Re: Roadcaptain's 77 Build Thread.

[Roadcaptain S3]

Thanks!

I'm gettin' soft in my old age. I don't remember ever even using the belts in my old 74.
Scared to get in a car without them now. Pu$$.

[wunderlich_33]

You should. It's pretty easy and the results are usually really good. Be careful applying though, it's thin and can run easily if you spray it too close. Several thin, light coats
works best, and if your item has a heavy grain you mess it up.

well thjis will be a temporary fix cause all the vinyl in my car is sun damaged all to hell..... you don't even want to know what the dash looks like.
but eventually I want one of the old horse shoe shifters from the true chevelles. I think they look amazing.

[wunderlich_33]

what about these captain

https://www.opgi.com/chevelle/1976/interior-accessories/seat-accessories/463230/

[Roadcaptain S3]

Might do those temporarily.

But the big empty holes in the roof would bug me. Plus, no air bags/shoulder belts + collision = broken chest or dead for sure.

[wunderlich_33]

One more question ( I don't mean to be a pain) but did you have to go underneath the car to remove the console, is the tranny going to be in the way of removing it? ( casing it out before I get started) . I could only fine two small screws aside from the 4 holding the shifter plate in place. and they were at the from of the flip up part of the console..... what am I missing here?

[Roadcaptain S3]

I had a bench seat, I've converted to buckets.
You shouldn't have to get under the car to take it out.

Pics pulled from another site:

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As far as I can tell, the front console bracket is tack welded (I think) the rear shifter bracket is bolted.
I'm trying to find the brackets for mine now. I found one for the front, but it's from a 70-72. It might work.

[Mcarlo77]

Do not need to get under the car to remove the floor console.  It's pretty easy, really.  What you need to do is remove the storage box, shifter plate and top half of console to expose some mtg bolts.    

Probably know this already, but the shifter knob needs to come off before you can separate the shifter A$$'y from the console.

[wunderlich_33]

yeah mine is the swivel seats. which seem to grab a lot of attention.

Okay just two brackets and a few bolts.
I wasn't sure if it was clipped in (as was suggested to me ) and didn't want to pull up on some 40 year old abs/vinyl clips and have them snap like my seat belt holders that attached to the head of the seats.
but sounds simple enough.

Ill be honest ive never rebuilt/worked on a car before purchasing the laguna two years ago. we always had hot rods I just wasn't allowed anywhere near them. so ive got a lot of research ahead of me.

[Mcarlo77]

Two things I should have expounded upon...there are two screws at the front of the upper half of the console that need to come out (in addition to the two you found in front of the storage box lid) in order to lift that section off the console base.  Hard to see sometimes; especially if dirt and grime have covered up the screw heads.

Secondly, the storage box lid needs to be in the "up" position so the spring hinge can clear the side of the box opening.  

Ask if you have any questions.

[wunderlich_33]

Two things I should have expounded upon...there are two screws at the front of the upper half of the console that need to come out (in addition to the two you found in front of the storage box lid) in order to lift that section off the console base.  Hard to see sometimes; especially if dirt and grime have covered up the screw heads.

Secondly, the storage box lid needs to be in the "up" position so the spring hinge can clear the side of the box opening.  

Ask if you have any questions.

my spring hinge broke of awhile back as all the laguna storage box lids seem to do. so its attached by a regular hing on the side. so I hope the internal part of the hinge wont be an issue, probably dropped through.

[knightfan26917]

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The mats came from Auto Custom Carpets (ACC). They were the ONLY comapny I could find that had the right color and the "Malibu Classic" embroidery.

COOL mats!

Love the color combo.


Cort www.oldcarsstronghearts.com
1979 & 1989 Caprice Classics | pigValve, paceMaker, cowValve
"Everybody wants love to be easy" __ Nitty Gritty Dirt Band __ 'Stand A Little Rain'

[Roadcaptain S3]

Thanks Cort.

I was gonna go for black embroidery, but I kinda like the subtle look a little better.

[knightfan26917]

YW!

Hmmm ... I agree about the subtle look for the embroidery. I think the black would've stood out a bit too much, if that makes sense. However ... a light-dark brown might've been an interesting choice.


Cort www.oldcarsstronghearts.com
1979 & 1989 Caprice Classics | pigValve, paceMaker, cowValve
"I know there's so much more to life" __ Vonda Shepard __ 'Searchin' My Soul (Ally McBeal)'

[wunderlich_33]

hey captain, thanks to your instructions i got an almost new center console lol. i sadly never remember to take before photos. but it was the stock maroon and badly beaten up. 100% improvement.

[Roadcaptain S3]

Looks great!

[Roadcaptain S3]

The swivels were in and the mounting points did not work for factory swivel belts that I paid $$$ for. #*#!


Heres with the drivers seat all the way forward...note the star bolt for the seat belt base. When the seat was all the way back (like it has to be to fit my fat butt) the seat trim piece and slide rails covered the bolt. Obviously, the stock swivel belt base stopped the seat from going back far enough.

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I searched and read, couldn't find too much about belts anywhere.So then I posted here whining about it. Wally (bless him) said he used some Camaro belts in his ride. I poked around a bit and came up with some from a 93 Z28. Even got the right color. I THINK any belts from a 93-02 Camaro or Firebird will work, but not 100% on that. These mostly were plug and play.

This is next to the factory bench belt (chevelle top, Z28 bottom). Note that the Z28 belt does NOT have a retractor on the bottom end, just a steel plate with plastic sleeve. That's kinda important for seat clearance.

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Note the roof retractors are ALMOST identical...more on that in a minute..Chevelle-red,Camaro-black

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The retractor bolted right up to the roof, BUT the cover wouldn't allow the belt to slide in and out. I had to trim the cover just a little bit to allow for proper install. You can see it here:

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The floor mount bolted right in, as did the female side of the belt. I was even able to leave the sleeve intact since it bent enough to allow the seat to slide back.

Seat forward:
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Seat all the way back:

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So there it is, problem solved...nearly drove me bat****. If you want to update your belts to something a little newer, or if you've swapped out the bench or if you just want that damn stock retractor out of the middle of the floor, look for 93-02 Camaro or firebird belts.

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Now I have to figure out how to get some guides on without tearing up the seats...Wally?

[77mali]

Nice job there.

[Roadcaptain S3]

Thank you sir...not perfect, but much better than nothing.
I hated that factory retractor in the middle of the back floor.

[thatfnthing]

That came out really nice! Good work!

[1973montec]

calm down buddy. gm uses the same hole for the bracket that holds the back leg of the swivel. than they put another hole for the seat belt. please see pics

driver side- left bolt would be stock location for a bench seat retractor. right bolt is factory location for bucket seat retractor


seat is all the way forword


seat is all the way back

[Roadcaptain S3]

Thanks.
Hmmm. Maybe different for 77 or a bench seat car?
My car doesn't have the right hand hole.
Either way, kinda like the camaro belts better. Cheaper too.

[wunderlich_33]

its good to know about the Camaro belts.

I know a guy building one hell of a 75 laguna and he says where he lives hes not allowed to have anything other then a stock belt in the car so hes been trying to find one for about 2 years now. I think the camaro ones would pass inspection though.
hes just not allowed after market safety equipment.

good job though. its nice when you get another piece of the puzzle

[Wallyuph]

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[color=#cc00ff]Now I have to figure out how to get some guides on without tearing up the seats...Wally?[/quote]

That's a hard one as its Vinyl. When I do Upholstery I put the screws in the seat before the cover goes on then push down on cover to find the screws and mack a small "x" with a razor blade and back them out. Not sure who did your covers but feel around by pushing with your thumb and see if you can feel a screw head. If its a fabric seat you can use a pin and push in to find the hole. You may have to do that on the vinyl to find the hole.

I need two of the retainers in black. I have the piece that bolts to the seat. I think some one sells new ones now days.

[Roadcaptain S3]

I've poked around on the vinyl and can't feel anything in the normal area to mount to. I THINK these seats may be from a 73 without the shoulder belt. I can feel the upper edge of the seat and may try mounting them there.

As it is, the shoulder belts cuts across high and at a weird angle like you can see in the pic.

I might have some retainers...I'll check the pile and pm you.

[Wallyuph]

Do a Google image search for the seats to see the location for them in general they are down the side a bit.

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