Bolt-on Swivel Seat for Vanagons

[DuncanS]

[djkeev]

[DuncanS]

Saw that, but countless hours and the seat is still too high. It's a really nice mod, but not for me. He can only access that area by opening the PS door. As long as I don't have a passenger, I can access everything in that area while driving.

Not trying to step on those who have and love the swivel, but I can do everything the swivel can do and no welding and especially no $221 plus S and H. Does it take a little longer, yes, but if you're at the site, what's an extra 2 minutes>

Duncan

[djkeev]

Here is the link to making a side piano hinge for the seat swivel base......

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
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Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[DuncanS]

Depress the spring rod, just like the high priced unit and put in notches wherever you want. There are really just five positions you need.
1.

2.

3.

4.

5. Number 3 +180º
6. Is just a variation of 3

These four positions are all done without a swivel, Just cross notches in the rails to receive the seat slides. Doesn't raise the seat up and keeps the under seat standard access except for position 2 where you just lift the platform, which tames the crud under it and is a platform for long lumber, boats 'n stuff.

On second thought, I'll skip the lazy susan as I already have more projects than I can handle.

Duncan

[Sodo]

[DuncanS]

An old thread found under FAQ index.

Found this: https://www.vxb.com/1000-lbs-Capacity-12-Lazy-Susan-5-16-Thick-p/kit8999.htm

I wonder if anyone has ever used on of these. Love the thinness and weight.capacity so seems like it might be safe in a crash. It appears to be sealed so the two halves won't separate which is good. All it would need is the spring stop to hold the seat in a given position which should be no hill for a climber.

Not a fan of swivel seats because of raised seat height and loss of storage underneath, but since i't so cheap, I might just get one and see. https://www.amazon.com/Capacity-Bearing-Turntable-...amp;sr=8-3

Duncan

[syncrodoka]

[DuncanS]

No this is a really good idea. I also got rid of my swivel because of the extra height. If a fella reworked the upper part of the swivels and welded it directly to the seat base, the unused seat rails could be employed on the bottom part of the swivel.

A couple of caveats. 1. because the factory pedestal rails are below the outboard part of the wheel housing, it may take an inch to clear it anyway. I don't have one so can't examine the heights and do any engineering on it. 2. i messing with my seats to get a better recline action, I initially reworked the seat slide parts. I found the tolerance between them to be extremely tight. +- .35mm. If this is something you might do, i strongly advise you tack the rails together before removing them from the seat base to preserve the track width. 3. The recline mechanism attaches to the seat rails and so if you do this, you will need to cut them off where the attachment for the torsion rod and pivot holes are located and generate something so they can then go on the swivel upper part which will now be part of the seat base.

Not impossible, but shouldn't be any hill for a climber. The question is, can you save the inch height problem?

This solves both the storage loss and and battery access.

Duncan

[Love My Westy]

It's too bad the adaptor doesnt just slide into the original seat rails and lock in place just like the seat does.

[mikemtnbike]

While I like syncrodoka's mod, its only 6 bolts to take the swivel base off for the rare occasions when you need to pull the battery. Not bad at all and don't risk fubaring a 200 dollar part.

I'm more curious about syncodoka's mention of no longer having the factory seat rails. If you see this, did you attach the swivel directly to the pedestal and if so did you lose seat height.?My wife doesn't like the extra seat height although she really likes the swivel.
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual

[?Waldo?]

If cutting out a section of the metal I would recommend reinforcing it by welding on additional metal (like the angle that syncrodoka used) so that it is at least as strong as it was prior to removing the metal.

[floodwood]

[syncrodoka]

[DuncanS]

About 6 months ago, a guy sent a bunch of good posts and photos showing how he hinged the swivel base on one side. He had a pull out pin which allowed it to hinge up. This is the only way I would consider putting in a swivel seat. Interior storage is at a super premium and why would you give that up for the few times you want to swivel the seat? Far simpler to just install the seat backwards. If you drill out the pop rivets on the flap, the whole thing will hinge back on the carpet and give clearance for the seat slides so it can go in from the back as well. Remove the tabs which prevent this on the base slides. Also get rid of the spring thingy which keeps the seat from being able to go out the front without releasing it. Why would you ever need that?

IMHO, the swivel isn't worth it. Too expensive, robs stowage, screws up the batter location and raises the seat an uncomfortable inch. And not really needed with the mods I advocate.

[floodwood]

[crazyvwvanman]

You asked about cutting the swivel base plate so the full cover door can open. Cutting the battery cover door is preferable in my book. That is what I do when I install a front seat swivel assembly. The door hinge is held to the van by a few pop rivets. Drill the heads off the rivets, cut the door to fit, pop rivet it back where it was. Cut slightly more than what you think, so the carpet flap has room to flip too.

Mark

[DuncanS]

Of course. I thought that's what everybody did. I did. Worked fine. The extra carpet can flap in the breeze just fine. It doesn't need supporting. Or cut that too if you like.

[floodwood]

Thanks all for the advise.

Would it be possible/advisable to simply cut out the portion of the swivel that gets in the way - cutting in-between the rail portion? Crappy drawing below.

[Aryana]