting around the hump and other console brackets.
Quite likely, yes. I just wanted to make sure that people understand a 4 speed carpet will not fit 65-67. It seemed that part of the post wasn't clearly understood. I don't want anyone to have to deal with getting the wrong carpet.
I read somewhere that someone had bought a 4 speed carpet and put it in a 65-67. He stuffed the carpet hump to make it fill out. I can't imagine that looked at all right, there'd be a big bulge on the top of the tunnel with that carpet in a pre 68 car.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
I'll grab a pic of the hump when I can lower the body a bit (It's up at the ceiling right now). But the hump is substantial, I know that. Don't know for sure whether it would require additional carpet.
Of course if the carpet company wants to send me this carpet I would gladly test fit it and purchase it if it fits right!
hey Dave; disregard the previous info on the 4 spd application. I believe Carl S. has clarified with the correct info that the carpet with the hump is a 68-69 4 spd application. I apologize for any incorrect info The 'red' carpet ( Carls Photo ) is no longer in stock. We can supply you with any additional yardage for your console. Give Terry a call 1-800-667-6200 and he will be pleased to help you. He can directly drop ship any order to your US address.
Dale @ NOS
thanks Carl; much appreciated
-- Edited by NOS on Friday 9th of February 2018 12:39:43 PM
No, I didn't keep it. NOS was exceptional in handling the problem and took it back, even though it wasn't their mistake. It's the supplier's mistake but nobody will listen when I contact them (NOS did though) and explain that a 4 speed 68-69 carpet can not possibly fit a 65-67 4 speed car. They all say "that's how it's listed in our books" and "you're the first guy to complain about this." I finally gave up. This was a few years ago and nothing has changed. There's a few guys on another forum that covers b bodies who knew exactly what I was talking about when I mentioned it though. And I bet a lot more guys have run into this but likely all the carpets are made from the same mold, and if they have it listed as that, good luck getting it changed!
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
hey Dave; disregard the previous info on the 4 spd application. I believe Carl S. has clarified with the correct info that the carpet with the hump is a 68-69 4 spd application. I apologize for any incorrect info The 'red' carpet ( Carls Photo ) is no longer in stock but can. We can supply you with any additional yardage for your console. Give Terry a call 1-800-667-6200 and he will be pleased to help you. He can directly drop ship any order to your US address.
Dale @ NOS
thanks Carl; much appreciated
Dave; yes when you are ready we can order a 4spd carpet in RED and additional yardage to match
-- Edited by NOS on Friday 9th of February 2018 12:39:43 PM