I'm replacing the carpet with a vinyl mat in my 1977. I've got the vinyl molded mat on order but want to know how to prep the floor.

They were previously patched/repaired but have quite a bit of surface rust. Do I want to paint/coat them with something to help protect them? Any tips/links on how to do this?

And should I put anything between the floor and the vinyl matt?

 

On my 76, I removed everything, washed down the floor, vacuumed, scrubbed and removed all debris and loose rust and painted the whole floor with POR-15. Its black so that may or may not play into your color scheme but you can always get a rattle can of the original color and respray it to match. (Again, that what I did). I'm thinking maybe the black mat will cover it and there wont be an issue. Google POR-15.....I think its good stuff. It dries hard like epoxy. As for long term, I don't know yet but its got to be better then paint. As for in between.....id say its optional. Maybe put in something like Dynamat to help deaden the sound, reduce noise and act as a thermal barrier or just put in the mat an call it good. In my situation I'm not doing anything between floor and carpet. (Im going the carpet route) since mine wont be a DD nor do I plan to be out in the mud bogs. That and it wouldn't be original to my truck.

 

POR 15 isn't UV-stable (it'll deteriorate in direct sunlight), but if you're covering it with vinyl or carpet, that wouldn't matter - no top-coat needed then.

 

Looks like that POR15 is the ticket. My truck just serves duty pulling the boat a few miles or running to the hardware store. Just don't want to worry about rust if I can help it since I'm replacing the carpet anyway.

And the interior is already black so black isn't a problem at all.

Did you guys use the prep/cleaner products they recommend?

 

Agree, clean, prep and prime the floor to protect the metal. I like to add a finish coat of paint also. Brush on Rustoleum works fine (both red primer and finish paint for me).

 

Pulled the seat and carpet tonight and there's quite a bit of primer, surface rust, seam sealer and raw metal under there. POR15 over all of it?

 

I ripped the carpet and backing out years ago and repaired some minor rust then ..... and for years just had a piece of house carpet and mats in it ..... no more rust. Last year I cleaned it all again, still pretty good ..... just used a broom and vac.

Then I coated it with some brush on bed coating and let set .... then I installed weather proof 24x24 carpet squares which have near 1/8" rubber backing. I fastened them in place after careful cutting / fitting.

Not sure what you wish to wind up with, just food for thought.

 

Clean everything from the floor, dirt, grease, wire wheel remove surface rust ect.. and then kill the sub surface rust or convert it before you cover it back up with anything.

Rust Paint - Rust Proofing Products - Rust Protection - Corrosion Control - Eastwood

Duplicolor Rust Fix, Rust Converter, Black, 10.25 oz. Aerosol RF129: Advance Auto Parts

Rust Converters & Rust Removers

 

here's a handy tip i learned from doing this over the years. Lay the new mat flat in the sun, it will help take the folds out and easier to form to the floor, now when you trim it, leave it a little long every where because it will shrink. You can trim it over a couple days taking a little at a time. Ive seen so many throw it in then trim and a couple days later its short in places.