Question on converting bay rear seat to a bed with z-hinges

[SpreadinTheLove64]

Hi all, hoping some kind soul with experience will be able to shed some light. I’m wondering if the z-hinges have to be installed directly on the metal floor or can they be installed over my dynamat/lucite and vinyl plank flooring with out throwing everything off? I have a 64 split that I re-did the rear seat out of a early bay and wanting to get it installed. Also, if it can be installed directly to onto the vinyl planking for anyone who’s ever installed them...do your hinges stick out this far with the seat in up position? (1st pic, seat in up position, second, down) Seems odd to me!

[cmonSTART]

My hinges are installed directly on the corrugated floor and seem to work as intended. I don't know how that will translate to a split.

Also, my hinges do NOT stick out that far... that seems weird.
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'78 Bus 2.0FI
de K1IGS

[71whitewesty]

Are the hinges on backward?
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71 Westy 1600 DP, all stock Bus 1
1970's Snow Trac 1600 SP (sold 12/2016)
1968 Tucker sno cat, sold 2021
1969 Tucker Sno cat 542
2017 VW Alltrac
71 tin top stock 1600 DP (project but runs)
Twin 71 White Westy, Bus 2, that I pulled from a 15 year slumber in a dry eastern WA field in 2015.
1966 Sundial Camper "Boomer"

[alman72]

I commend you on your correct z-bed nomenclature, however, I have no knowledge to help you with your application.

[cmonSTART]

Actually, after checking my hinges they are as yours are. Mine stick out, but my carpet is black and covers the base plate and is cut around the hinge mechanism, so I never really think about it.
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'78 Bus 2.0FI
de K1IGS

[chimneyfish]

Like cmonSTART says above about his set, mine are fitted to the corrugated floor as well. I'm wondering whether your flooring will give them too much height. Do your's have the support piece for a slot?

Also, if they are original 1970s ones, I personally wouldn't use the funky "Z-Products" self-tapping screws routine. For a safer secure fixing, I fixed mine down with M10 bolts, washers and lock nuts similar to seat belt anchor size, and square washer plates underneath (check where you intend to drill under your bus first so you don't hit any structural steel, I drilled each hole with a small 1/8" or smaller pilot bit first just to be sure I had gotten my measurements right, and before drilling, make sure when you tilt into the bed position that the feet won't unintentionally hit a bolt head). I later swapped the front hexagonal head bolts pictured below for more comfy on your toes round head allen head bolts. My kit instructions abandoned the Z-Products Jubillee clip idea, and you driiled and used M6 nuts and bolts instead.

If you look in my gallery you will find several pictures from 2010 of the Z-bed set-up.

Oh, and buy an air bed and a 12 volt pump for it, if you try and sleep on that thing without one, your back will seize up! Believe me, I tried for one night, that was enough, first thing in the morning we were off to the nearest camping shop to buy an air bed.

I fitted mine as I wanted to keep my stock 8-seater Microbus set-up. If we need the bus for camping, we just remove the middle bench seat, take out the VW rubber mat and throw a carpet down. If I was in your shoes, before you do this, I'd seriously consider fitting a Westy rock n roll bed, although I can see how you want to retain the stock red upholstery look (maybe you could get Westy cushions covered in similar vinyl?). Hope this helps.

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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)

[SpreadinTheLove64]

[SGKent]

I've used the Z-bed hinges on several buses and they work fine. They were the only thing around until the last 7 to 8 years when Delmar and a another production run of Z-bed hinges became available. I guess Tim sold the dies and plans to make them, or he made a run and sold them. Anyway it will all depend on the thickness of your flooring. Whatever height the floor is above stock will raise the bed that much. There is some adjustment but not all the dimensions will adjust out.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin