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sxuxrxf
Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2005
Posts: 1338
Location: Oceanside, CA
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 Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 2:03 pm Post subject: How to: Vanagon seats in an early bay |
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After struggling with the idea of incorrect seats in my bus, I'm over it!
My seats are in need of redoing and the passenger seat is ready for the trash ( welded broken springs are never the same ).
While my bus isn't bone stock, I don't like doing irreversible mods to it. I've figured out how to get the vanagon seats in without harming the stock seat mounting. I can swap seats in about 5 minutes and noone will ever know.
Here are the passenger mounts. The left one bolts in and the right was welded. Just drill out the welds and make it bolt on if you want to put them back in.
I made tabs and welded them to each inside corner on the passenger seat. They are place at angles to match the seat stand. Just thru bolt.
This shows the drivers seat. The inside bend has been cut off and a small section on the outside as well for clearance in the stock sliders. Both sides have been cut the same. The seat now slides right in. The locking mechanism has been removed, it's a different type. I will put a bolt in front and behind the seat to lock it in place.
Pretty simple swap for $50 junkyard seats. Not sure what I'm going to cover them with. I'll post finished pics when I'm done.
I hope this helps anyone that has been considering doing this.
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busout
Samba Member
Joined: December 25, 2004
Posts: 59
Location: Alabama
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| Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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lOOKS GREAT SO FAR! CAN/T WAIT TO SEE THE THE SEATS INSTALLED.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE A ARM REST. IT WOULD MAKE THE LONG TRIPS IN MY 70 BAY MORE ENJOYABLE. GONNA START LOOKING FOR SOME VANAGON SEATS!
GOOD LUCK!
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70 Bus
72 Standard Beetle
67 Beetle
81 Truck |
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jberger
Samba Member
Joined: November 17, 2003
Posts: 2476
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| Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 9:39 am Post subject: |
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| What is the mounting hardware on your early seats? Looks like your new mount doesn't allow for front to rear adjustment. |
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sxuxrxf
Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2005
Posts: 1338
Location: Oceanside, CA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:30 pm Post subject: |
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Early seats didn't have sliding adjustability on the passenger seat, only upright and slightly less upright.  The driver's seat is adjustable in the track but the locking mechanism is different. Because of this, a position has to be chosen and then securely mounted there. I found a comfortable position that works in the upright and reclined positions, so it's all good 
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alexbeatle
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2020
Posts: 215
Location: NorCal
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| Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2025 8:29 am Post subject: Re: How to: Vanagon seats in an early bay |
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| sxuxrxf wrote: |
After struggling with the idea of incorrect seats in my bus, I'm over it!
My seats are in need of redoing and the passenger seat is ready for the trash ( welded broken springs are never the same ).
While my bus isn't bone stock, I don't like doing irreversible mods to it. I've figured out how to get the vanagon seats in without harming the stock seat mounting. I can swap seats in about 5 minutes and noone will ever know.
Here are the passenger mounts. The left one bolts in and the right was welded. Just drill out the welds and make it bolt on if you want to put them back in.
I made tabs and welded them to each inside corner on the passenger seat. They are place at angles to match the seat stand. Just thru bolt.
This shows the drivers seat. The inside bend has been cut off and a small section on the outside as well for clearance in the stock sliders. Both sides have been cut the same. The seat now slides right in. The locking mechanism has been removed, it's a different type. I will put a bolt in front and behind the seat to lock it in place.
Pretty simple swap for $50 junkyard seats. Not sure what I'm going to cover them with. I'll post finished pics when I'm done.
I hope this helps anyone that has been considering doing this. |
Thank you for sharing! I didn’t quite understand how your modified vanagon passenger seat holds? Did you drill extra holes in the base? Please elaborate. |
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W1K1
Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2004
Posts: 5318
Location: Southern AB
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| Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2025 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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| sxuxrxf wrote: |
| Early seats didn't have sliding adjustability on the passenger seat, only upright and slightly less upright. The driver's seat is adjustable in the track but the locking mechanism is different. Because of this, a position has to be chosen and then securely mounted there. I found a comfortable position that works in the upright and reclined positions, so it's all good |
That’s why lots of people use the stow and go seats, the seat adjuster is built in, you just have to make a mount to match the built in mounting studs.
And they have arms, flip down flat, and the leather is a plus with dirty dog feet riding shotgun
_________________
1973 super 2110cc
1965 squareback 1500E-sold
1971 bay window westy- EJ2.5 subi swap |
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alexbeatle
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2020
Posts: 215
Location: NorCal
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| Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2025 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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| W1K1 wrote: |
| sxuxrxf wrote: |
| Early seats didn't have sliding adjustability on the passenger seat, only upright and slightly less upright. The driver's seat is adjustable in the track but the locking mechanism is different. Because of this, a position has to be chosen and then securely mounted there. I found a comfortable position that works in the upright and reclined positions, so it's all good |
That’s why lots of people use the stow and go seats, the seat adjuster is built in, you just have to make a mount to match the built in mounting studs.
And they have arms, flip down flat, and the leather is a plus with dirty dog feet riding shotgun
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Stow’n’go are either impossible to find or cost an arm and a leg. I got vanagon seats for free |
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W1K1
Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2004
Posts: 5318
Location: Southern AB
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| Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2025 6:25 pm Post subject: Re: How to: Vanagon seats in an early bay |
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My set cost $300, my buddy paid $150 for grey leather. They come up on marketplace, and the pick and pull pretty regularly around here.
_________________
1973 super 2110cc
1965 squareback 1500E-sold
1971 bay window westy- EJ2.5 subi swap |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15405
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2025 8:36 am Post subject: Re: How to: Vanagon seats in an early bay |
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they are at the golden window in the U-pulls right now..
| W1K1 wrote: |
| My set cost $300, my buddy paid $150 for grey leather. They come up on marketplace, and the pick and pull pretty regularly around here. |
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| These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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