Gary Percy:
Does anyone have any experience with Airtex carpets?
Editor:
Several people responded that they have been happy with the Airtex products. Here is a more detailed response from Bob Swaim.
Bob Swaim, A&P:
Airtex applies a heck of a mark-up and I use them for tricky parts
like headliners, but not for basics like this!
Remember that under Appendix A, owners can replace interior trim as
long as (a) you don’t disturb structure and (b) you use airworthy
materials. You can buy the same carpet, with certs, from companies
like Redrum in Richmond, Virginia (telephone 800-446-3925). The
following is a typical showing of carpet/fabric/vinyl samples from a
manufacturer (no retail) that Redrum sells for (remove the two URL
spaces to get the link to work): http: //www.
pyramidtrim.com/premair.html They also carry seat foam.
You can buy the carpet, cut to fit, and have a local automotive
upholsterer edge the carpet for you and it takes a lot less carpet
than you think.
The interior panels in our 1974 Sport were vinyl on plastic foam or
cardboard backing. The kick panels had fallen so bad the rudder
pedals were rubbing on them and in a test of a small piece, the
backing materials burned like crazy and gave off a black acrid smoke.
The interior looked disgusting, so we’ve been re-doing it.
Interior panels can be tedious, but are easy to make and kids like to
help. Cut out poster board tracings of the originals, test fit to
check for fit (many originals don’t fit well), transfer the pattern
to .025 aluminum sheet, then apply the fabric/vinyl, carpet of
choice. You can add map pockets, a pocket for the sump checker, etc,
as these are all trim items.