Westy seat vs. non-Westy seat

[campism]

If you have a Westy and, like me, do not have access to any other Vanagons in order to compare what the differences are between your front seats and regular van seats, I thought I’d post this as a primer on the major differences. While my own ’87 Westy was in great condition when I bought it I felt from day one that the front seats could be much more comfortable and heard swaps could be done but had no access to replacements. I eventually found Eurovan seats for my van, but later came across these tan ones from an ’86 passenger van .

Here you’ll see the major difference between my ’87 Westy grey seat and a standard van seat; the Westy seat is made lower and flatter. Figure that an inch-thick swivel will raise it up to be approximately even with the seating surface of the tan. A fellow Sambanista is buying these tan seats from me.

Slightly elevated view gives a better idea of how much bolstering is on the standard seat. Much better thigh support and less feeling that you are sliding off the front of the seat.

Measured front-to-back the Westy seat cushion is about 20.5” long…

Compared to the other, which is about 2” longer. Again, better support = more comfort.

Overall seatback heights are equal, so the nearly all difference is in the seat cushions (tan headrest removed for shipping).

The tracks are the same, so all Vanagon seats will fit all other Vanagons without surgery. I have been told that early (‘80-’84) Westy seat cushions are even different from these '87 ones but I do not know that. If you are unhappy with your Westy seat you now have an idea of why it is different and what to look for in a replacement. The regular van seats will lift you about 1" compared to your stock Westy seating position (as did my EV replacement seats) but with no fitting hassles. These are a big enough improvement that you might not be interested in the reported welding/drilling required to fit Volvo or other seats, if you can find some of these in a junkyard. If you already have a non-Westy and want better seats you'll need to look to a different vehicle or to the aftermarket. Good luck!

[anthonywesty]

Campism thanks for the info!!!!
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82' Westfalia 2.0 16V with Digifant.
86' Vanagon GL
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd147/WestyBOYPR/westfaliaCY.jpg

[edgood1]

great post.

I'll add a little info.

My van is/was a '87 passenger van with the tan seats with adjustable armrests. I welded in swivel bases that I cut from an '84 westy. Just to keep my nice tan seats clean during body work i took them out and I installed the stock westy seat from the '84.

The '84 westy seat is much much stiffer and less comfortable than the '87 passenger van seat. The padding is noticeably different.. ..so much so that it starts to hurt my back after a while.
the difference is night and day.

I've read lots of posts on here where people complain about their seats and seek replacements. IMO, the '87 passenger vanagon seats are comfy as hell. I want to clean them up and keep them for the long haul.
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia powered by Subaru
1963 Panel to Deluxe Bus project :::: (photo album)
'65 Westfalia

[DAIZEE]

my Westy Captain's Seat are in excellent condition and foam. They are comfortable too. But as I get sore hips I am using a obus seat and back and of course have no problems. I did not have the Obus forms on my recent 4000 mile trip.

Just in case you haven't experienced this I'm here to tell you that with my obus forms and a heavy winter coat I can barely (its a chore) get my seat belt to click. Again is that I probably have the seat closer to the steering wheel than most guys.
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'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)

[insyncro]

Not many know this.
Thanks for the post.

I am 6'1" and need all the extra room I can get in my Syncro Westfalia.

dylan

[spitsnrovers]

For a comfortable seat, other than a VW seat, I used Ford ClubWagon seats.

Not a straight swap, but possible.
The fitting is shown at www.griffco.ca/interest and look for the VW link.
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'88 VW Westfalia
'75 Triumph Spitfire 1500

[Howesight]

Well, Campism, you have solved one of my biggest Westy conundrums. I used a '91 Westy donor interior in my '86 syncro after I converted my Syncro to a Westy. I just assumed that the back pain and vaguely "uncomfortable" seat feeling in my '91 front seats was because the previous owner thrashed the seats (despite no evidence of tears) or was some kind of hugely fat behemoth seat-killer.

Now I know. I'm going to transplant the '91 Westy upholsery onto some regular Vanagon seats!

Thanks for the post and especially the pics.

[thummmper]

I had a trim shop for years and these seats are workable. they need the 22" deep base and more of a rake.
My coccyx gets sore with my 90 GL seats after 60 miles. I can't imagine any kind of trek up the coast or anywhere
else as they are now.
this photo sucks, but I don't have a good scanner.
I'm gonna do this to my vanny. shes that lite grey now.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/651905.jpg
I used to build seats fron scratch. hertz transit buses at lax used to
get my treatment. -new reshaped, progressive foam bodies and new covers. the drivers loved me, except the big ones cause there's only so much you can do...I did this scheme on a bay back in the eighties and it was swell. toddT

[K58]

Front Seats from the 80-84 Vans isn't as much a seat as it is a hay bale on springs
if you owned an older bug like I did you'll recall the occasional piece of straw sticking you in the back from whatever that coarse material was VW used to stuff the seats. Well, they used the same crap in the Vanagon.
I've been looking for some newer seats since... so thanks for the info.

[85westybus]

So, can anyone guess as to why the westy seats are shorter? Was it simply to make it easier to spin them around? Or some other obvious reason that escapes me now?

I was looking at Eurovan seats, but this is an easier choice, if I can find a set in decent shape..

[joetiger]

I just swapped out my shredded corduroy Wolfsburg seats for velour Westy camper seats, and the difference is extremely noticeable. I feel like I'm lowriding with the smaller seat and my legs aren't as comfortable. On the plus side, I can see the tops of the gauges with no problem now and it is easier to jump in and out. The jury's still out on whether or not this is a permanent fix, though. I've had my eyes peeled for beige Eurovan seats....
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Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present

www.josephtrussell.com

[66 dormi]

Interesting thread I had 87 seats in my 78 westy and yeah the seats were a bit squishy? compared to our new 88 which I find is a not as comfortable after 2 hours straight driving well this explains it!
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DORMOBILE TOP WANTED!!!!
1978 westy daily driver
1960 panel camper project

Mini R53 bob the tomato

[campism]

I picked Eurovan seats for my van because I simply could not find Vanagon seats for my Westy. Any Vanagon I found at a junkyard already had the seats taken. The EV seats I got and installed are at least as comfy as the tan seats in my post, and were no real trouble to install. Admittedly, the Vanagon seats slip right in but if EV seats are all you can find, keep in mind that the oldest EV is newer than the newest Vanagon (in this market, at least) so the seats are likely in better shape and they are not THAT much of a hassle to modify.

Here's a link to my Eurovan seat swap:
http://picasaweb.google.com/bike2vcu/_seatTransplant?authkey=0inUs01c7cI#

[joetiger]

I'm leaning towards the Eurovan seats not only because they are newer and more supportive (according to a recent thread here) but also because they fully recline. It would be nice to have a fully-reclining passenger seat as an extra lay-down area on the main floor for one of my kids when camping.
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Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present

www.josephtrussell.com

[Popsvan]

Just came from a yard today with captains seats from an unknown year (mid 80's) passenger van. Put them right in my 82 Westy. Feel great, but a bit hard to slip out from under the steering wheel. may need to learn to move the seat back before exiting. Or get a smaller steering wheel?

Anyone know who sells foam for Vanagon seats?

Thanks,
Rory

[K58]

Yeah I got '87 Vanagon seats for my '84 Westy and kind of regret it because of the height. Oh well, can't say i wasn't warned.

[campism]

Are you guys finding that one additional inch of height due to the thicker seat cushion is providing that much boost so that your driving position is now impaired? The EV seats in mine boost me up a little, and about the only noticeable difference is that my left knee now brushes the turn signal stalk when signaling a left turn, but that's it. Everything else is great.

[JPrato]

Does anybody know, do all eurovan seats have armrest?
_________________
Joe

87 Syncro Tin Top project
84 Westy, 2.5L Subaru power
06 Subaru 2.5 turbo in waiting
46 Cessna 140

[motelvw]

I found the added height annoying enough to make me take out the swivel mechanism on the driver side. Now I feel like I'm sitting in a hole. Made some spacers to bring it back up to "Westy height" this weekend.

[syncrodoka]