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Let's make a Trunk Lid Mat - Updated!!!

BlownBigBlock

New member
Ever since I've seen these I wanted to make one, had some days off I needed to use at work and since the weather is cooperating finally, decided to see what I could come up with. Nothing fancy and cheap is also in the equation...

As everyone has seen, your basic GP trunk lid, removed the clips holding the wire for the trunk release.

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First off, decided I wanted a simple GT emblem on the trunk lid, also wanted it done in the same material as what's currently in the trunk. The material is called trunk liner and is code A23 Heather Charcoal. The font for our emblems is called SofaChrome Italic and can be gotten on the internet for free. I tried at work to make a "GT" but our printers couldn't handle the size I wanted, went to the UPS store that makes banners, told them what I wanted, they downloaded the font and got this for $4.00. This picture is after I had cut out the lettering. The font size I selected to go with was 800.

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Stopped by the craft store, bought 2 sheets of poster board at 49 cents a piece along with 3 pieces of a heavier poster board at 79 cents a pop. Figured while I was there bought some masking tape at $3.

The hardest part for me was making the pattern, at first tried to do in one large piece, after decided that doing it that way was a pita, tried half the lid in one piece, still a failure. Then decided making it in multiple pieces would be the easiest. This picture is after the fact and not aligned, but just shown as reference, using the spoiler studs as my center line.

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With pattern in hand I then transferred the pattern to the heavier poster board I had, just flipped it over to do the other side. This is what I have.

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With some minor trimming I was happy with the way it fit. I had also bought a 3 pack of 3/16" 20"x40" foam board, I think the cost was $10. It's light yet still durable, only pain was the mat was going to be 41" so I had to make 2 pieces. I'm also doubling the thickness, so my mat will be
3/8" thick when done.

This is after transferring my pattern to the foam board, you can see where I made the split, the bottom board is split but on the other side. I did the best I could to center the letters, with razor blade in hand I cut out the letters on the top foam piece.

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This is what I have left, not sure if I'll just cover the letters with a material or have the letters recessed.

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That's where I stopped, next I'll smooth out the edges abit, the trunk liner material cost me $10. Still need to purchase the plastic body pins along with some 3M spray glue to glue the panels together. May not get a chance to work on it again till early next week. Figure so far I have roughly $30 total into it. Thanks for lookin'. :th_winking:
 
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Re: Let's make a Trunk Lid Mat

I'm currently working on mine right now. Looking forward to seeing yours and mine finished.
 


Re: Let's make a Trunk Lid Mat

Sounds like I've got a new project to add to the list. :th_laugh-lol2: Nice job BTW, can't wait to see your finished results.
 
Decided to work a bit more on the trunk lid mat, took a trip to Lowe's bought pins and some spray adhesive. Here are the pins I bought.
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Started off by placing the thicker piece of poster board I made before, taping it in place and marking where I wanted the pins to be. This was after I had already transferred the holes to the foam board.
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After I was happy with that, transferred the hole positions to the foam board along with enlarging the "GT" because of the material.
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I then glued my 2 pieces of foam board together, the spray adhesive worked great. I then stretched the trunk liner piece a little bit, sprayed the foam board with the adhesive, put the liner on. Here is what it looked like when done and after I had cut the letters out.
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Here the "GT" letters are just sitting in place. I think I'm going to use velcro to hold them. I still need to cut the 5 mounting holes yet, along with the slot for the trunk opener, still undecided what color or how I'm going to cover the letters.
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The trunk liner is easy to work with and stretches a pretty good amount. Plan is to cut out the mounting holes and make 5 plugs that are covered with the liner so they just blend in with the rest of it.
 
EFFIN nice work. How much are you going to sell them for now??? I need one for GTP haha . Post up some pix when you hve it installed.
 


Very nice, now i have project #5 added to the list of my currently ongoing things. where did you get everything from, especially the thick foam you used as a base. thing you could post a materials needed list with locations to buy from?
 


Re: Installed but slight "F" up....

Ok, I guess I got impatient, figured I'd put this on without thinking it thru. Was satisfied with the placement, drilled my holes, and installed, the lettering is just held on by masking tape until I figure out what I want to do.
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My slight fubarr is that I placed it about 3/4" to 1" too low, looks nice but I completed screwed up and didn't tuck it up enough to follow the trunk lid curve on top, end result - I can't close the trunk lid, the mat hits the weather stripping. :th_shakinghead2: Removed and tucked up further and looks like I should be ok. Try again next week.

About the materials.

I went to the UPS store to get the letters made, you can decide upon whatever lettering/design you want to go with.

A couple sheets (2) of thin poster board 24x36 (optional), it's cheaper than the thicker stuff.
A couple sheets (2 or 3) of thick poster board 24x36, just a heavier poster board that supports itself better.
A pack of (3) 30x40 3/16 foam board

All the above can be gotten at Staples or some other office supply chain, the local craft stores didn't have the foam board in that size.

Masking tape
Razor blades or knife, or something to cut the foam board/poster board
Push pins (Lowe's, Home Depot, Auto store)
Spray on 3M Adhesive (I got 77, 90 is stronger yet, but there is cheaper stuff available (Lowe's or wherever)
Material - it's called trunk liner, the GP's use what is called A23 Heather Charcoal, cost me $9 for a 41x36 piece (leftover at a tuner store, but fit), stuff streches out pretty good too. You can use whatever you want.

I think right now I have about $40 into it, the spray adhesive and foam board were the most expensive part of the whole project, running about $10 for each.
 
If you would have made this post before I went on spring break I would have one of these in my trunk now to. I love the way that it turned out. Im seriously thinking about making mine so when i open the trunk the gt part would be lit. I think I would do this by taking a piece of 1/2 plexy glass and lightly sand the back side then drill leds into the sides so when the light goes through it it hits the scuffed side and "lights" it up. Probably would go with red to keep the theme . Do you guys think it would rice or nice?
 
very nice :th_thumbsup-wink:

if you do another one, cut the GT letters out of wood, and wrap the liner over that as well as the rest of the board. i like the look of the whole thing in liner

this needs to be put on the how-to section
 
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