Carpet install advice

[JH27N0B]

Even though it wasn't near the top of my car project triage list, I've found myself with a new ACC carpet for my Challenger convertible.  I got the "best Mopar" award with one of my other Challengers at a show in June, and along with a plaque I got a Rock Auto gift certificate! 
It was to expire late September and other than an air filter, I was having trouble finding goodies I needed, and was under the gun to "use it or lose it" with my gift certificate.  I saw Rock Auto had ACC carpets, so with my gift certificate along with a 5% off code, I figured I'd never get a better deal on a new carpet for the vert.
The resto shop that was doing my T/A had told me no need to buy a "shipped flat" carpet from ECS.  ECS carpets are from ACC, so rather than spend a lot ordering from Dave, he orders direct from ACC at the beginning of the week, the carpet then arrives before the end of the week and has only been folded up in the shipping box a couple days.  Get it out of the box immediately when it arrives, lay it out flat in a room for a couple days and you've got a nice flat ACC carpet for around half what you'd have paid at ECS.  Rock Autos ACC carpets are drop shipped from the manufacturer, so I ordered last weekend, and my new carpet was waiting for me on at my house when I got home from work Friday.  I laid it out on my living room floor and other than a lump in the heel pad that I'm sure will settle out as soon as it gets sunny again, the carpet is perfectly flat everywhere it's supposed to be flat!
With the 5% code, the ACC carpet with backing was about $160 plus shipping from Rock Auto.
I hope this advice helps someone save some money. 
I'm wondering if I can get some advice on how long I will need to install the carpet?  My garage is sort of narrow, so I'm hoping I could pull the car out in the driveway on a nice day to give myself plenty of working room, put the top down to speed removing and reinstalling the seats and console, and get the new carpet in and the car back in the garage in the same day.  Is 4 hours or so a realistic estimate for a newbie car carpet installer to do this job?
Since I bought the carpet with the backing, I assume I don't need to buy anything additional to put on the floor under the carpet?  Will I need to glue anything?
I found a YouTube video where someone installs a ACC carpet in a Cougar. It is a helpful video.  It did look like they did the installation over a 2 day period though.

[soundcontrol]

Its easy, you should do it in 4 hrs or less. I installed a coupe, most time consuming for me was to get the seatbelt bolts back, since I had extra padding under the carpet also, a think foam, next time I'm gona use the thinner Dynomat that everybode uses. Also be careful when you cut the sides that goes under the sillplate and kickpanels/quarterpanels, its easy to cut too much.

[HP_Cuda]

Measure twice, cut once.

I found that going underneath for the seatbelts and seat mount holes with a soldering iron worked best and was pretty fast. Aligning the 4 speed hole is kinda a pain but past that it's fairly straightforward.

B

[67vertman]

It took me about 6 hours...it was my first time installing carpet in a 70 Cuda, 4 speed and rear seatbelt (plastic covers) I don't think the challenger have the seatbelt covers.  Do the front first, you may want to remove the shifter to make fitting easer. make sure the carpet is square to the bulkhead, and as stated measure twice and cut once....or cut it long and re-trim as needed. No need to glue it in place, unless you want to, the door seals and seats hold it down.

[Racer57]

I would suggest getting some Reflectix from Menards, Home Depot, etc and lay it down first. At least in the firewall/foot area. It will help keep some of the heat out. Also, on my car with a 4-speed, I cut some flat pieces of rubber thats inner tube thickness and using some good quality duct tape laid it around the shifter to help seal off the noise and heat coming from that area.

[JH27N0B]

Thanks for the ideas!  I have some of that leftover reflective insulation left over from when I was insulating the ceiling of my new garage a few years ago, so I may use some of that for over the transmission hump and the floorboard by the firewall.
I'm not much on doing wiring but I do think I have a hand me down soldering iron stashed here someplace I can use to sear the seatbelt bolt holes to keep carpet fibers from gumming things up.
I have an automatic with a console in this car (my only ride with 2 pedals instead of 3  )
My biggest concern is can I get this done in the driveway in a day, and sounds like I should be OK.  Doing a project in the garage I can put things on hold for a day or two until I can get a needed part or tool, but working in the driveway I need to be done in time to put the car back inside for the night.

[CudamanTom]

Do the front first, you may want to remove the shifter to make fitting easer.

The rear section needs to be installed first. The front piece lays over the rear piece. And you will want to remove the shifter. It will take the guess work out of where to cut the hole for the shifter hole.

If you run out of time, you can at least install the seats and console/shifter and do the sill plate areas later. At least you can pull the car back in the garage. When trimming the sides for the sill plates, TAKE YOUR TIME. You have one chance to get this right and that's not the area to goof up on. Make sure you tuck/push the carpet down on the sides before trimming. Use the solder iron on the seat bolt holes AND seat belt bolt holes. But make sure it is in place where you want it first. Also, you can use the solder iron for the high beam foot switch as well.

I did my cuda convertible carpet and it went well. Here is the link.
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=97175.135

[Racer57]

Heat a nail or ice pick with a good quality heat gun or propane torch and use it to punch holes through the carpet for console hold down screws.

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Brad, lots of good advice here. The only thing I can add is go SLOW.... I've seen to many guys hurry around the console /shifter area... then your screwed. I did ACC in NIKKI and it turned out great!