Converting highbacks to lowbacks?

[deafen]

So in my quest for seats, I've located a pair within a reasonable driving distance -- but they're highbacks, and I (read: "my wife") would really prefer lowbacks.

A year or two ago, I seem to recall coming across a website that walked through someone's adventure with converting highback seats to lowbacks. I will have to replace at least the vinyl anyway, so I'm not averse to disassembly and hacksawing.

Has anybody done this, or seen the web page I'm referring to? I can't find it now.

[J Flare]

I have highbacks and really like them. Maybe she should sit in them on a long trip first. That being said I perfer the look of lowbacks.

[guzziguy]

I converted a pair, and they turned out great, and are very comfortable. Check my gallery for pictures of the process. They are for a type 3, but should be the same for the Thing I would imagine.

A couple of things. (these tips will make sense when you start into it).

You will have to use the foam headrest, and carve it down. Use something like an electric carving knife, and do it as smooth as possible. Take a small piece of scrap foam, and glue it in the hole. Before you slip the new cover on, lay some thin foam over the top, and this will hide the hacks, and smooth the top.

I may take my backrest cover off, as you can see a little bit of lumpiness where I carved the foam. It's very rubbery, and I thought the cover would hide it better, but it hides nothing. Do a clean job the first time.

[deafen]

Guzziguy, thanks for the reference! I was hoping it wouldn't involve welding, though. Do you know if the Beetle highback seat frames are the same kind of design?

If it comes down to it, I can try and find some pipe that has an ID slightly larger than the seat frame pipe OD and just JB Weld it in place.

J Flare, I'm going to put the seats in as is for a while first, since they're in decent shape. We'll see how she feels about it after living with that for a while.

[guzziguy]

I would weld them personally. All it will take is one fatty, and they will spread apart. I had access to a mig welder at work. If you can't do it yourself, cut the pieces and get them ready, and a welder will tack them in in mere minutes. The steel yard I went to didn't really have that much stock that was the same size, but the 1" exhaust tubing fit pretty close. It was a bit larger OD, but I flushed it up on the top.

Beetle highback frames are indeed constructed the same way.

[warrant_nielsen]

I installed early 70's high backs in my 74 and they are great! I got them mainly for safety reasions (too many idiots out there eating while reading a book while texting while puting on makeup while......)

__________________________
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1959 - Bug
1974 - Type 181 Acapulco Thing
1982 - VW Diesel Pickup
2004 – New Beetle Convertible ‘Mellow Yellow’
1966 Bug, 66-67-68 Bug Convertible, 68 Bug, 70 Bug, 72 Bay Window Camper Van.
Diesels – 80 Rabbit, 82 Rabbit, 84 Golf, 86 Jetta, 2000 Jetta ‘TDI’, 2002 Jetta ‘TDI’, 2006 Jetta ‘TDI’ …

[Kherome]

I have lowbacks in my Thing but I'd like to get highbacks. I'm too afraid of having an accident with lowbacks...it looks to me like lowbacks=broken backs in an accident.

[Captain Spalding]

[Kherome]

That sounds good in theory but I am willing to bet that I am not in "reasonable" driving distance for him.