The carpet ordered was the complete kit package sold by CarMotorsports.com. It included the front, back, door, and console pieces. The price for the kit was $ 239.95 plus $ 30.00 freight. This price may change without notice.
Check your pieces ahead of time. My console pieces were cut wrong (too short and fuse box holes wrong place/size).
Tools Needed:- Screw Drivers
- Spray Adhesive
- Utility Knife
- Sharp Pointed Awl or Punch
- Tools to remove seats
When I got the package, (2 boxes), I opened the small one up and was satisfied with the color but did not check the pieces. About 2 weeks later I went over to my friends house and we started the job. While the carpet pieces are formed to fit, and they fit well, you have to do all the cutting. The pieces that are supposed to have backing do, and the parts that don't need backing don't. Overall I was pleased except for when we got to the console. My 3 console pieces were not cut right for the '88/'89 model Reatta. They may work for the '90/'91 but I don't know for sure. Otherwise fit was very good and pieces were generously cut. The color match on the new carpet received was very good.
Getting ready to install the carpet can be accomplished in a few simple steps:
- Remove seats
- Remove console surround
- Remove thresholds at each door
- Remove seat belts on the drive train hump
Remove side and back panels:
- Remove the two screws of the luggage tie down bracket
- Slide third light cover forward
- Remove screw holding center end of side panels
- Remove screw holding coat hook.
- Remove screw in upper shoulder belt area
- Upper panel should now pull off
- Find three screws on end of lower panel in access door opening and remove
- Two fasteners above speaker should be visible, remove
Be very careful removing the trim pieces as these cars are old and the plastic is very brittle. Just snapping the plastic thresholds back in we cracked one and broke the other.
Lower panel should now pull off.
When I was removing the interior, there was a grounding wire connection to the firewall up high behind the brake pedal that came loose. Be sure to reattach it.
Remove the fiberglass cargo compartments if you need to
Cut and install interior molded carpet:
Final trimming and cut holes as indicated on the old carpet
Cut and glue new carpet to the console surround. Use spray adhesive on both the lid and the carpet. Then put the new pieces in place. Do the same for the bins themselves.
Use plastic bags filled with sand to force the carpet to lay tight against the interior sides and bottom of the storage bins. We tried gluing and holding the carpet with our hands, but that didn't work. The preformed carpet fits the bin it just isn't glued like from the factory.
You will notice that there are staples holding the carpet on the back side of the bins. That we found later was something we did not have to re-staple as the bin is held in place front and back with screws, and the trim fits over the sides and back. As you fold the carpet over the back of the bins you will see some puckering. Slice in the puckers and allow them to overlap. No need to glue on the back side,or worry about re-stapling as the trim and mounting screws holds everything well. Leave the front of the bin panel long so you can fold the new carpet up past the 4 screws on the backside. This way the carpet can't work its way back out.Do not drill through the carpet, use a pointed punch or awl,ice pick, etc. You will have to at least double the length of the bin hinge screws, as well as go longer on the 4 screws that go into the front of the bin panel because of the folded over carpet.
Now you should have a great looking new carpet in your Reatta.
Put the seats everything back into the car and enjoy your new carpeting!
Thanks to DAVES89 and other members of the Reatta forums for this information.
