How to source/replace footwell foam

jmackro

jmackro

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I am having some major bodywork done on my 2800CS, including the replacement of the floors. No problems with the metalwork, but...

In the course of removing the carpets and old floors, my bodyman pulled out some rigid foam pieces from the driver and passenger footwells (see pictures below). These broke while being removed, so I need a way to replace them. Surely someone else has dealt with this problem - did you:

- Find a source for new pieces? A search of the Mobile Tradition site shows two parts called "padding" with part numbers 51471825753 and 54. Are these the correct part numbers for what is pictured below (it's kind of hard to tell from the Mobile Tradition drawing)? Of course this is moot, because the MT site codes these as "ended". But perhaps some of you know of another source.

- Make new pieces from soft pine, high density foam, Bondo, ....

- Also, where exactly to these go (mine were just in pieces in the trunk after the metal man did his thing - and, he doesn't speak English!). I seem to have one large piece (passenger side?), and one small one (drivers side outside of pedals?).

0e0d36d22b7762b86a307dd3f9d73c9e.jpg


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Missing same

Yes, I broke mine too, and I'm not sure I even saved the pieces.

I always figured a modern alternative, (such as Dynamat or similar) would be a more suitable replacement, esp since I'd be doing the rest of the floor anyway.

Any reasons why I shouldn't, pros/cons, similar experiences, etc??
 
Mine also broke, many years ago.
I used RTV silicone to glue them back together. Been that way for at least 15 years. Bonds very well and is flexible, to some extent.
Being flexible they don't have to be exact, and will conform fairly well.
If you have the floor wells to metal, it would be nothing to glue over wax paper and set in your floor for form to dry.
Just my $.02
steve
 
Laldog:

Dynamat wouldn't be thick enough or rigid enough. The foam pieces I am trying to replace are: 1) a couple inches thick, and 2) fairly rigid. You could stack up 4 or 5 layers of dynamat to achieve the thickness, but the resulting sandwich would be fairly squishy.

Dynamat works great for what it is intended to do: serve an under-carpet insulator - blocking the flow of heat & sound - and adding some padding. But I don't think it would serve that well to re-shape footwells.

Question #2:

Where do these things go? Again, I just salvaged the debris from the junkpile of rusted out metal and ripped up carpeting after my floorectomy.
Do both pieces go in the passenger foot well, or is it one on each side?
 
I had these parts in my coupe at one point. As I recall, the smaller one went on the driver's side about where a dead pedal should go. The larger one went in the passenger footwell, up against the firewall, with the ribbed part facing the firewall.
 
vraned:

Thanks for posting that photo - it explains a lot.

BarryG had asked: "So if you don't have these will the replacement carpet fit correct?"

Yea, I don't see how it could fit correctly. Further, I'll bet your passenger will be looking for a place to plant her feet to hang on. The carpet covering the wheelwell will probably get worn out by passengers looking for a place to brace themselves.

I guess my solution will either be to: 1) Glue my crumbly/brittle/shattered pieces back together, or 2) try to fabricate something out of wood.

Looking at vraned's picture, it looks like a piece of board has been cemented to the top face of the foam spacer - so maybe I could repair and reinforce mine by glueing some masonite across the outer surface.
 
bela22:

I have that piece - it seems to be made of heavy cardboard, or some other non-brittle material. So that one came out undamaged.

My only question is: "where the heck does it go?". Obviously under the carpets, but on which side, and in what orientation? Like the foam pieces, I just picked it out of the debris pile after the metal guy stripped out the old carpet & insulation.

It's funny how every trade has a complete disregard for all the other trades. The metal guy will rip out carpet and insulation with no thought that you might want to salvage it, even if only as a pattern. Then the upholstery guy gets hold of the car, he sprays contact cement all over your paint. Next, when you have the paint touched up, the painter gets overspray on the upholstery. And on and on, ad infinitum. Clearly this is an arguement for doing all of your own work!
 
Yup, broke mine also. After 35 years they get pretty brittle. I also just installed a new factory carpet, and yes it does matter. The carpet won't lay correctly without that stiff foam pad behind it. I just glued it back together and placed some adhesive sound barrier on top.
 
Repair those footblocks by filling the cavities with minimal expanding foam insulation available at your local hardware store. The stuff is nasty and sticks to everything. You'll have to fixture the pieces together somehow with wire etc...then squirt the foam where it'll do the most good. Once dried, you can easily trim with a sharp knife.
 
I just repaired mine using "Steve in Reno's" suggestion of Permatex Clear RTV Silicone adhesive sealant (66B).Spread the goop on,clamped,let sit overnite.Seems solid now.Thinking of slapping on a layer of fiberglass cloth to further strengthen.Overkill?Thank-you Steve!
 
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