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Zeug Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2010 Posts: 43 Location: Colorado Springs
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Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:54 pm Post subject: Best Option For Seat Rails? |
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I need to get some seat rails for my thing.
The PO had replaced the floor pans with dimond plate and ditched the seat rails in favor of some half inch bolts welded to bridge the gap between seat and pan. Nice! I just finished replaceing the diamond plate with Danish pans. Not that bad of a job, all things considering...
So now I am in the market for stock seat rails. I havent found any close by and am wondering if The Thing Shop seat rails are really that much better than stock. They want $210 for a pair. Ouch!
If anyone has a lead on some used ones that would be cool too.
Thanks,
Kent |
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Semper_Dad Samba Member

Joined: May 14, 2005 Posts: 3525 Location: Indiana
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Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 4:14 pm Post subject: |
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$210 is definately ouch but if you planning to stay with the stock seats it's probably the best way to go. Most likely the last rails you'll have to install. 71 and 72 highbacks also fit the stock rails. _________________ Walküre Restoration Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=737492 |
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[email protected] Samba Member

Joined: February 21, 2003 Posts: 878 Location: Clifton Park NY Saratoga County
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swhitcomb Samba Member

Joined: November 05, 2003 Posts: 5713 Location: Inwood WV
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Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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I've been looking at the brazilian ones for my wife's car. What's not exact about them? _________________ My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster |
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[email protected] Samba Member

Joined: February 21, 2003 Posts: 878 Location: Clifton Park NY Saratoga County
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Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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Basically, the angle is different. Whereas thing ones are more straight these are more angled.
Mine are a little bit heavier duty than some of the others I have seen.
I bought a case of these when rocky mountain motorworks was around
I was unhappy with the other brazilian ones that were thinner gauge _________________ Michael Basso
http://www.thingparts.com
New and Used VW Thing Parts Free advice
CALL 518 630 0173 |
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1 THING Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2011 Posts: 245 Location: Murray, KY
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Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 5:23 am Post subject: |
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if theyre anything like the 3/4 floor pans i bought from Mike, theyll be "heavy duty" |
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swhitcomb Samba Member

Joined: November 05, 2003 Posts: 5713 Location: Inwood WV
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Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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[email protected] wrote: |
Basically, the angle is different. Whereas thing ones are more straight these are more angled.
Mine are a little bit heavier duty than some of the others I have seen.
I bought a case of these when rocky mountain motorworks was around
I was unhappy with the other brazilian ones that were thinner gauge |
Thanks Mike. That's what I needed to know. I'm going to replace her pans this winter, and I'll order these from you when the time comes. _________________ My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster |
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Zeug Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2010 Posts: 43 Location: Colorado Springs
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Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 9:48 am Post subject: |
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Thanks! When you say the angle is different, do you mean the seat will end up a bit more reclined using these rails? If it is not drastic, I think it might work for me. I am using the stock low back seats but am not going for full stock restoration.
Would I need to order a left and right or are they the same?
Also, does anyone have a diagram showing their exact location on the pans? I used the Danish replacement pans if that matters.
Thanks again,
Kent |
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[email protected] Samba Member

Joined: February 21, 2003 Posts: 878 Location: Clifton Park NY Saratoga County
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Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 10:05 am Post subject: |
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They will work on the left or right side I would just say a bit reclined, not too drastic thanks Mike _________________ Michael Basso
http://www.thingparts.com
New and Used VW Thing Parts Free advice
CALL 518 630 0173 |
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kubelmann Samba Member

Joined: April 13, 2003 Posts: 3268
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Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 10:59 am Post subject: |
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One seat solution that I use (especially with pan replacement and no seat rails are Race Trim suspension seats. They go for around $150 ea and require no rails but use much safer bolt-in seat mounts. I have had a pair on Herr Kubelmann for over ten years. I sold the ver nice stock seats for nearly enough $$ to buy the Race Trim seats. As an aded benefit they can be ordered to fit your size asn shape and are many times more comfortable and safe than the stock units. They also happen to look way better and take up far less floor space. Check them out at:
http://carcraftstore.com/hi-backseats.aspx |
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mr white Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2005 Posts: 1194 Location: beautiful Oregon & Mohave County, AZ
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 6:37 pm Post subject: |
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Can someone please post pics with some good reference points where these seat rails get welded to on the pan halves? I need to install these on my new pans soon. |
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Zeug Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2010 Posts: 43 Location: Colorado Springs
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Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 3:16 pm Post subject: |
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mr white wrote: |
Can someone please post pics with some good reference points where these seat rails get welded to on the pan halves? I need to install these on my new pans soon. |
Yep, looks like I cant figure out where they go as well..  |
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Zeug Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2010 Posts: 43 Location: Colorado Springs
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Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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kubelmann wrote: |
One seat solution that I use (especially with pan replacement and no seat rails are Race Trim suspension seats. They go for around $150 ea and require no rails but use much safer bolt-in seat mounts. I have had a pair on Herr Kubelmann for over ten years. I sold the ver nice stock seats for nearly enough $$ to buy the Race Trim seats. As an aded benefit they can be ordered to fit your size asn shape and are many times more comfortable and safe than the stock units. They also happen to look way better and take up far less floor space. Check them out at:
http://carcraftstore.com/hi-backseats.aspx |
Hey K-Mann,
This is Kent from COS. I stopped by your place last year and we spoke about pan options. I like this seat option, and if I was not trying to use the stock seats i would probably go this way.
For some reason I really like the retro - minimalistic look feel of the stock seats.  |
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tyiii Samba Member

Joined: February 13, 2007 Posts: 50 Location: Norfolk, VA
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 5:36 am Post subject: |
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I used Thing Shop tracks on my danish pans worked great . Look at another car when installing , they sit at an angle on the floor pan. |
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kubelmann Samba Member

Joined: April 13, 2003 Posts: 3268
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 6:06 am Post subject: |
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All you need is measurements taken from the pan prior to the seat rail being removed. I have a 74 Thing pan off the car with stock factory installed seat rails, if anyone needs measurements. K-mann |
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citroen Samba Member

Joined: February 28, 2010 Posts: 1578 Location: louisville ky
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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maybe this will help this is thing shop seat rails and thing shop half pan
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swhitcomb Samba Member

Joined: November 05, 2003 Posts: 5713 Location: Inwood WV
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Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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Some quick follow up:
The are in and work. It takes a little work to get enough contact with the pan to weld them. They sit on a slightly different angle. The are about 1/3 the price of the ones at The Thing Shop, so I am happy. _________________ My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster |
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Bashr52 Samba Member

Joined: July 16, 2006 Posts: 5667 Location: On an island in VA
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Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 6:22 am Post subject: |
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swhitcomb wrote: |
Some quick follow up:
The are in and work. It takes a little work to get enough contact with the pan to weld them. They sit on a slightly different angle. The are about 1/3 the price of the ones at The Thing Shop, so I am happy. |
Look good! Where did you end up locatinf them on the pan? That is the only thing I have left to do to mine before the body goes back on and I can POR/Bed line everything..... |
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swhitcomb Samba Member

Joined: November 05, 2003 Posts: 5713 Location: Inwood WV
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Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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I studied the before pics very carefully, mounted the seats on the tracks, and welded them in. They are very close to correct. Not 100% though. _________________ My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster |
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Bashr52 Samba Member

Joined: July 16, 2006 Posts: 5667 Location: On an island in VA
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Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 4:13 am Post subject: |
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I just got my tracks. Can someone give me some mounting measurements? Ive got nothing to reference. Thanks. |
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