This is ALL Ralph LoGrasso's fault ...

[mpozzi]

About eight months ago, Ralph posted that he had some fourth-gen suspension goodies and these neat Arizen seats in the For Sale section. I bought some of the suspension parts and as shipping across the country put the seats out of the question, I passed on those.

Well ... fast forward to just before SEMA and I get this light bulb thought that if someone was coming west, they could bring the seats from Ralph to Las Vegas. Ralph tries to find someone bringing a car but no luck. I keep thinking about these damn seats ...

And then Ralph works a deal on shipping!!! I'm committed and around Christmastime, these Arizen's are mine!! I wait watching for the FedEx truck filled with goodies and finally am rewarded with SEATS! I'm ecstatic, grab something tool and open the box, pull out the coolest seat I've ever seen, set it up, and plop my butt in it. Great fit (have no idea how you'll ride in the car, Dave), great seats, cool logo, I'm giddy with excitement, and they'll be a welcome addition for my '68 SS for reasons you'll soon find out. They even came with bun warmers ...

Arizen seats and cool logo (in SUEDE, no less) ...




Now this SS sort of had a rough life before I came to the rescue. It last had a smog (CA laws and yes, it passed) back in 1996 and from there, the owner sort of strayed off the beaten path. Somewhere along the line, someone thought that a normal, uncomplicated interior should be replaced with something like this ...


And these seats were the best part ... EVERYTHING that was part of the interior was covered in this velour crap. We're talking the dash, kickpanels, seats, back side panels, rear seat, and the package tray. And there was no middle ground. It was like a cancer everywhere. After dissection, whoever created this visual interior of Hell just glued their creations over the existing panels. My camera broke when I tried to get a pic of the entire mess and guess it was as horrified as I was. Great negotiating factor, however, as I knew this interior was going to find a new home ... somewhere in WATTS.

I bought an entire interior before I bought Ralph's seats so had a head start on the resto/replacement of the "pimp my ride" project. When I got the old front seats out, I decided to continue onwards and complete my resto. I removed the entire rear section of the interior, purchased new rear panels (package tray as well), and some rear seat coverings. Now it's cold here in CA (I know you think we're all wusses as for us, "cold" means anything below 50 degrees F) and one evening I managed to clip off about 300 hogrings from the seat cushion, replace the cover, and then squish new hogrings back on to complete that part. The seat back cover wasn't as cooperative and after wrestling around the garage floor (yes, in the winter cold while I sat on the seat watching Dave try his best to wrap the edges close to the frame ...), Dave and I cried uncle and had the local "upholstery guy" get this part done. Oh and did I mention the stuffing smelled like mouse piss??? That is the nastiest, stinkiest, almost permanent stuff known to man. While I'm cheap with spending $$$ for labor, mouse effluent (after a painful, lingering death, those critters have a new home in a landfill) quickly made spending coin for the rear cushion install an easy one. Talk about "Worst Jobs." Where's that guy when you need him?

And while I was into the rear panels, both rear window lower rollers had bit the dust (rolled down great, just not up). Waited for more parts and replaced them. Took the entire rear window assembly out, separated the parts, cleaned and bead blasted everything, replaced the rollers, and lubed the hell out of the channels,guides, and rollers, regulator teeth, and everything else I could think of. Reassembled it all and then cleaned the glass to get all the white grease off ... then cleaned my clothes to do the same. Argued with reveal mouldings and got those installed. Still have to have the front mouldings on the rear windows put on.

Aligning the rear windows to the moulding insets is also a pain ...

Here's the interior ...


When the package tray was removed, the aftermarket speakers were torn and the magnets had every errant cut off wire strand, nut, and bolt attached to them. I splurged and got some very cool speakers but when we went to install them, whoever put the crap speakers in just hogged out the existing holes in the rear body, peeled the sides back like a sardine can, and then covered the Krakatoa craters with a huge flat piece of aluminum sheet. Dave folded the banana peel back and we reinstalled the aluminum to give the new speakers a good "home." Then we installed the new package tray. Great sound now.

But Wait, There's More ... the blower motor didn't work on High and the horn didn't honk (who needs a horn when you have a good and talented finger?). Dave wanted to fix these issues and as he thought he might need to get under the dash, this was easier with the front seats out. As it turned out, neither fix required Dave contorting into a pretzel ...

Now prior to removing the speakers, I disconnected the 12v battery and couldn't help but notice some whitish residue under the battery tray. This didn't look good and closer inspection found the battery seeping acid/water causing corrosion. Costco had a suitable replacement but when I removed the tray, I was facing the gnarliest, tornest (guess that's a word), most disgusting image ever seen. I checked the rest of the family of gnarly bits and their condition sang harmony with the one seen under the battery tray. Oh, MAN ... all I wanted to do was replace the front seats. Thanks, Ralph ... and wait until I see you.

The disgusting images ...




Global West had already supplied replacements so after another three or so days preparing (WD-40 in the soak cycle), wrenching, lifting, cussing (anatomical impossibilities and just ask Dave), more wrenching, prying, more cussing (good combinations this time), buying new bolts (two from GW were too long), bending the front bumper (don't ask as I'm not discussing it), and realigning the body on the frame (didn't know about this part and it's a real PITA to do), subframe body bushings are in.

Alignment hole got a workout ...


And no, the Arizen seats are still not in ...

Ralph made me rebuild my entire (almost ...) car. No more !!! This is all his fault (J/K, Ralph)!! Finally, I'm done with this version of car therapy and have something fun (minus front seats which was the original goal). Just wait, Ralph ... I have this very cool blue, black, burgundy with white piping interior that needs a new home and I have your address . Keep an eye on your front porch and wait with baited breath. When you unfold the rear seat back cover, you'll need it.

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi

[Steve1968LS2]

I know a secret about you.. na na nah na..

[StRacerDuke]

I didn't know Ralph was still around! Good to hear he's still wrenching. Last I heard he picked up a Z06 and stopped working on his 1st gen. Any updates?

[MrQuick]

I heard Ralph is into girls now....LOL just kidding buck-o.

oh, I thought he might have talked you into an LS swap. Scared me a bit. And am I the only one finding it hard to believe that Mrs Pozzi uses the word gnarly? Hinky... LOL




Cool project and hope all is well.

[CarlC]

That's not the only hinky word she knows!

Those tuck and rolled seats would look sweet in the Lola. WE NEED PICS OF THAT!

[awr68]

Mary that was quite the story! Have you posted any outside shots of the car?

[novanutcase]

SIGH!!!!! I wish you had a younger sister!!!!

John

[WS6]

haha yeah really. A younger sister would be nice.

Glad you got everything swapped out now so that it didn't continue to fall apart.

[trapin]

I didn't know Ralph was still around! Good to hear he's still wrenching. Last I heard he picked up a Z06 and stopped working on his 1st gen. Any updates?

He's pretty busy with school right now. I imagine he takes on a full schedule every semester. I don't know if he ever did buy that Z06.

[protour73]

Mary......those seats look awesome, now where's the installation pics?

BTW.....that was the most voluminous post I've ever seen from you!!!

Scott

[Larry Callahan]

Too funny! During the Christmas break Susan and I had the honor of visiting the Pozzi's for a couple of hours. I have seen these in person and they are not the worst of it. LOL!

I also saw the Arizen seats and now I know what I want for my '68. Very nice!

[MrQuick]

what so bad about those....I think I have a leisure suit that would go along nicely.

[TonyHuntimer]

Be Careful Vince! Mary might just drop them on your door step.



Tony Huntimer

[mpozzi]

what so bad about those....I think I have a leisure suit that would go along nicely.

Ohhh, Vince ... have I got a surprise for you???

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi

[andrewb70]

Now its going to be all Andrew Borodin's fault...

Andrew

[JEFFTATE]

I wanna' come out to California and visit ya'll !
Dave , Mary , Larry !

I'll drive out !
Cannonball Style !

[mpozzi]

I wanna' come out to California and visit ya'll !
Dave , Mary , Larry !

I'll drive out !
Cannonball Style !

You'd better visit if you get out to CA! Just PM any of us and it's a go. There's about 300 miles between Larry and us (5 hours or so drivetime). Lots of P-T'ers up here and cool stuff to see (other than our Camaro herd).

We'll leave the light on for ya'.

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi

[Steve1968LS2]

I wanna' come out to California and visit ya'll !
Dave , Mary , Larry !

I'll drive out !
Cannonball Style !

Oh sure.. don't come visit me while you're here

[MrQuick]

Ohhh, Vince ... have I got a surprise for you???

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi

DING DONG.....KNOCK KNOCK...... DOH!!!! LOL

Well now, if y'all are coming out this way it might be a good time to rent ButtonWillow for a weekend?