Interior: Molded rubber flooring - DIY?

[Dougie]

Has anyone tried to mold their own rubber flooring? I have 62 Lark and would like rubber floor instead of carpet. It currently has nothing. I found a company called RubberCal that sells sheets of diffrent rubber. One they sell is called "X-Derm" Here is the link: http://www.rubbercal.com/X_Derm.html

I got a sample and tried molding it with a heat gun and it molds and holds its shape. It comes in 36" and 48" widths. I was thinking I could buy 10 feet, and use two pieces, one for the front and one for the rear and mold them over the trans tunnel with a heat gun. Has anyone else tried this approach (or any other?) and if so had any success? Thanks.

[scott.rodgers]

I was thinking about using Dynamat Dynadeck in my Wagonaire - it's a rubber mat-like product that doubles as sound deadening. The problem is it's expensive and I'm not sure how to mold it to the floor (sew the seams like carpet?). I'm very curious to see how the X-Derm works out for you - keep us posted.

[doug]

My son has a Rambler with rubber mats that needed replacing. He sprayed bed-liner and it turned out nice. I was considering doing my Champ in the same way.

[Dougie]

I was thinking about using Dynamat Dynadeck in my Wagonaire - it's a rubber mat-like product that doubles as sound deadening. The problem is it's expensive and I'm not sure how to mold it to the floor (sew the seams like carpet?). I'm very curious to see how the X-Derm works out for you - keep us posted.

This stuff would cost about $100 for enough to cover the floors plus I would have to put something under it. So total cost is not that much lower than carpet. It's just that I know carpet will work! lol.

[swvalcon]

Are you sure 60" will do it in one peice? isn't the car wider than that when you add in the height of the tunnel? Let us know how it works out.

[Dougie]

Are you sure 60" will do it in one peice? isn't the car wider than that when you add in the height of the tunnel? Let us know how it works out.

I was thinking to use the 48" wide material and buy probably 12', cut the length in half and make a front and rear that overlaps under the front seat. If I run it across the car at 48" wide I could use whatever length is needed to cover the hump.

[EssexExport]

You may want to check on J. C. Whitney. Put in a '62 Lark & it came up with 4 plus pages of choices.

[swvalcon]

Didn't think of that. That would work. I just saw that the largest you could get was 60".

[Dougie]

You may want to check on J. C. Whitney. Put in a '62 Lark & it came up with 4 plus pages of choices.

everything I've evr found on JC Whitney for a Lark is generic stuff. If you find the molded rubber floor that fits my Lark on JCW, buy it and I'll pay you double.

[Mrs K Corbin]

DON"T DO IT! Rubber flooring directly on the metal traps moisture underneath and rots out the floor.... Floor pans on both my C-Cabs were gone. You can however drop some carpet in there and do the rubber over that... removing it all occasionally to check underneath.

[Mike Van Veghten]

Interesting thought.
I'd lay it right over the DynaMat I put on the floor.
I e-mailed them to ask how it forms when heated. Need it to suck right down in the compound corner areas of the floor to tunnel locations. We'll see what they say.

Possible good find Dougie.

Mike

P.s. - Any floor rot I've ever seen is from the factory made and "filler" backed rubber. The backing they use holds the water for weeks...at a time when wetted.

[Dougie]

Thanks Mike. Let us know what they say.

[Mike Van Veghten]

My question -

""Hi -
Thinking of using your X-Derm in my car rather than carpeting.
Is this material moldable using a hot air gun or the like? Need to form perminant bends (compound) around the transmission tunnel/floor.""


Here's their return comment -

""Thank you for your inquiry! Unfortunately none of my product offering will be conducive to molding by any methods. If you have any other questions I may help you with or would like samples of any of our products please feel free to contact me.""


Well...simple and to the fact I guess. I was hoping they'd give a way to get the rubber down to the floor in all areas. Even maybe a different rubber from their lineup...but it doesn't seem so.

Oh well...good try.

Mike

[Dougie]

I'm kind of stubborn and I might try it anyway. I got a small (2" x 2") sample from them several months ago and held it over a spray paint can and hit it with the heat gun. it has held it's shape ever since. I'm thinking lay it over the tunnel, heat it and form as much as possible then lay a sand bag on it while it cools. If I try I'll certainly share results.

[Mike Van Veghten]

I was thinking the same thing. Buy a 2 foot square (if they'd sell that size !?) and give it a try.

While a 2in square kinda small for any real test, put it in the worst corner...where the floor starts up to the firewall and the trans. tunnel comes down to meet the floor, Like near the gas pedal mount. It's about the worst place to try to form without cutting.

Good luck.

Mike