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Hello Big Bolters . . . .

Am continuing work on my '51 2 ton 6100. After finishing installation of Noico Sound Deadener on all floor surfaces, I want to add a rubber floor mat. I have read (most all) Stovebolt posts about floor mats. I purchased one from Classic Parts . . not realizing typical AD pickups had a flat floor and not my Big Bolt high rise shifter/parking brake panel.

I am thinking about cutting the purchased mat at the opening of the high rise panel then having another independant piece covering the shifter/brake riser panel. I just cannot see how to form rubber to that tall rectangular height? It would take a large piece of rubber cut with miter corners to cover the area. And then I'm not sure it will roll evenly down the curves of the panel? Rubber sheeting (in my experience) is not the easiest stuff to work with!!

I have done a number of internet searches for mats which might work but have found nothing so far.

Any suggestions on this project would be appreciated. If someone has done such a mat and has a photo or two, I would be most grateful.

As always, THANKS for any and all help.

I also would like to know where true factory stock pattern floor mats can be found. How can anyone do a true restoration with out them?

" . . . typical AD pickups had a flat floor and not my Big Bolt high rise shifter/parking brake panel."
"Typical" (standard equipment) A-D tucks had column mounted 3-speed.

Not just big bolts with 4-speed used a 4-speed floor mat - for any 1950-1955st 4-speed truck.

[link corrected later - sorry - it is not clear what the difference is between the two 47-55 floor mats that are listed].

Except for Suburban - good luck finding any-transmission original-style floor mat for a Suburban (you have to use the mats for the other trucks). Does anyone here have an original Suburban floor mat?

Thanks tclederman . . . but your highlighted area ("for any 1950-1955st 4-speed truck") brings up a spindle grease from Tractor Supply. Is that what you were trying to show?

Anyone else out there have ideas on 4 speed mats? Can't imagine I'm the first to face this?


Thanks . . .

Sorry, 51.2 Ton

My link was to a page in the 1929-1957 Master Parts Catalog.

It shows that the 4-speed mat was standard for the big trucks that had standard 4-speed transmission.
It shows there was a different floor mat for Suburbans.

Maybe someone knows a source for a floor mat for a 4-speed transmission?
One vendor suggests the buyer cutting the "standard" mat to fit the 4-speed. I think that is what I dids in my Suburban?

Thanks tclederman . . . that link has some really good information. The molded mat makes perfect sense. I have not found a source for a molded mat as yet but will keep looking.

As far as cutting a standard mat, I am more of a woodworker . . . so I wish I could better understand how to make a flat sheet of 1/8" rubber conform to that 4-speed transmission hump. Mitering the corners doesn't seem right? Can rubber be stretched that much using a heat gun? Or . . . what am I not seeing here?

Anyone?!

Help . . . .

My GMC 630 has a flat floor, just a slight protrusion for the shifter and brake, don't know if anyone makes a mat specifically for 630's.

Ed

I waited a year to attempt to cut my mat to fit my 50 4100. It had most of the cutouts marked for the pedals, etc., but not the shifter/parking brake. It was actually pretty easy, sneaking up on the holes using a marker.

It is not the easiest or the fastest solution, but on my last truck I used rubber matting for horse stalls. The stuff is bullet proof and relatively inexpensive. Rural King sells it on 6' wide rolls. You can buy it from 1/4" up to 3/4" thick and purchase by the foot.

It is definitely not the easiest stuff to work with if you are trying to mold it to curved floors, but is awesome on a flat floor. On the curves its sheer weight makes it pull down and mold well given time, but it is a wrestling match at first.

Interesting idea . . . anything thicker than an eighth of an inch may make the rise difficult to cover but I will keep this in mind.

I'm surprised that no Big Bolters have faced/accomplished this floor riser issue before?!

Thanks for all replies so far . . .