Any or suggestions on how to properly trim / cut the new rubber floor mat so it fits around the steering column and pedals, on a 1946? I’ve removed the accelerator pedal and the head on the starter pedal. But not sure how to best cut / trim to fit around the steering column and pedals. Don’t want to destroy a new $120 mat by cutting it wrong. It’s a 46 model, all original.
Care taker of a 1946 1/2 ton. Pretty much period correct original. Danny T, from B’ham, Al
I made a template using paper grocery bags to locate and fine tune the various areas needing cut out. It took several attempts to get it right. Once the template was completed it was one piece taped from several smaller segments. That single template was then glued to the padding at numerous spots with temporary spray adhesive used by crafters. A white chalk pencil was used to transfer the cut out areas to the floor mat padding. Once the padding was cut, using a hobby razor knife and scissors, it was installed to test fit and adjustments made to it before transferring that layout, again using the chalk pencil, to the backside of the rubber floor mat. The razor knife and scissors were used again. I suggest saving some larger pieces cut out of the rubber mat for glueing to the bottom to the rubber mat to reinforce the areas where the floor board studs protrude the padding and rubber mat. The rubber tears otherwise, at least my aftermarket mat did.
Several photos have been added to the initial reply. Also, in looking at the photos I was reminded that the rubber mat had cut out areas marked on the rubber mat as received from the vendor. As can be seen in one of the photos those were inconsistent with what the template showed. My vague recollection is someone else cautioned they’d had a problem using those vendor marks.
How did you get the mat over the handbrake without tearing it? Did you cut a slot for the steering column?
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
The hand brake cut was enlarged just enough to fit over the top of the handle parts. I measured the length and width and marked the template accordingly for lay out on the mat. It still took some careful “fine tuning” with a razor knife.
As for the steering column: look closely at the third photo above. Note the cut line from the top of the mat downward to the column top. The cut is a bit hard to see because it follows a “valley” in the mat ribs. I used a steel straight edge to keep in the valley and worked slowly with a sharp razor knife. I may have used sharpe scissor too, can’t recall for certain.
Brake and clutch pedals openings were made with short, horizontal cuts from the column to each pedal shaft.
