Covering the Cockpit Motor Cover (Engine Shroud)

Ramblen Ron · August 16, 2010, 01:09 PM

Hm? I've started work on Rose's interior and of coarse, to get it movable,ASAP, I'm starting in the cockpit. The motor cover has me questioning, what is the best way to cover this thing and look good? It's fiberglass, it's rounded, it's cupped in and I know it's going to be a challenge. The job that was on there was very badly pieced on there with ugly screws all over it. Now I did look for something posted with a search and struck out. Anyone have any experience with these?

JDxeper · August 16, 2010, 03:52 PM

ClydesdaleKevin, recovered his dog house and had a good picture series, carpet of your choosing
clamp, cut, glue, clamp cut glue. Its not too hard just time, and lots of clamps and clips. I sanded the old glue off, then started, I think it was a piece about 4' x 4', then glue the top and sides which were tucked under the lip to the inside, then started the trimings to fit the curves on the front and back. Just don't over cut. Used a hot glue gun to finish the tight places. Also you can glue in any oops. Try to pick a carpet that won't unravel easy, loops especially.
That's all I know.

Oz · August 16, 2010, 06:12 PM

I did mine also, on two Winnies, same model year, with the rounded top. Lots of glue. I didn't have like 20 some clamps like Kevin did, so I used an industrial stapler.

ClydesdaleKevin · August 17, 2010, 09:41 AM

The picture series I took of the process are missing, both here and on my computer, but basically I did a little at a time over a few days.

I started at the top/front edge and layed down the glue...then used many many clamps along the edge to keep it down and tight and let it dry. Little by little I added more glue and more clamps, working my way down to bottom. I stretched it a little at a time with my big vice grips. I kept cutting off the excess to keep it from bunching. I used heavy tool boxes to keep the carpet flat where the doghouse shroud takes a bend. And I let it dry between each phase, so it took about 6 days. The result came out awesome!

Kev

Ramblen Ron · August 17, 2010, 01:13 PM

Yeh, I wasn't sure how much carpet would stretch. They do it somehow at the factory. Coarse they probably have a matched mold to press that together. Did you guys use a multi purpose glue on it? I was thinking of getting an indoor/outdoor carpet so it would take the traffic and such. It would be the only carpeting cause the rest I'll use laminate flooring for ease of cleaning.

ClydesdaleKevin · August 18, 2010, 08:55 AM

That is exactly what we used, Ron: Indoor/outdoor carpet glue...with Berber carpet.

Kev

Oz · August 18, 2010, 10:28 AM

I used the same, indoor/outdoor carpet glue. The stuff I used was like a thick pre-mixed epoxy. It's held up for 4 years now, even in the extreme heat of this past summer, while driving for several hours at a time.

tiinytina · August 18, 2010, 06:30 PM

I didn't use a lick of glue as the thought of attempting to remove it later was just beyond the amount of work and was grateful Tiffin didn't glue it down either.... I used simple tap screws and a shag carpet (we have dogs and claws tend to catch on berber). I put small washers where I screwed the carpet edges in after lapping them over the edge of the dog house. Used clamps to tighten it down before screwing it down. Where I cut "pleats" in on the front corners I put a bit of adhesive on the cut edges and over lapped edges. I did the cockpit 3+ years ago now and still looks great.
Tina

Ramblen Ron · August 18, 2010, 10:39 PM

I've been having thoughts of making a plywood doghouse that would attach over the original fiberglass one. My thoughts were that for 1. it would be square edged and easier to cover and 2. I could fill the space between the two with spray foam to cut down on heat and sound. I haven't drove Rose enough to know what kind of noise you get, going down the road but I've seen some posts addressing this.