Loose carpets

[Dave]

My carpets (may be original) are loose under the driver and passenger footwells.  Any recommendations on how to secure properly?

[66andBlue]

Do you mean the rubber mats in your 230SL?
Or do you really mean carpets?
The rubber mats are kept in place by short studs screwed into the floor and the firewall.

[Dave]

The carpets themselves.  I don't have the rubber mats, probably long gone.  The carpet is fine on the tunnel, back shelf, etc. but under foot they are loose, and before I make a mess of it, I wonder if there is a right way to secure them (spray glue etc.)?

[Norm]

If you have the studs mentioned above, can you just punch holes in the carpet and use the existing studs to hold the carpet?

You can always use grommets to protect the holes from getting bigger.  Grommet kits are available at most hardware stores.

Norm

[paults1]

I installed new rubber floor covering in the foot wells secured with the pins.  Then I installed a new carpet set which included carpet for the foot wells.  I had a pair old carpet mats & used them as a pattern to have the new foot well carpet made into floors mats.  I cut the new carpets & had a local shop sew on the edging. They look great over the rubber flooring. 
Paul,  '63 230SL (super tuned by Genrold)

[rmmchl]

the carpet in the foot area is not supposed to be glued down.

[J. Huber]

When I first replaced my carpets, the floor "carpet" pieces were a little squirmy. (I know I should have rubber but I don't)... I fastened them down using the existing pins which helped a bit. Then I purchased a set of coco-mats. These are nice and heavy and stay put.

[Dave]

Thanks All
Now I realize I know even less that I thought I did.  Pins?  Rubber?

I see a small hole in the floor on the driver's seat near the door.  The bare floor is semi-covered with what was probably the remnants of the rubber. 

So is there a set of rubber inserts that get pinned to the floor?  That existing thru-hole looks like a great place for rust to start.  Is this where the pins go?  So to do it right, I need a new rubber floor, pins, and new carpets?

All I want to do is glue down the carpet that's already there,  but do I have a long way to go to make it right?

[paults1]

Dave, In the search function, type in: proper footwell covering 230SL.

[rmmchl]

i had my upholstery guy glue underlayment felt under the drivers side and pass side foot area pieces. It lets them lay there without glue and insulates sound and heat

[Dave]

Thanks.  Looks like the way to go from here is to glue down the underlayment then velcro or ds tape the carpet pieces to the underlayment.

[rmmchl]

dave , You might have misunderstood  my previous post.  I had the felt glued on to the 2 carpet pieces that go onto the floorboard. The 2 carpeted mat pieces only.-Then the passenger  side and drivers side carpet pieces just lay in the floorboard area. The felt is not to be glued to the pans. By doing it this way , you can keep an eye on the pans. especially if you wash the car. The mat carpet pieces can be lifted up to check the pans underneath. The pans need to be kept dry from moisture and you can keep an eye on the metal's condition. This is a main locator  of the rust  on these cars. So, the better bet is to glue the felt on the carpet pieces that go on the drivers side and pass side, and just lay the carpets in there---but don't glue them

[Dave]

Thanks Michael
You are right, I misunderstood.  Now I get it.  I will do like you recommend.  Provide underlay felt cut to size, then glue the carpets to them.  Probably heavier and stay in place better.  Thanks again.