bay seats quick change

[webwalker]

In my 1971 Deluxe, I replaced the 2/3 middle seat with a full width one. It wasn't too bad, just the floor bolts and keepers. But what about a change out from a walk through at the front to a bench at the front? I've seen the mounting hardware to mount a 2/3 width center and passenger seat. How easily reversible is this. Are you going to be standing on your head all afternoon taking out bolts, or is it as straight forward as the center seat removal?

I'm considering this in terms of flexibility to rearrange seating as needed to deal with my family and the rapidly changing jobs we would need this bus for.

M
_________________
"Consistent maintenance with quality products is the cheapest warranty you'll ever need."
1977 CE1 Transporter Deluxe, Subaru EJ22, Skills Cooling, Steedle HD 091 w/ GuardT .82 4th
Click to view image

[SGKent]

did you do a search? This has been discussed several times before and if I recall there are panels that need to be spot welded in. You will miss that walk thru when it is gone. That walk through is one of the greatest assets the buses have. Right now you can get to the kids in the back or swap rider postions through the walk through, when it is gone the only way will be to pull over.
_________________
Canned Water - the new California approved parts cleaner (except in a drought in which case rub it with sand).

George Carlin:
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it."

Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice"

[webwalker]

Merlin,

Yes. I did a search, though the question is not 'how hard is it to do' or 'how useful it is to do' but 'how easy is it to UN-do.' The info that I was looking was not obvious from several version of search strings I tried.

That fact that you're discussing panel welds tells me, no, this isn't something that could be altered and then returned to a different configuration on a whim. It sounds like I would be a lot safer with just the long center seat which is an easy swap.

Thanks for the input.
_________________
"Consistent maintenance with quality products is the cheapest warranty you'll ever need."
1977 CE1 Transporter Deluxe, Subaru EJ22, Skills Cooling, Steedle HD 091 w/ GuardT .82 4th
Click to view image

[chimneyfish]

webwalker

You need M501. An optional extra kit by VW.

M-Code

M500 = Full width metal partition between cabin and load compartment - bus model types 21-23

M501 = Two-person passenger seat instead of single passenger seat in cabin, spare tyre in left side of luggage compartment (not with M500) - bus models 21-24

Source: VW Transporter and Microbus Specification Guide 1967-1979 (By Vincent Molenaar and Alexander Prinz)

To see what this means, go to the Baywindow "Rarest of the Rare" thread and Jasonbye and cdennisg's posts. No welding here!

Here are some links and quotes:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3702663&highlight=bench+bulkhead+seat#3702663

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1...;start=220

[73kombi]

[chimneyfish]

73kombi

Totally agree, looks very interchangeable. If I came across one I'd buy it just for the added flexibility it can give to a bus. I reckon once you had all the components and taken the time to restore them, it would then only take a leisurely half an hours work, cup of coffee in hand for each swap over, maximum! The dog would love it.
_________________
1965 Type 1 Deluxe (1200cc)
1976 Type 2 T2b Microbus L (1800cc Type 4)
Previously...
1972 T2 Camper (Devon), 1988 Golf, 1972 Type 1, 1984 Polo, 1972 T2 Camper (Danbury)

[webwalker]

I did review that thread! And that's where I first saw the adaption done, but I didn't know whether it was an easy alteration. It appears that while it is relatively easy, the parts are also rare as hen's teeth!

The was exactly the type of info I was looking for. I think I'm going to ask for that book for Christmas.

Thanks again,

M
_________________
"Consistent maintenance with quality products is the cheapest warranty you'll ever need."
1977 CE1 Transporter Deluxe, Subaru EJ22, Skills Cooling, Steedle HD 091 w/ GuardT .82 4th
Click to view image

[oldeschoolbus]

quick question, what is so great about a walkthrough? I don't get it! I don't see any advantages/disadvantages to either

[chimneyfish]

webwalker

It's the best Type 2 book I have ever bought, it sit's alongside my VW Type 2 parts list, Haynes and Robert Bentley manuals. Best get writing that letter to Santa.

I have to say, following the posts quoted by jasonbye above, he has done one hell of a tidy job, very impressive.

I now think I want an M501 kit for Christmas!

Seriously, as with most of these things you start searching for one and end up with two or more. If you aquire a spare M501, mail me, I'd probably buy it off you.
_________________
1965 Type 1 Deluxe (1200cc)
1976 Type 2 T2b Microbus L (1800cc Type 4)
Previously...
1972 T2 Camper (Devon), 1988 Golf, 1972 Type 1, 1984 Polo, 1972 T2 Camper (Danbury)

[chimneyfish]

[SGKent]

[Shaven]

Hi Guys, will these walk through bar kits fit into late Bays? Say 74 model? Cheers
_________________
the dc baggin is because its a well known fact that a restored sc will never be worth anywhere near what even a shitbox dc is

[busdaddy]

[orwell84]

One of the things I like about the early Westy is the relative simplicity of how the furnishings are installed. It is pretty easy to set up for the kind of trip I am planning to take. For longer camping trips I usually travel with less furniture as I prefer to have a cooler and cooking gear in bins so I can haul them out and deal with it all on a picnic table. I have never used the little sink and the icebox takes up a ton of space. Sometimes I take everything out to haul 4x8 sheets of plywood or drywall. People are amazed that it fits.

Most of the time I think I would rather have the walk through but for sure the middle seat would be just the thing for certain kinds of trips. I like the middle seat add because it’s easily reversible.

I have always liked the swivel passenger seat on later Westy’s. I think it would add a lot of space and functionality but I just can’t bring myself to cut out the bulkhead behind the seat. I had no problem cutting my bus to do a factory like installation of my BN4 heater, but not the bulkhead.

[alman72]

[allamaabroad]

I know I know, reviving an old thread...

I'm exploring the idea of converting a 70 Bay from buckets to 1/3 2/3 bench in the front. The M501 brackets appear to be something that I could very easily fabricate, I'm just curious about the seats themselves.

If one were to do this conversion, is the drivers side seat (the 1/3) the same as a regular bucket seat? Do you have to find both the 1/3 and the 2/3 seat? Or can a 2/3 bench be installed with the original bucket seat successfully?

Thanks!

[alman72]

[allamaabroad]

Perfect! Thanks

[jtauxe]

FWIW, I seriously considered converting the '78 double cab to walk-through. That would have been pretty sweet. In the end, though, I decided not to for two reasons that are advantages to the non-walkthrough:

1. Strength of the vehicle. I think that partition wall adds a lot to the rigidity of the body, making it less prone to forming cracks at stress concentration points, especially with the addition of the fourth door.

2. I like that it has a place for the spare tire. Otherwise it would be bouncing around in the bed or under the rear seat.
_________________
John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD