MALIBU Door panel carpet

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Ratchet

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Jan 10, 2018
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I’m getting ready to replace the lower carpet section on both door panels. It appears the original carpet was stapled in with a plastic staple.
Question: What glue should be used to hold the new fabric to the plastic door panel?
 

ck80

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Feb 18, 2014
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Might change depending what you're replacing with.

If it's a thin custom fabric bleed through might be an issue, but a 3m spray adhesive has worked for me with what I've glued on in the past...
 
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JAMCAR223

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Jun 6, 2014
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Might change depending what you're replacing with.

If it's a thin custom fabric bleed through might be an issue, but a 3m spray adhesive has worked for me with what I've glued on in the past...
I have used 3M Super Trim Adhesive in the past. But as stated, if your carpet is thick, or has a heavy backing, check other options as well.
 
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Ratchet

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Jan 10, 2018
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It is the relatively thin material that Dixie Restoration sells. The color is a perfect match.
 

mikester

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Mar 10, 2010
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When I was redoing the interior of my 81 Malibu I was able to buy unbacked carpet from ACC. It had a soft backing that could be easily glued to the door panels. When I started to do the color change in my wagon I told the owner of the upholstery that I was going to glue carpet to the door panels. He told me that the clear backed carpet that ACC now sells doesnt hold up well on doors these days. The glue doesnt work well with the backing. Heat and cold can cause the carpet to lift from the glue. At first I didnt really believe him so I called ACC and was told all carpet now has that backing EXCEPT black. That can still be purchased with no clear backing.
In the end I bought Ozite carpet. Its a flexible carpet that glue works really well with. I used Dove Gray in my wagon and Ozite has a very close color. When the doors are closed you cant really see much of a difference. I also used it on the back of the rear fold down seat and will be ordering it for the cargo area as well.
If you decide to use it the only advice I would give you is dont try to cut it with a blade. It stretches so its hard to cut. I used a pair of heavy duty scissors.
 
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Ratchet

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Jan 10, 2018
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If the material I purchased from Dixie Restoration does not work out, I'll look into Ozite carpet. Right now I'm interested in color match (which it does perfectly) and how to stick it to the panel.
 
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Longroof79

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When I was redoing the interior of my 81 Malibu I was able to buy unbacked carpet from ACC. It had a soft backing that could be easily glued to the door panels. When I started to do the color change in my wagon I told the owner of the upholstery that I was going to glue carpet to the door panels. He told me that the clear backed carpet that ACC now sells doesnt hold up well on doors these days. The glue doesnt work well with the backing. Heat and cold can cause the carpet to lift from the glue. At first I didnt really believe him so I called ACC and was told all carpet now has that backing EXCEPT black. That can still be purchased with no clear backing.
In the end I bought Ozite carpet. Its a flexible carpet that glue works really well with. I used Dove Gray in my wagon and Ozite has a very close color. When the doors are closed you cant really see much of a difference. I also used it on the back of the rear fold down seat and will be ordering it for the cargo area as well.
If you decide to use it the only advice I would give you is dont try to cut it with a blade. It stretches so its hard to cut. I used a pair of heavy duty scissors.
Mich,
I ended up using the clear backed carpet from ACC on my door panels. It was thin enough to use. and I bonded it with contact cement applied with a brush. I think it came out better than I thought. I also cut the carpet with heavy duty Wiss shears. which I also used for cutting and trimming my carpet.
 
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mikester

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Mar 10, 2010
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Mich,
I ended up using the clear backed carpet from ACC on my door panels. It was thin enough to use. and I bonded it with contact cement applied with a brush. I think it came out netter than I thought. I also cut the carpet with heavy duty Wiss shears. which I also used for cutting and trimming my carpet.
Jack,
After the owner of the upholstery shop told me the clear backing doesnt take to glue like the unbacked stuff I didnt want to go through getting the contact cement off the panel if it failed. Being in FL with the heat if yours has held up I guess the guy at the shop was full of crap. So far the Ozite hasnt been a problem but if the color didnt match the way it did I probably would have left the lowers plain.
 
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Longroof79

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Jack,
After the owner of the upholstery shop told me the clear backing doesnt take to glue like the unbacked stuff I didnt want to go through getting the contact cement off the panel if it failed. Being in FL with the heat if yours has held up I guess the guy at the shop was full of crap. So far the Ozite hasnt been a problem but if the color didnt match the way it did I probably would have left the lowers plain.
Mich,
I'm sure with the car being garaged and not always subjected to outdoor weather extremes, there shouldn't be a premature failure of the carpet bond any time soon.
I know I sound optimistic. I could understand your concern, besides, I'm sure the Ozite carpet looks great and will hold up without issue.
I normally would use an aerosol glue, but I've had good success using contact cement to bond carpeting.
My door panels never had carpet on them, unlike my old door panels, so it was a nice clean surface to work with.

I now have to find someone that will sew on a binding on my cargo area carpet.
 

mclellan83

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Jun 27, 2017
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I did custom colors in both the monte and the blazer, when I did the first I used a piece of wood to wrap the carpet around then put it into the door. This time I just put the carpet into the door panel, I used this https://www.lowes.com/pd/3M-17-6-fl...AsYo-j0X9A1C3C2yZWcaArOLEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Must say it worked really well, I had always heard give both sides 15 minutes to tack up. This said 2 minutes and it seems to hold really well
 
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