Thermal insulation can now be installed, which means that we are heading down the backstretch. The insulation most likely will not be big enough to cover the entire floor with one piece, so you can put the main piece in the middle and add to both sides, or start on one side and add to the other as necessary. It doesn't really matter, as it won't be seen anyway. For my truck, I started on the driver side and then added on to the passenger side. However you do it, press the insulation out as flat as you can. In all but the flattest of truck floors, you will need to cut some slits in the insulation to prevent it from puffing up. The transmission hump will most likely be the toughest area. Start by cutting a slit along the edge of the base of the hump. This will allow the flat part to stay flat and will allow the material to lay flat against the transmission hump. Also cut around any bolts (such as those for the in-cab gas tank), the seatbelts, and the seat mounting boltholes. When the insulation is installed and laying flat, cover all of the seams with the aluminum tape that is included with the Dynamat. If you are going to be installing sill plates, you may need to trim the insulation back from the edge an inch or two so that the screws for the sill plates will be long enough to reach through to the floorboard.
The next step is to reinstall the carpeting and the seat. Once the carpet is in the approximate location, push a small screwdriver or similar alignment pin through each of the holes from the seat mounting bolts in the carpet and into the boltholes in the floor. This will help you to get the carpet in the correct location. Now remove the alignment pins and have someone help you lift the seat(s) back into the cab and into position. It may be helpful to use the temporary alignment pins again to get the holes in the seat mount, the carpet, and the floor of the truck all aligned. Install each of the seat mounting bolts finger tight until all mounting bolts are started, and then tighten each bolt completely. A good way to finish this installation (especially if your truck doesn't already have them) is to install new sill plates (or thoroughly clean the ones you have).
Peel the backing paper off...
Peel the backing paper off of the Dynamat sound deadener, and then set it in place. With the amount of sound deadening material I had to work with, I placed strips across the left and right floorboard, each toe board, under each side of the seat, and over the transmission hump.
The foil-faced insulation...
The foil-faced insulation can now be installed. Multiple pieces were used to span the width of the cab. Slits will need to be cut in the material to allow for the contours of the floor. Aluminum tape can be used to tape the pieces together so that it becomes one piece again when you are finished. This will prevent the insulation from moving around under the carpet as drivers and passengers enter and exit the vehicle.
Use scissors or a utility...
Use scissors or a utility knife to cut around seatbelt mounts, fuel line, wiring, or anything else that may need to be removed.
Aluminum faced tape included...
Aluminum faced tape included with the Dynamat insulation can be used to cover any seams in the insulation. If you were finishing a completed truck, I would suggest gluing the insulation in place with spray adhesive. However, since I am at the beginning of the rebuilding stage of this truck, I will let the seat mounts hold the insulation in place. This will make it easier to remove the insulation if necessary for whatever reason may lie ahead.
To verify that the carpet...
To verify that the carpet was installed in the correct location, I used small screwdrivers to first locate the holes for the seat mounting bolts in the carpet, and then inserted the screwdrivers into the boltholes in the floorboard.
If at all possible, get someone...
If at all possible, get someone to help you lift the seat back into the cab and move it into position. The seat is easy enough to lift, but pushing it in through one door while holding it above the carpet is difficult. If you try doing it yourself, you run the risk of damaging the carpet and the seat, as well as making it more difficult to properly locate.
While I don't know if this...
While I don't know if this truck was equipped with sill plates from the factory, I know that it did not have any when I took possession of it. As you can see, without them, it is much like me ... a little rough around the edges.
Anything worth doing is worth...
Anything worth doing is worth doing right, so I ordered a pair of stainless steel door sill plates from LMC Truck to finish off the insulation and carpet installation. Set the sill plates in place and drill the appropriate size holes for the screws provided, while using the sill plates at a pattern.
Insert the screws, making...
Insert the screws, making sure that they thread into the steel floorboard and you are done. Now doesn't that look a lot better?