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Sun Feb 22, 2009 11:11 am

Now go get another cheap blue tarp and make a door panel for the driver side :lol:

JK. I really like the paint on this bus, just had to pick on the interior. Peace!

Sun Feb 22, 2009 11:21 am

1977_L63H_P27 wrote:
JK. I really like the paint on this bus, just had to pick on the interior. Peace!

My main "dislike" about the interior was the dash, its painted a kinda purple and green accessories. Not my fav but it grows on ya. The PO did all the paint and interior panels, not my #1 choice but I had to have the bus!

Here is my door panel

I just didn't have the time to fit it, I was working on getting the power windows working and finishing up the sound deadening.

I have had the bus for about 1.5 years with no door panels installed :oops:

Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:09 pm

First, I recovered the original bay seats that were totally shot. Then I installed two different sets of vanagon seats of varying quality.

I then decided to go with comfy and supportive. I always liked my old scirocco seats, so I went one step further and found a set of early 80's 911 leather seats in great shape.

The passenger side was quite easy to do

but the dirvers side meant grinding off the original rail

I do like the look of the seats, they are sort of period correct, they don't look too new or fancy, and they sure are comfy. The original 911 passenger side, which I installed in the drivers side was basically brand new.

The next step is highly recommended. I took a heated seat cushion (on sale at a good old place called Canadian Tire) dismantled it and attached the two heat elements together.

I the covered the element with a thin fleece and cotton cover

I then installed the elements under a top cover for extra protection (Vicki is also a dog kennel). It is very warm, especially for those days when even good heater boxes won't quite put out enough heat. Total cost was under $15 each and is worth ten times every penny in heat.

Tue Feb 24, 2009 1:39 pm

VWBusMan1 wrote: tho the Vanagon seat in my '79 is super comfy and supportive on a long trip, the best thing I ever added to my '72 was a tractor seat with pneumatic and spring support. It's fully adjustable and once dialed in make even off road smooth. Got it from Northern Tool for 'bout $100 on sale. And, one only has to drill a few holes and can keep the old mounts for returning to stock.

Good luck, Mark

Any pics of that?

Tue Feb 24, 2009 4:55 pm

gmag69 wrote: VWBusMan1 wrote: tho the Vanagon seat in my '79 is super comfy and supportive on a long trip, the best thing I ever added to my '72 was a tractor seat with pneumatic and spring support. It's fully adjustable and once dialed in make even off road smooth. Got it from Northern Tool for 'bout $100 on sale. And, one only has to drill a few holes and can keep the old mounts for returning to stock.

Good luck, Mark

Any pics of that?

I'd like to see it too. The only sort I'm familiar with are the tall sort fitted to trucks. I know I'd need a turret for my head if I installed one of them in a bay, so is this thing shorter or something? Because I really love those pneumatic seats. Makes truck driving a pleasure.

Requesting some upskirt porn pics of some of the more unusual conversions. I just want to see what has been mounted and how.

Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:56 pm

I have two rear bucket seats out of early 90s? minivan that i'm planning on putting in my 76 westy since the ones in it are shot to hell and i have these for free. I'm just wondering if it'll be worth losing the rotating passanger seat? What do yall think? Do yall use yall's much?

Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:25 am

EZ Gruv wrote: casey79westfalia wrote: The late model vanagon seats are so comfortable.

VGon seats + Plaid = ultimate combo!

That is delicious.

Edit: What about Eurovan seats? Are the tracks different again? Never been in one.

Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:27 am

i have the dodge caravan seats in my westy right now and am going to the swivel seat, as it seems like a really nice feture to have, i know if your handy with a welder and got some time i've seen where people have used the pivot base from a ecnovan welded into the middle of our bus pedestals
that should give you the comfort of a newer seat with the ability to swivel if you want, do a search on here there's a write up somewhere, i only saw it once but it's here. me i'm just padding the hell out of the o.g. 78 seat and calling it good.

Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:29 am

Tractor Seat Pics...

Got this at NorthernTool.com for $99 on sale. That was some years ago. Suspect other companies have the as well like Southern States or Tractor Supply Company. Sorry I don't have pic in the bus as I sold it. New owner has a really rough road to his home and has said his (my old :-( bus goes up the road better and smoother than his Chevy Suburban.

Just tried to insert an image and nothing appears to happen. If anybody has a simple way to insert an image from my desktop (MAC) I'd appreciate a suggestion.

Happy trails, Mark

Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:12 pm

I've ready that 80-85 Vanagon seats are confirmed to slide into a 78 bus no problems, how about 86/87?

I have a chance to pick up a set of seats from a 86 or 87 Vanagon. The are in pretty good condition, no tears, and look like they will clean up pretty well. The owner wasn't sure what year Vanagon they came out of, but thinks it is either 86 or 87.

Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:16 pm

VWBusMan1 wrote: Tractor Seat Pics...

Got this at NorthernTool.com for $99 on sale. That was some years ago. Suspect other companies have the as well like Southern States or Tractor Supply Company. Sorry I don't have pic in the bus as I sold it. New owner has a really rough road to his home and has said his (my old :-( bus goes up the road better and smoother than his Chevy Suburban.

Just tried to insert an image and nothing appears to happen. If anybody has a simple way to insert an image from my desktop (MAC) I'd appreciate a suggestion.

Happy trails, Mark

Where did you upload your image to? If no upload it to the Gallery

Then just copy where it says forum code and paste it into your post! Simple as that.

How To Post A Picture

Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:58 am

MalibuLX3 wrote: I've ready that 80-85 Vanagon seats are confirmed to slide into a 78 bus no problems, how about 86/87?

I have a chance to pick up a set of seats from a 86 or 87 Vanagon. The are in pretty good condition, no tears, and look like they will clean up pretty well. The owner wasn't sure what year Vanagon they came out of, but thinks it is either 86 or 87.

I put seats from an '87 Vanagon in my 78 Westy. Fit just right and much more comfy.

Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:22 pm

Ritter wrote: MalibuLX3 wrote: I've ready that 80-85 Vanagon seats are confirmed to slide into a 78 bus no problems, how about 86/87?

I have a chance to pick up a set of seats from a 86 or 87 Vanagon. The are in pretty good condition, no tears, and look like they will clean up pretty well. The owner wasn't sure what year Vanagon they came out of, but thinks it is either 86 or 87.

I put seats from an '87 Vanagon in my 78 Westy. Fit just right and much more comfy.

Perfect! Thanks. I'll go ahead and pick them up them.

I don't have any pictures yet, but they are fairly clean with all the armrests and the guy said I could have them for $80

Thanks

Fri Feb 27, 2009 9:30 am

Will seats from a 90-91 Vanagon work too?? i looked and couldnt find.. thanks

Fri Feb 27, 2009 11:00 am

baumer99 wrote: First, I recovered the original bay seats that were totally shot. Then I installed two different sets of vanagon seats of varying quality.

I then decided to go with comfy and supportive. I always liked my old scirocco seats, so I went one step further and found a set of early 80's 911 leather seats in great shape.

The passenger side was quite easy to do

but the dirvers side meant grinding off the original rail

I do like the look of the seats, they are sort of period correct, they don't look too new or fancy, and they sure are comfy. The original 911 passenger side, which I installed in the drivers side was basically brand new.

The next step is highly recommended. I took a heated seat cushion (on sale at a good old place called Canadian Tire) dismantled it and attached the two heat elements together.

I the covered the element with a thin fleece and cotton cover

I then installed the elements under a top cover for extra protection (Vicki is also a dog kennel). It is very warm, especially for those days when even good heater boxes won't quite put out enough heat. Total cost was under $15 each and is worth ten times every penny in heat.

Nice mod. I've always wanted to do this.

Fri Feb 27, 2009 11:22 am

is it really necessary to post all of the photo's again in a reply.... geeze...

Fri Feb 27, 2009 11:34 am

Any Vanagon seat will slide right into the rails of a late Bay Bus. Any year. Eurovan seats can be modified to work, but they aren't a direct fit like the Vanagon.

Fri Feb 27, 2009 11:37 am

theizzardking wrote: is it really necessary to post all of the photo's again in a reply.... geeze...

I agree, it's completely obnoxious and unnecessary. I hate when threads get long like this because people keep quoting pictures over and over and over and it gets very tedious. In fact, here's what the rules have to say about it, maybe we should all start observing this one:

The Rules wrote: DON'T abuse the quote button; include only as much as is necessary for context. This includes pictures

Fri Feb 27, 2009 12:33 pm

VDubTech wrote: Any Vanagon seat will slide right into the rails of a late Bay Bus. Any year. Eurovan seats can be modified to work, but they aren't a direct fit like the Vanagon.

Thanks Brian! That's all I wanted to hear from this thread!

And to see the pics lots more than just once! :lol:

Fri Feb 27, 2009 7:56 pm

What about fitting the fairly standard four bolt seats from most other vehicles? I.e. a bolt on the front and back of each rail.

What needs to be done to ensure it's nice and secure so it can pass an engineers report?

I need a new drivers seat, and VW of any type in a wrecker are non existent for at least a couple of hundred kilometres. However, Mitsubishi, Ford and Holden parts are abundant.

This is my reasoning for getting a non-VW seat.