I've had an extra front set of carpet that came with the car.

Hole is most likely for a seat belt retractor under the seat.

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DanT

This isn't a small hole for seatbelts.

My 74 has a seat belt retractor in that area and a fiberglass cover that screws to the floor right over that area where your carpet is missing. My new carpets did not have hole cut out and I had to cut it out. What kind of seat belts do you have?

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DanT

They the original style, that are held in with the large bolt to the tranny tunnel and outside sill plate area. Not a "large" plate as you say. 

Checked the driver's side (still in my office)- it also is missing this area.

That is a definite possibility, or he cut the hole in himself for whatever reason. Maybe someone with a 71 can give you more insight as my 74 may not be the same. I have lap/ shoulder belt setup with 2 retractors for each side, with one under the seats and the other behind the seats on the rear wheelwells. I did not have to make my cutouts anywhere as near as large as the cutouts you show in your pic.

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DanT

To clarify, I have both the stock shoulder strap and the lap belts.

I have a retractor under the seats which the belt comes out of the retractor, goes under a fiberglass cover attached to floor and extend up under the sill plates and the belt runs under a retainer to keep close to floor near sill. My new carpets did not come with any cutouts in the area you show which leads me to believe the previous owner cut them out. We just went through a tour at MAM at the Gathering and watched them make several sets of carpets and none had cut outs. If you have nothing that fastens to floor in this area then you have wrong carpets or modified carpets.

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DanT

Guess I'm going to have to buy new carpet for the fronts (my back is fine)!

I checked several sites for carpet and all pics do not show any cutouts.http://www.ecklers.com/corvette-front-carpet-cut-pile-for-cars-with-automatic-transmission-1970-1975.html

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DanT

http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductDetails/StyleMasterDetails.aspx?pid={6da61db9-e710-4682-bf1c-201d0a64427c}&gid={07e8da4f-faf1-4881-bd77-d75e76be38b7}&GroupName=70-77+Deluxe+Interior+Cut-Pile+Carpet&pname=70-75+w/Auto+Front+Carpet+Set+(Cut-Pile)&Referer=&Alias=&ptct=SGR-SR&CTitle=&

Strange!! Well good luck figuring out your dilema!

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DanT

pic
pic

There are 2 pics from my 72. You can see the covers for the seat belt retractors. Im not home till tomorrow but if you want I can take better pics because mine is still apart without the covers on. I have only the floor retractors as my 72 has no shoulder belt. I can also check my carpet when I get home to see if that area is cut out. Mine are from MAM, the performance choice cut pile.
Rodney


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Definitely don't have those on the floor. 

Just throwing in a stupid question....you do not have the right and left mixed up do you? At the carpet install they said its some times hard to tell them apart. Even after 100's of carpet installs they lay the old carpet out on the floor just like it came out of the car then match up the new pieces.......just askin....

ebo

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LIFETIME MEMBER 151

No, I have the driver's side in my office still- it has the foot/heel pad and high beam pad stitched in it. 

Not 100% sure what year the retracting belts came into play...I know the '72-up have them. That cut-out is for the retractor assembly. The carpet must be trimmed out around it, or the plastic cover will not sit down right, and the seat would hang up on it.
Rather than order a new set of rugs, I would get some carpet that matches, and splice it into the cut-out area. The seat will cover 99% of it, so it's not like it would stick out like a sore thumb.
I got my rugs directly from ACC(Auto Custom Carpets), and they did indeed have to be trimmed to fit. I might even still have the pieces I cut out of mine...they are black...


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Aaron, I have the three pieces that are for the rear compartments that Im not going to be using. They are light saddle but could be easily dyed black! maybe give your car extra character and leave them saddle! Let me know if you need more pics.
We just got home so I could take them tomorrow night if you need.
Rodney
rod75152011-05-30 21:28:23

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Joel has a good idea ... patch it in.

I also have the three pieces for the compartment doors I never used... Adams' Apple2011-05-31 10:07:33

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

[QUOTE=2nd2ja]Guess I'm going to have to buy new carpet for the fronts (my back is fine)!

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Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.

 
                             Click to see larger views!

By the way, the ones in my '75 have a large rectangle 6" x 12" missing in the same area. Looked like they were made that way.

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Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.

 
                             Click to see larger views!

I bought new ACC carpet fronts.

Good deal!
I have a couple of spots in mine where I got mixed up on the old adage, and cut twice and measured once. I wound up just patching in from the leftover stuff, and you cannot tell where the spots are.
ACC is good stuff.


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Hey Aaron, funds are kinda tight here but, if you can give me a total including insulation and s & h I'm very interested.

      Thanks,     Jimmy aceinthehole2011-06-08 20:10:34

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Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.

 
                             Click to see larger views!

I'll put the carpet in the box, then get some dimensions and weight.