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MG TD TF 1500 - Don't Try this at Home

I am interesting in pursuing the ultimate in carpet originality (ok I got left at the station for the Karvel train but ...)

As all of you have been helping document the original carpeting installations we are left with one glaring omission. That is that the original footwell was sewn into the drivers carpet through a small channel. This is not commercially available (you non LHD and early models are lucky in this regard). So I set out to rectify the situation with limited success.

Colin Stafford supplied me with the critical measurements from his footwell.

I first tried routing the channel. I made a jig (see picture) and got a router adapter for my Dremel tool. Unfortunately rubber will not route unless it is frozen first (way below 0 degrees centigrade). Lacking liquid nitrogen and a way to store and use it I moved on.

Then I tried cleaning up that mess by using an sharp utility knife. It took multiple passes with a metal ruler and hacking out the channel after cutting the sides. The results were no where as nice as the original was with a molded channel, but it should do.

My next quest is to take it to a shoe repair shop and have them add a fake stitch to it so it will look like its sewn to the carpet. I can then swap it with a footwell that does not have the stitching for driving etc.

Chris Couper

I think the MG crest was 90' from the reproductions, with an orientation facing the outside of the car.
I haven't seen too many originals. I am looking forward to the TF survivor challenge next week.
-David
D. Sander

Looks like you need either an old Vacu-Form kit or a modern 3-D printer. Otherwise what you've done looks pretty good.
Jud
J K Chapin

Here's an original (I think from Bud K?)



Chris Couper

Chris,

In the event that the original from Bud doesn't do the trick, I have a brand new original - never installed, that I would be prepared to lend.

For the record, I have the original one still in my TF and its not too bad. But I'm almost sure that it wasn't sewn in. It looks like it was glued in.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A Clark

Gord: Does yours have the channel like Buds and the one I altered or is the lip smooth from the well to the outside?

I have now seen four samples of the sunken footwells sewn into the carpet on both TD's and TF's.
Chris Couper

I'll check tomorrow. Now bed-time ...

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A Clark

Chris,

Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a garage, a shed and a basement full of MG stuff and that I'm not too well organized. Bottom line, is that I can't quickly lay my hands on the insert.

Its lousy weaather here today, and will have a better look tomorrow.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A Clark

This thread was discussed on 04/09/2013

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