Topic: Carpet Dimmer Grommet and Under Seat Carpet Screws

[dkknab]

I just changed out my carpet to brown on my 68 Sprint. I noticed on the concours driven/ trailered judging sheet there is to be no grommet around the floor dimmer switch.  Just wanted to confirm I was reading that correctly.  If so does anyone have a picture of that area of the carpet?

Also talking carpet,  where do the under seat carpet screws go and how many are there?

Oops. I think this post needs to go in a different area.  My apologies.

[J_Speegle]

There was no grommet around the dimmer originally. That was something that the aftermarket/replacement carpet company started in the early 80's or earlier and kept it up for decades. So many old replacement carpets that were mistaken as originally heavily influenced public opinion in the early days

As far as pictures Guess you have already looked through the pictures of original cars posted in that section. Some of those pictures will also help with trimming the forward edge fo the carpet also if you haven't researched that yet and need it.

Example picture I10-  in the 68 T code Dearborn Spring Coupe thread



The screws near the front edge of the seats should match where you have holes in your seat risers. Might want to look for those before you go punching new ones

Will look to see if I have any close ups in my files though I don't recall every taking a picture of the screws on a 68 maybe I can find one in a picture taken for another reason

[Bob Gaines]

Just make a small X in the carpet for the dimmer switch to poke through. FYI better to be too small of a X then too big. If too small the pressure from pushing down the carpet on the dimmer switch will enlarge the hole. You want a tight fit. A loose fit will have a tendency to ride up the dimmer switch post.

[J_Speegle]

Here are some examples for you to compare. Could not find any NJ 68 examples so posting San Jose and Dearborn instead.


Dimmer switch cut outs appear to be an attempt to be somewhat roundish and not real pretty often but not always




Some examples of carpet screws located at the outer edge of the front carpet edge.




Picture of the floor pans with no screw holes on these examples at the inner carpet edge near the tunnel and an example of the location for another example for the outer edge screw. Don't believe there was any guide to where the screws were to be installed exactly so with a self tapping screw just somewhere that would work or possibly hand punched then followed with the screw




Hope this helps

[dkknab]

Thank you for the quick responses. Here are a couple of pictures of my install. Placement of the small X is easier said then done with the bulky carpet and trying to get it around the transmission shifter. I always struggled with the finish detail work. I hope the judges are too hard on me in Florence.

The pictures of the carpet screws will be a great help. I'm assuming there are 2 on each side correct? What screw is required?

Thank you again. Time to watch the Super Bowl.

[J_Speegle]

The pictures of the carpet screws will be a great help. I'm assuming there are 2 on each side correct? What screw is required?

Believe and have found only one per side. Between the outer front seat mounting hole and the sill

Have always found the self tapping P&O finished screws with the Phillips head with the incorporated washer - double bump design


Example from 65-66 Mustangs to illustrate the style

[Bob Gaines]

Thank you for the quick responses. Here are a couple of pictures of my install. Placement of the small X is easier said then done with the bulky carpet and trying to get it around the transmission shifter. I always struggled with the finish detail work. I hope the judges are too hard on me in Florence.

The pictures of the carpet screws will be a great help. I'm assuming there are 2 on each side correct? What screw is required?

Thank you again. Time to watch the Super Bowl.

Your problem with the carpet around the dimmer switch is that it is not just a little oversize but a lot. If a little oversize I would probably mention it in the notes with no deduction.  That hole for the dimmer switch in the picture is at least 2 times larger then the way Ford did it. Expect a deduction because the look is far from the way Ford did it. The choices are get another front carpet set and put in a correct smaller hole , put the incorrect plastic beauty ring on which although not correct looks better cosmetic wise then the extra large hole showing all of the switch including screws and lower body and take the deduction or leave it as is and hope that the judges don't notice it. The deduction for the plastic ring or the extra large hole would be valued about the same IMO. Just my thoughts .Others may have different.

[carlite65]

not different. agree with bob. i first suggested that 'no grommet' be added to the rules years ago. got tired of deducting for it.

[J_Speegle]

Would be concerned about the front edge of the carpet. How the material was placed in the mold by the reproduction maker and how it was trimmed but that's another subject

[dkknab]

Jeff I do not understand what you mean. Maybe you can explain for my benefit.

I also added a bit of carpet to the bottom of the dimmer switch in this picture. Maybe a bit better; maybe not.

I also found I have just 2 holes in the seat risers. Both are in the middle right under the seats. Sounds like they should often be outside near the sill plate. Is that going to be a problem if I just put in these 2 and not make any additional holes?

And what does P&O stand for please? Thank you all for your help.

Here are pictures of each side.

[carlite65]

p&o-----phosphate & oil finish. repair on hole still looks well repaired to me. too much of the base of the switch showing. just my opinion here.

[Bob Gaines]

p&o-----phosphate & oil finish. repair on hole still looks well repaired to me. too much of the base of the switch showing. just my opinion here.

+1 . Still less then the range of appropriate look that would be considered correct.

[J_Speegle]

I also found I have just 2 holes in the seat risers. Both are in the middle right under the seats. Sounds like they should often be outside near the sill plate. Is that going to be a problem if I just put in these 2 and not make any additional holes?

Of course the location of the two screw holes would not serve the same purpose as they would out at near the outer ends and likely (unless the seats are moved rearward as much as possible) not be seen. Just looks at this point like the worker messed up. So IMHO you are faced, as some owners often are with reproducing that mistake or correcting it. If you choose to repeat the location then, with your documentation in hand, you have proof of their factory location and in judging situation you will want to present that to the judges before they start judging so that they don't find them and assume that they are incorrect. Other option is to fix the mistake and no one will be the wiser except you

Good luck with your choice 

[dkknab]

So here's the bottom line... where are the carpet screws supposed to be and how many of them are their supposed to be,  or,  what are the judges looking for based on Ford's install info? I don't have a problem correcting an apparent error. It would be nice to not get dinged for something as easy as this given I'm probably going to get a deduction for my dimmer switch carpet area.

[CharlesTurner]

The seat riser with the original screw holes should be your guide.  I had a '68 that had no holes in the original risers for carpet screws.  I took pictures of the area before installing the carpet to show the judges before judging.  Not all cars had them, but the vast majority did.