TheSamba.com :: View topic - Installing a later model back seat BACK on an Oval

Wed Jul 03, 2024 10:31 am

Hi Folks -
Hoping for some advice and help. Picked up a 1954 Beetle. In process of going through it, I realized the rear seat BACK was not mounted...like at all. Upon further inspection, it seems I may have a later model seatback vs the original?

I will attach photos for help. The seat is already reupholstered, and I really do not want to go through the effort of finding a 54 seat back to do it the right way.

Has anyone ever gone through this? The body appears to accept two smaller bolts, but the seatback accepts a shoulder bolt (which I now have). An adapter plate would be perfect but not sure where to even look.

Anyone else have this happen?

Wed Jul 03, 2024 10:56 am

The seat frame design is much different between pre 56 and 56 on. I am not sure if it would even fit since the body shape in the seat area is different also with the later model year.

Someone may have successfully converted the seat back and can share that experience. Otherwise, it may be more simple (but expensive!) to find the proper seat back and bottom for a 54. I am not saying it is impossible, but significant frame rework of the seats may be necessary. If you search for seat frame pictures, you can see the differences. It is not just the pivot point and location. The bottom is also different, and would require additional tabs at least.

Wed Jul 03, 2024 11:22 am

Ok thank you @Dan22. Appreciate the reply. I was fearing having to find a seat back. I am fairly handy, and can make miracles with steel flatbar and my drill press but I fear you are right in that it make be too far of a reach

Thu Jul 04, 2024 6:30 am

I asked a similar question in this thread and got some really helpful answers:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=776207

Thu Jul 04, 2024 12:02 pm

Post a coupe more pictures of what you're working with- that does not look like it's a type 1 seat?
I can't picture how that mounts to a bug seat frame...
You should have a seat something like this...

Thu Jul 04, 2024 12:35 pm

bub - it's a back seat back he's talking about, not a front seat back

Thu Jul 04, 2024 12:38 pm

finster wrote: bub - it's a back seat back he's talking about, not a front seat back

Do’h!!

Yeah, not even through my first margarita yet!

Fri Jul 05, 2024 1:02 pm

SUCCESS! I was able to do it! It takes some unorthodoxery but you can do it!

Of course I should have taken pictures but ill explain what I did:

- I put the later model seat back in place of where it needed to be located. I put the seat bottom in, then the back.
- I took note of where the top of the back of the seat met the side of the car. Just about at the side window line.
- I took the bench out, then using blocks I supported the seat back up where it was to be positioned.
- Taking off the side interior panels and centering the seat, I came up with a 5/8" gap on both sides from where the seat back mounting "foot" was from the car body. This is the bracket end where the hole is.
- Went to the hardware store and I bought two 3/4" long spacers. The OD was juuuust slightly larger than the hole in the seat back mounting "foot". The ID is I believe 1/4". They did not have metric spacers otherwise this would all be in metric. I also bought fender washers
- I "hogged out" the seat back mounting "foot" original hole...the one where the shoulder bolt would go through.... with a stepped drill bit until the spacer could slide through snuggly.

My goal was to have the seat back ride ON the spacer and have it pivot if needed.

- I got 6mm bolts, I want to say 25mm long? Maybe 30mm? I have a stash so I used what I had

- I drilled 6mm holes through the same metal plate the original two holes for the original seat back were on. This hole for reference was higher up than the original two.

- I inserted (1) fender washer on the inner side, then the 3/4" spacer, than another fender washer, then finally the bolt. The bolt goes through the entire assembly, through the hole.

- finally, one more fender washer on the bolt on the backside of the metal bracket then a M6 Nylock locknut.

All of the above could also be done with 8mm bolts and the appropriate spacers I suppose for a little bit more sturdiness...but this works!

I hardly ever plan to have anyone back there...but I sat back there (all 240 lbs) and it held just fine. Jumped on it a bit too.

Anyone, this should offer hope for anyone not trying to do a concours resto but does need a seat back.

Here are some photos of it installed and a very crude drawing so please be kind about my art work lol

If you were able to follow all of that - first, you're amazing but second...you may think to yourself: "But wont the seatback slide somewhat side to side on those spacers?"

Answer is NO because the seat back mounting feet are actually at their "inner limit" on both sides, meaning there is no slack for the seat back to move laterally.

Sat Jul 06, 2024 9:49 am

I'm glad you made it work. It looks good from the front side. Does it rest on the pegs on the back top side?

Sat Jul 06, 2024 10:42 am

Unorthodoxery...that's a great way to say "working with what I got"...I like it.
Looks like it worked fine.

Tue Jul 09, 2024 8:08 am

Dan22 wrote: I'm glad you made it work. It looks good from the front side. Does it rest on the pegs on the back top side?

Yes it does. Really sturdy. At the moment there is nothing "holding" it there in position other than the bottom bench, but I have a plan for that as well on the backside to keep it in place.

Tue Jul 09, 2024 8:09 am

tehillah1 wrote: Unorthodoxery...that's a great way to say "working with what I got"...I like it.
Looks like it worked fine.

Thank you! Yes it was a "moment". The garage-cursing gods listened lol

Tue Jul 09, 2024 9:11 am

Great work.

It is very satisfying when a plan comes together.

Your artwork is good too.

Wed Jul 10, 2024 10:10 am

markendee wrote: Great work.

It is very satisfying when a plan comes together.

Your artwork is good too.

Thank you, appreciated