Matching black carpet

[Kevin08]

I found a perfect match to my 08 black carpet. It comes on a 6 foot roll at $0.54 a square foot. Just the automarine grade with no mass backing. Can bond with 3M spray adhesive to padding. I’m going to recover the original Expedition rear cargo floor panels. The one I got out of the Lincoln is shaped different.
If I can wash the original floor carpet enough to get the cigarette and food smell out of it, I might spray bond this new thin carpet onto the old one.

pic is a sample square laying on my original front passenger carpet that has already been cleaned. If you can’t tell the sample square from the original, that’s how perfect the match is.

 

[Kevin08]

Thanks to Purple Power degreaser I don’t need new carpet anymore. I rinsed as much loose dirt and soda out of it as possible with garden hose first. Then I sprayed full strength the bad spots with Purple Power and misted over the rest. Scrubbed with a nylon brush, picked at the dissolved jolly ranchers and gorilla glue tape adhesive (previous owners attempt to run sub amp wiring) then rinsed while going back over few trouble spots until water ran clear out of the carpet and pad. Hung over the fence rest of the day and overnight. This morning it’s almost dry and completely spotless!!! 275k miles, previous owner has 5 kids.

 

[Kevin08]

Before and after detail pics. Anyone know what grease I should use on the power seat worm gears? All I have is ball joint grease and I think that’s too thick and smells too strong, lol. I’ve got silicone spray, but it’s like water not creamy like white lithium. Duh! White lithium grease. Let me know if that’s not the correct grease either.

 

[Trainmaster]

Kevin, I love seeing nice work like this! Great job.

White lithium grease or Lubriplate, if you can find it would be fine. I don't like the spray stuff and get it in a jar. Check that the brand you find isn't too smelly.

How are the seats? "Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner" is fantastic for cleaning years of filth off leather seats. (Don't get it on the clear plastic instrument cover). If you have to replace any of the leather seat covers, The Seat Shop makes exact replacements.

 

[Kevin08]

How are the seats? "Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner" is fantastic for cleaning years of filth off leather seats. (Don't get it on the clear plastic instrument cover). If you have to replace any of the leather seat covers, The Seat Shop makes exact replacements.

The leather is very scuffed. I guess that’s the right word to describe the condition. The only damage is the drivers lower cover has a hole on the outer panel where most seat covers fail from getting in and out. The rest of the seats do not have any holes or tears, just the color is very worn, scuffed up after the five kids.
I have a small container of leather balm that is tinted the King Ranch color. I used it on the 3rd row seat and the front passenger lower. I think it looks really good. I’m going to try it on this second row bucket next. I’ll post an after pic too. I used it on the console armrest and learned just one light coat because after a second coat it looked thick like it was painted. The armrest was so bad that I had already written it off and prepared to grab a black one out of a future junk yard Expedition. Once it is all mechanically sound and I’ve had it a while to have more faith in it lasting, yes I’d love to get at least a new drivers seat leather.

 

[Trainmaster]

You ripped through that job well. Hopefully the truck gives you many good years; they are certainly capable, especially in the hands of someone who can take care of the little things that arise. Most of these trucks are done in by a history of poor service compounded by a lifetime of crappy cheap replacement parts. If you do conscientious work with good quality parts, they last and last and last.

That seat can probably be repaired by an upholstery guy. If you see a ripped up King Ranch seat in a junk yard you may want to cut a few pieces of sound hide out of it for replacement panels to yours. That may be the way to go, and you'll match the patina that natural hides develop.

If you like a quiet ride, check your sway bar bushings. They tend to wear, the bars clunk and drone and every other part is replaced. I've seen perfectly good trucks dumped because $12 bushing were ignored, shocks replaced twice and the clunking and bonging continued driving their owners nuts.

 

[Kevin08]

The color will even out and get a little darker as it dries. It looks a little butterscotch at first but matches the King Ranch color once it’s fully soaked in and cured. It’s raining and very humid here today and it applied much easier. The other day it was drying before I could get it even and rubbed in. If anyone tries this stuff, do very small areas at a time. If it dries before you get it rubbed on evenly, it can look thick goopy like brushed on paint.

 

[sjwelds]

Well if you ever run out of a job you can get into auto detailing.

 

[Kevin08]

I think I figured out how the Expedition front seat diapers are supposed to fit. Not sure if I have the drivers one correct. I think a Velcro tab is missing or I don’t have it on right. It did look like the passenger seat. With 5 kids I’d guess the wires being tromped on might be my seat heater failure. Heater button lights stay on steady and no sign of the burnt connector at the module under the pass seat. Fans work on the coolers but I can’t feel that they heaters warm up in either front seat.

 

[DrExpo]

wow there Kevin, i am thoroughly impressed with that leather balming care. that is incredibly well done.