The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Make your own floor mat?

So the one thing that bothers me about the floor mats made for these trucks is that they all seem to end at the seat and don't extend along the sides to the rear. This 'edge' would bother me (even just thinking about it does)

I was wondering what other DIY floor mats were out there. I have some sound material and reflective insulation to put down and was thinking about cutting one of these to fit as a topper.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Diamond-Deck-5-ft-x-7-5-ft-Battleship-Gray-Motorcycle-Mat-82057/206315008

Has anyone done something similar, or any tips before I do?

Thanks!

I custom cut the material for my '37. As I recall I couldn't find a ready made floor covering. I don't know if even now one is available. I made a template using grocery bag paper taped as needed to get the size needed and then used a razor knife, the ultra thin and pointed type some wood carvers use for fine detailed work, to mark openings for the tranny, foot pedals etc. Once I was satisfied with the template, that pattern was transferred to the material. As I recall, it took a couple of efforts to get the template correct. The final material used was thin carpet, foil heat shield and a rubber matt material. This was some 10+ years ago and the materials have withstood the time test. But, the materials used are acknowledged as incorrect for points judged vehicle. Regardless, I'll be using a similar process for my '46 project.

Thanks Sparky, I'm going to be following a similar plan.

I wonder if anyone else has tried a similar PVC flooring product as a mat? I have the original floor studs, so it shouldn't move much. I just hope that it forms properly to the floor.

That motorcycle mat is a good idea.
I got a free chunk of indoor/outdoor carpet, with the heavy foam backing, and cut it to size. Might work for you.
If it starts to smell, you can take it out and use the wife's carpet shampooer on it.

I need to put a floor mat in my '47 3100 too. I was looking at this rubber mat which is from a local farm store. The price seems reasonable at $44.99. It's a 1/4" thick, is that too thick? I also have the hump in the floor for the SM420. Does the same floor mat configuration work in this application? The description of the pre-made floor mats never mentions any difference between the flat transmission cover or the humped transmission cover. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

My guess is the 1/4 inch thickness might be too stiff to conform to the tranny hump curves??? But, maybe a little heat from a heat gun would soften it just enough to bend it to shape and fit while cooling???

A friend of mine made his own sound deadening floor mat for a spray truck and said it made a wonderful difference in the cab, and it's a nice floor mat. he used the diamond pattern one
I want to try some in my truck soon.
http://www.cabinsulation.com/floormats.html

I used rubber mat from Menards lol.

Cy4ka,

What Menards product did you use? If you have any pictures, please post them.

Thanks,

If you look at the Menards website you will see lots of rubber type floor matting. Pages and pages.

So I just got my roll of vinyl flooring as I posted earlier and am ready to start making a template for the fit. One question that I have for everyone is in regards to cutting around some of the items that project through the floor. I'm looking to make the mat fairly attached, except for folding over to access the battery/master cylinder. I was thinking about cutting out the parking brake floor pedal, but wide enough so that the retaining trim will sit on the mat and not hidden underneath.

If anyone has pics of mats where they left things exposed in this way, I'd love to see them!

Thanks

Ok, no takers on that last one . What about the transmission cover hump? Has anyone tried heating a vinyl mat to stretch/fit better? I don't want to have to do this more than once!

Might want to try one or more experiments first. The chemistry of various products available and used for any given project may result in different results for the task at hand. May be best to test a small sample of the material using the heat source of choice. It might take several tests of different samples to get the results desired. Taking notes of exposure time etc for each sample will help duplicate an intended result. It might be a good idea to make sure ventilation is optimal too. Some of these synthetic materials can be really nasty health wise.
Good luck and keep us posted.

[Edit] Figured it out.

I finally got around to cutting my mat. I made three templates, first one was a 6mil poly, then transferred to a length of tar-paper, which I used that template to make another out of tar-paper to see how it fit. After some adjustments, I used that one to transfer to the mat material. I gotta say I'm pretty happy with the results.

https://goo.gl/photos/LFz1qk5xcJHxtYZv5

And yes, I made this the full length, not just stopping at the seat riser and it will be tucking under the lower windlace strips, since mine screw in from the sides.

Now to cut my holes and get my pedals back in. I will also be doing this under and behind the seat.

That looks really nice.

Now to take orders and mass produce the floor mat!

All kidding aside, I like it and it looks great!

Looks nice. Are you going to cut in some way so you can put in/out with the pedals in place?

Dennis

If I have need to, I will entertain that then, but for now I'm only worried about being able to roll it forward to access the battery and Master Cylinder. If I need to clean under it, there's enough slack to lift it to the top of the pedals and get a vacuum under it.

Here's with the pedals 'mocked-up'. I do like how the parking brake plate finished it off. Still need to smooth it out and tighten it all up.

https://goo.gl/photos/ESf8tR3K9RhJA7wC6

Windlace retainers will finish off the edges nice too.

That looks great. One consideration, depending on how many layers or how thick they are, could change where holes need to be cut.

When I cut the shifter hole out of my top mat it came out about a half inch off, due to padding thickness underneath. I have one old original style mat, then a 1/4-3/8 sound deadening mat, then the final original type on top.

Thanks Skooter. I already have my peel and stick plus foil insulation layers down, so I didn't have to guess at thickness when done. I also started from the shifter and worked my way left and right. There is one area that I would've like to have added a little more, but it's on the passenger side, so I don't have to look at it

Here's a few updated pics of my progress. I've finished insulating the floor, under, behind the seat and up the rear wall. I've also cut my mat material for each of these areas, and this is all that I have left from a 5x7 roll:

https://goo.gl/photos/oZyU3J6bxFcNbhra9
https://goo.gl/photos/kVYr3yxZ82GXmec86
https://goo.gl/photos/g5JvDS9ePrVHo2dJA
https://goo.gl/photos/FHPk4GnthJKMvfDS6
https://goo.gl/photos/CBFF5tqseSQ3mEhX6
https://goo.gl/photos/x1cajQFjyeCvLf8b6
https://goo.gl/photos/vjRkbDhoMdShG2dt8

I'm not sure how well the rear panels are going to stay, but I may have to glue them with something a little stronger.

Back panels fell off this weekend as I thought they would. Gonna 'Goop' them back on and see how that does.

Got the back panels reattached with some 'Automotive Goop':

https://goo.gl/photos/6ooKQMJ789y9KEq96

This should hold. Also got the seat back in. I will post some pics when i get the windlace put back in and the floor should be finished.

I used a rubber/carpet mat from Home Depot $20