| Diamond plate floor mats are becoming the new | | | | good jig saw with a metal bit. Trim any needed |
| hot item for tuner cars. Added with some interior | | | | areas for the perfect fit, and sand the edges |
| accent lighting, these aluminum floor mats can | | | | down smooth, being careful not to sand or |
| create a really remarkable finish for your interior. | | | | scratch the polished surface. |
| You can purchase a precut set for your vehicle, | | | | 5) If you are creating floor mats only, reinstall the |
| or you can create a completely custom look. | | | | carpet. Drill holes in the four corners of the floor |
| There are both aluminum floors and aluminum | | | | mats and position them on the carpet. Screw |
| floor mats, and if you choose to create and | | | | them in place with stainless steel screws, or |
| customize them yourself, here are the guidelines | | | | secure them in place with pop rivets. |
| to follow when taking on your newest project! | | | | 6) If you are creating the whole flooring out of |
| These instructions can be used to create a | | | | the diamond plate material, now is a good time to |
| complete aluminum floor or aluminum floor mats. | | | | rerun any aftermarket speaker wires or cables. |
| 1) If you don't have a template to use, such as | | | | Start in the center of the vehicle. With the seats |
| an existing floor mat, you can remove the | | | | removed, put the diamond plate material in place |
| existing carpet. Removing the seats will make this | | | | and gently roll it over the contours of the center |
| task much easier, if you can remove them. If you | | | | of the vehicle, being sure to start in the middle |
| do this, try to keep the carpet in as close to one | | | | and work outwards. It should be flexible enough |
| piece as possible, since it will be reinstalled. | | | | to contour to the floor nicely. Continue forming it |
| 2) Lay out a sheet of diamond plate material. The | | | | all the way out to the door trim (which should be |
| diamond plate should be the polished and soft | | | | removed with the carpet) and fit the seat bolts |
| slate kind. Lay it out on the floor, with the polished | | | | through the diamond plate floor. If you have any |
| side up. | | | | extra material that needs to be trimmed, you can |
| 3) Lay your carpet or floor mats on top of it, | | | | do it with a good set of tin snips, or by marking |
| good side up, and begin marking it for your cuts. | | | | the material that should be removed and cutting it |
| If you are aiming for just the floor mats, mark | | | | outside the vehicle. |
| the outline for those. If you want to go all out | | | | 7) With the diamond plate material in place, find |
| and do the full flooring in diamond plate, trace out | | | | several good secure points, and drill some pilot |
| the whole carpet piece. Take note of the slots | | | | holes for your stainless steel screws or pop |
| where the seat bolts will penetrate the diamond | | | | rivets. Fasten it in place. If you are satisfied with |
| plate floors, and drill the appropriate size holes. It | | | | the results, reinstall the seats and the door trim. |
| may be wise to drill them larger than the bolts to | | | | The diamond plate floors will look awesome with a |
| allow a little play for proper positioning in the | | | | little interior accent lighting! |
| vehicle. Also give yourself a little extra material on | | | | Some people even like to place some carpeted |
| the edges and trim to perfection once in the | | | | floor mats over the diamond plate floors. If you |
| vehicle. Otherwise you may end up with an | | | | choose to do this, make sure the back of the |
| unwanted gap. Replacing the whole carpet will be | | | | floor mats are not made of a material that will |
| a little more difficult, but follow these steps, and | | | | scratch the diamond plate. It may be wise to put |
| you should end up with a great looking interior. | | | | a backing on it and secure it in place as well. |
| 4) Cut the diamond plate using a saber saw, or a | | | | |