IMO, it all depends on your personal feelings about dealing with the carpet.
The rear wheel boxes and the tunnel take a fair amount of stretching and
fiddling to fit properly. It is doable. The molded ones will more or less
drop into place. The one thing that you have going for you in the nonmolded
sets is that upholstery glues contain the solvent that most carpet kits use
to bond the carpet together. This doesn't dissolve the carpet backing but
it will soften it up so that you can stretch the carpet to fit.
If I were faced with installing a carpet set today, I think it would
completely come down to money. If I had it, I would probably go with the
molded, but more then likely, I wouldn't have the money so I'd fit them
myself. I used a moss deluxe kit and was very pleased.
The only other major factor is that the wheelbox carpets require trimming
and once you cut it you can't go back so you need to be careful to fit it
exactly how you want it before you start trimming. If you are a reasonably
detail oriented person you should be able to get it in well.
James Nazarian
71 MGB Tourer
71 MGBGT V8
85 Dodge Ram
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul M." <rowman22001@yahoo.com>
To: <mgs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2003 4:26 PM
Subject: Carpet set recommendations
> I'm getting ready to restore the interior of my 1971
> MGB roadster, and wonder if anyone can offer a
> recommendation on where to get different kits,
> particularly carpet sets...
>
> There's a "deluxe" carpet kit from Moss Motors for
> $373.00 that looks pretty sweet. Molded transmission
> tunnel, etc. But at that price, by the time I get all
> the rest of the pieces to do the interior, the total
> cost will be fairly high.
>
> Then there is a kit from Brit-Tek that includes
> EVERYTHING. Carpet set, seat cushions and webbing,
> seat upholstery, headrest covers, door panels, all
> other trim panels, etc. and it's only $760.00 for the
> whole shooting match.
>
> Obviously, the Brit-Tek price is appealing but has
> anyone ever used one? I assume it does not have a
> molded transmission tunnel cover. Is this a big pain?
> Will the results obtained by a hard-working but
> amateur wrench like me be significantly different with
> one kit or the other? Or is there another source that
> might offer even a better price/quality compromise?
>
> I want to save money, but not necessarily at the
> expense of quality, because I want the end result to
> be something I'm proud of. Any help would be
> appreciated!
>
> Thanks,
> Paul
> 1971 MGB Roadster
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