Installing and fitting carpet into 1968 Firebird

1968 Firebird Restoration and its carpet time!! Replacing and installing a carpet in a first generation f-body car made easy. Where to cut and make it look clean, follow along as we do just that, finishing touches on a nut and bolt restoration and it’s looking great.
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#Pontiac #Firebird #restoration

[@JL-rg7se]

I always wondered how the belt buckles came apart. Thanks!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Anytime!

[@davidbisnette7673]

I am still amazed at the process you developed on the how to do,s , great explanations for your viewers . Great job simplifying how to do things , thanks so much for sharing you knowledge

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Thanks. Lots of experience to share was the plan and quite a bit more to go.

[@justindennis1186]

Man that thing is looking awesome! I have had lots of luck hearing a punch with a small torch and melting the carpet holes. Makes a really clean job but razor blades work just fine too! Thanks for all the great content. Hope to meet up someday.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Thanks for the tip! I learned the hard way not to just push the bolts thru and tighten them up it will pull a row or two out of the carpet

[@Kyle_Nelson]

Project cars make great workbenches!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Yes they do!! lol

[@brianriggin4560]

Always learning some great stuff with you. Including you have no FEER using a car hood for a work bench/table.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Hey whatever works in a very limited space 😎

[@joedecesere7033]

Use a piece of heated half inch copper pipe to melt the bolt holes through the carpet. By melting the bolt holes, you won't have any loose threads.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

I like the sound of this idea not to mention I have several feet of copper pipe to use as well

[@LakeAndLodgeGarage]

Great content Jon, Love the sequential Tips and Tricks. All the "this needs to go in before that" info is priceless. Thank you for your efforts. It really saves the rest of us a bunch of time and pain.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Saving time gets more done and making progress on our projects. You have been cranking yours out quick as well. It will be on the road in no time at your rate

[@ArrowheadGarage]

YES, I have been waiting for a carpet install video!!!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Fantastic! Now it’s cooled down a bit there you can get back to work too

[@ronaldthompson9309]

Jon I'm amazed by your talent. I'm 70 years old and you taught this old man a few tips. I was a truck mechanic for 40 years at the same dealership. I've done a few Firebirds and GTO's but nothing to the extreme that you did. Im getting ready to install the carpet in my 1969 Firebird. Thanks for the video's and tips along the way. I've followed the great pumpkin from the start. Wonderful job and is beautiful.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Never too old to learn something new especially when it has to do with Pontiacs!! Thanks for following from the beginning you have seen quite the transformation and it’s almost done!

[@GoGoGarage]

Looks, nice, good to see how to take apart the seat belt. I used an old solder iron to make the holes for all the bolts, probably going with a full length carpet.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Right on, I didn’t know they made a one piece carpet

[@milesunderwood2380]

Looking better and better with every video 👍👍

[@VinylVillageGarage]

I really love how this car is coming together and gonna miss it when it’s done

[@davedail8482]

I really enjoy your channel. The interesting thing is, I don't own a Pontiac. I have a 72 Chevelle SS. My neighbor friend recently bought a 68 Firebird convertible and your channel helped him (us) figure out how to repair the motor for the top. I started watching this build and just can't stop. You do a really great job explaining your process. The car looks great and I have subscribed and will continue to watch all of your videos. Keep up the great work. Dave in Myrtle Beach

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Wow. Thanks for the support. I do appreciate it. I love my Pontiacs but have had experience helping a friend on his 72 chevelle did a lot of metal work on it. 1/4 panels, floor pan, firewall dash and quite a bit more. That was 20 years ago and still looking good. I just enjoy saving these old cars and keeping them going. Glad to help with your buddies convertible too.

[@brian2359]

Great video! Tips and tricks were spot on!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Cool. Can’t tell you how many carpets I installed and just didn’t get it right. This one came out great.

[@kenny3217]

I like to heat up a 1/2" punch with a propane torch and then press it through the carpet, makes a very nice hole and cauterizes it on the way through.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

I have yet to try the melt thru technique, I know it has huge benefits in preventing the carpet rows from being pulled out with the bolts.

[@r1g2v3]

Great video. I like the tape trick. For the soldering iron technique, I used a old socket and a torch (heat up the socket and melt a perfect hole, this way, the fabric does not get caught into the threads). I know everyone has a technique, but it always helps to get a second set of eyes on how someone else will tackle the same project

[@VinylVillageGarage]

I like the sound of the socket trick, that one I might try on the next one. Thanks for sharing

[@tommyspencer7891]

I used the socket technique on my goat and it worked great. However, the socket and extension I used ended up being sacrificial, so now they are dedicated carpet tools.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Good to know

[@r1g2v3]

I agree the socket became nasty with melted plastic and the smell is unique. . ugh. @@tommyspencer7891

[@tomroland27]

Jon, have you shown how you install the stainless rain gutters? I'd love to know how you crimped those on without marring them? I've watched all of your past videos but hadn't found that yet. Thanks for showing how you actually do the work as it's so refreshing, as compared to other channels where they just talk.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

First off thanks for watching i really appreciate it. As for the drip rail moulding I didn’t do a video, probably should have it seems I have had a handful of people ask not just you, what I can tell you is I hook the top and bump it over the bottom with my hand. I know using your hand as a hammer isn’t ideal but it’s the only thing that could find that doesn’t dent the trim. I will be doing a video on this part on the next one

[@fretsman68]

Thank you for the tips, Jon- @@VinylVillageGarage

[@VinylVillageGarage]

@@fretsman68 very welcome!

[@user-fk5dl6cs3q]

Lots and lots of great info. I remember the door window glass adjusting video but were there any videos on installing weather stripping and molding? Gotta say, I get a kick out of some of your commentary. LOL

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Glad to help. I skipped doing a video on the trim and weather stripping. I was pushing to get the car done for the trans am nationals so I was just knocking things out. Unfortunately I didn’t get it done and missed some good video opportunities. I have a few more cars in progress so will cover it then.

[@perrywe1]

nice clean job Jon!! I did the soldering iron technique and it worked very well. Easier than gouging with the razor blade in my opinion but what ever works. Great work.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

I meant to try the soldering iron this time but old habits die hard I suppose

[@pwthomas757]

👍👍👍

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Thanks!

[@melissadunagan6596]

I am glad you didn't cut yourself on that reservation blade. I know if I was doing it the way you where doing I would have cut myself. That car is going to be a great looking ride when you get it finished.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

I have been very fortunate when using razor blades, best tip is never use a dull blade. So keep many new handy. I think this is the best car I have built to date very happy with the results

[@JK_Nex_Garage]

Great video. I’ve never done carpet before and will definitely be using this as a guide. I notice the carpet doesn’t go under the back seat very much, ours didn’t have the carpet when we bought it. Is that how the firebirds came from the factory?

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Yup carpet never went to the trunk stopped right under the rear seat

[@raymarroquin9609]

John , at Vynalvillagegarage ! Here's my question and my observation while you were demonstrating the installation of the carpet procedure I , observed the rear window armrest don't have the rear ashtrays as my 1968 Pontiac Firebird had. Did you delete or did Great pumpkin not come w/ that option ? LL KOOL RAY 😎 FRISCO

[@VinylVillageGarage]

lol sharp eye. I didn’t put them back in yet. The old ones where rusty and damaged haven’t decided if I want to replace them or not. If I do it’s easy enough to add them later

[@woodrowdelozier1]

💪😎

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Thanks buddy

[@woodrowdelozier1]

@@VinylVillageGarage you bet buddy

[@kenstrain4366]

I put sound deadner in my old Corvettes. Why not here?

[@VinylVillageGarage]

because I sprayed the floor with lizard skin sound deadener and ceramic coating, it looks like bedliner Keeping the inside of your car quiet and cool. Several options we tried LizardSkin sound control kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYmxl4Ojbt6jetU

[@GreaseMonkey68]

Love your work, who do you source your interior parts from?

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Ames performance they offer legendary brand and PUI

[@woodrowdelozier1]

Did this car not have 3 point seat belts? I don't see the shoulder belts

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Nope this one didn’t, I was an option and then standard equipment for the 1969 model

[@woodrowdelozier1]

@VinylVillageGarage my 68 is missing the shoulder belts. Well all belts really. But the brackets and bolts for the shoulder belts are still there

[@Danno74Z]

Hello, Nice video! May I ask where you purchased the carpet? Thank you?

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Ames performance engineering

[@Danno74Z]

Thank you for the information!

[@KennyJoe01]

Hi Jon, my brother-in-law has a 1967 sprint with the rare six cylinder. He had the engine rebuilt but his motor mounts are pretty rough. Do you know by chance were he buy some new ones?

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Seems that they are getting few And far between I believe I found two on eBay. I think they are correct compare them to your originals. www.ebay.com/itm/124139863259?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=4TOpVwFhTEa&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=BN_aheTVQma&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY www.ebay.com/itm/165733172853?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=0H_d45ozTxu&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=BN_aheTVQma&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[@KennyJoe01]

Thanks Jon, I appreciate it.

[@Kyle_Nelson]

Jon! I sent you the best scissors perfect for this project, why are you using those cheapies?

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Yes you did!! They work great. This video and carpet job was done before I got them.

[@johnnyfeher3412]

Sound deadening?

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Yup I sprayed the floor, firewall and Inside of the panels with lizard skin brand sound deadener and insulation

[@johnnyfeher3412]

I see! There are so many new products these days I gotta job to keep up. The build looks awesome too Bud, Thank you.@@VinylVillageGarage