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Mon Jun 03, 2013 9:41 pm

THANK YOU! I wouldn't have been impressed if I'd swapped the little tiny metal pins and it didn't solve my problem. :roll:
stevey88 wrote: You need to modify the two pins that are inserted into the back of the seat in order to be able to pull the head rest out without removing the clips. There are V-shape indents on the pins but the last indents are different. Use a metal file or a grinder to modify the last indent so they look like the others. Then you will be able to pull them out.

Any ideas on patching that hole?

I'm thinking liquid fabric paint.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tulip-Slick-Dimensional-Fabric-Paint-Black/17300276

Anyone ever try it?

tam

Mon Jun 03, 2013 10:53 pm

If you are talking about the tear on the black head rest, use this:

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/PER0/8178...nyl+repair

I have used this to repair my grey head rest. The difficult part is to get the right color by mixing black and white. You will not be able to tell after you are done since it is at the bottom and the color is black. The kit can also be used on the dash or other vinyl/leather parts.

Mon Jun 03, 2013 11:23 pm

Thank you! Will see if I have the kit I used last time I did it before buying a new kit. Saved the link though!

tam
stevey88 wrote: If you are talking about the tear on the black head rest, use this:

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/PER0/8178...nyl+repair

I have used this to repair my grey head rest. The difficult part is to get the right color by mixing black and white. You will not be able to tell after you are done since it is at the bottom and the color is black. The kit can also be used on the dash or other vinyl/leather parts.

Tue Jun 04, 2013 9:04 am

You need to use the iron that come with the kit. Using a house hold iron will risk burning or melting the vinyl.

Tue Jun 18, 2013 12:53 pm

I have the plastic sleeves on order, but I want to get a jump on making the brackets. Does anyone know the measurements (including thickness) of the pipe used, the flat piece and the width and depth of the notch in the top of the pipe??? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thu Jul 17, 2014 9:36 pm

The kids a re growing out of the boosters and i will have to do this on my next van.
You guys that have done this mod, are happy with the result?
the back seat is sitting in pieces in my shed, and now is the time to do it.

Fri Jul 18, 2014 9:13 am

Our daughter is 9 now and it gives me a lot of peace of mind. I do think she'll get too tall for the GW 3-point seat belt at some point and it will cut into her shoulder, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it! For now, headrests are a great mod.

Fri Jul 18, 2014 10:26 am

Has anybody tried using guides and headrests from another vehicle? I haven't found any Samba posts.

Surprisingly, it's not that easy to find a matching set of used Vanagon headrests, and those OEM brackets are expensive.

These tan Beetle headrests would be a good match for my van.

$47.99 OBO for the pair on Ebay.

$22.99 for set of four on Ebay.

Then I guess you would need to make up a set of metal tubes/brackets to bolt onto the back seat.

I'd be stoked if I could get another pair of the Beetle headrests to work on the front seats too, when I re-upholster.

Fri Jul 18, 2014 10:51 am

^^^ I don't see why the Beatle parts wouldnt work. As long as the brakest are positioned to fit them.

Fri Jul 18, 2014 6:26 pm

Here is what I did to my van recently. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=580940

I have been thinking about this for some time and I have come to the conclusion that if I did not come across my headrests then I feel that any headrest and tubes will do. I feel that with the plywood that is the back and the hinges of the z bed this back seat is going to sustain only so much force. The headrest mounts that some are installing are over engineered. The entire z bed will give before the headrest will. I was considering using the headrest tubes and something like this http://t.homedepot.com/p/Halex-1-2-in-Electrical-M...100172548/. This alone won't do but something along these lines. Just my thoughts.

Fri Jul 18, 2014 8:43 pm

yeah, i don't see any reason to stick with the vanagon ones.

one thing i see most people forget to install is the clip that keeps the 3 point belt in the right place, aka "lucky" # 13

Fri Jul 18, 2014 9:03 pm

Where do you get a lucky #13?

Fri Jul 18, 2014 9:12 pm

i think there are many aftermarket options. https://www.google.com/search?q=seat+belt+retainer+headrest&tbm=isch

my 3 point install went in easily enough (non-wart style) - but next step is the headrest.

Sat Jul 19, 2014 9:45 am

I don't think I got the Lucky 13 clip with my GoWesty kit...is it supposed to have one?

Sat Jul 19, 2014 10:26 am

tarandusVDub wrote: I don't think I got the Lucky 13 clip with my GoWesty kit...is it supposed to have one?

No, I have never seen one. All vans I have seen came without this. Even late model 1990 passenger vans with headrests in the rearmost seat bench. I'm guessing only some factory passenger vans with rear headrests and rear three point seat belts would have a Lucky #13.

Sat Apr 11, 2015 1:40 pm

Thanks for this thread! The Samba is indeed an awesome resource.

I've decided to go with the OEM kit, and found it in Canada for a little cheaper than the one linked to in Europe:
http://www.frankcondelli.com/staging1/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=703

$160 Canadian shipped, or ~$130 US. Why isn't this carried in the US?

I'm assuming there will be basic instructions with it, but for those that have used this kit, do the plates face the back or the front? I would guess the front.
Thanks.
-Steve

EDIT: I got these installed, and posted my install process and pics here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=626373

Sun Aug 23, 2015 7:24 pm

joetiger wrote: Last night I removed my rear seat for reupholstery and made some measurements for the headrest kit. I'll post up pics and description when I get everything installed, should be this week I hope.

Hey joetiger, did you ever get this installed in your weekender? I have been reading and heard about a metal support bar that goes across the seat back making the install difficult? Just curious if you have pics of this and how/what you did about it.

Thanks!

Mon Aug 24, 2015 6:49 am

jereandjess wrote:

Hey joetiger, did you ever get this installed in your weekender? I have been reading and heard about a metal support bar that goes across the seat back making the install difficult? Just curious if you have pics of this and how/what you did about it.

Thanks!

I made the decision that the headrests were more important than the U-shaped top steel support. The back plywood section on mine has held up fine to repeated and regular abuse over the years; however, I did get less rigidity by discarding the top steel support.

If I was doing it again, I think a good solution would be to get two long pieces of 1" flat steel stock, drill some holes and sandwich/bolt them across the top section of the back bench to replace the U-shaped steel piece that I removed. That way you could have the headrest brackets in place and still have that rigid support across the top.

(Disclaimer: I'm neither an engineer nor a safety expert, so this idea might be garbage.)

Wed Jan 11, 2017 11:35 am

With my little one growing fast I am getting ready to do this mod. I sourced one headrest kit from Frank in Canada (no instructions but with this forum's help it doesn't look too hard).
But I'm not having much luck finding decent vanagon headrests. All the ones I have seen on the classifieds seem long in tooth and a bit spendy for what you get. Some have mentioned that other headrests would work but I have failed to find examples. Lots of nice used vw/audi/porsche headrests on ebay etc.
Anyone have specific info on what fits?
Thanks

Wed Jan 11, 2017 12:24 pm

I have one headrest kit good for one headrest - part number 255 070 211A
PM if anyone is interested.

Frank's kit: https://www.frankcondelli.com/staging1/store/index...uct_id=703