| Author |
Message |
shaun0008
Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2004
Posts: 58
Location: San Francisco
|
 Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:46 pm Post subject: Installing a Vanagon jump seat into a 77' Westy Lots of Pics FAQ |
 |
|
I have not seen this covered before in the forums and I thought I would share this weekends project. I wanted to increase the seating in the van but did not want to take up space when I needed it and I thought this would work well. It takes about 10 seconds to install and even less time to remove
This is the seat I started with. With brackets and seat belts it was $100.00 off the Samba classifieds.
The mounting bracket has an "ear" on each side. The ear on the right will mount on the triangle next to the "B" post and does not have to be moved. The ear on the left would interfer with the swivel seat and has to be cut and moved down.
This shows the ear before it is cut
The ear has been cut and moved down and is ready to be welded.
Because the ear had an angle cut from it at the factory a small 1/8" triangle has been cut to fill in the space.
Filled and painted
Finished bracket ready to mount
Bracket mounted with factory bolt head covers
The seat legs have "pins" that fit into a female fitting that needs to be welded to the floor. I used a 1/2" nut welded to a 1-1/2" x 4" flat bar that is 1/8" thick I made both the plates the same size.
Plate nearest the door.
Plate in center of van. Notice that the floor is installed and had to be bent up to weld this in. I should have thought of this project when I had the floor out as it would have been a lot easier.
The 1/2" nut rests even with the floor and below the carpet so that I will not stub my toe.
Seat has been redone and installed.
The big door on the cabinet just clears. Sucess!!
I thought about adding arm rests to the seat but in my mock up of the jump seat setup I relize that you would not be able to open the cabinet door and the armresst would hinder you opening the sliding door because it blocks the sliding door handle. The whole job was less then five hours and I think the next time I could shave an hour off of that and at least another hour if the job is done before the floor is installed.
_________________
1990 Tristar Syncro Doka
1987 German fire van
1987 German Army Radio van
1987 German Ambulance
1990 16" Syncro Westfalia
1987 Syncro Westfalia
1963 Beetle Convertible |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
webwalker
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2006
Posts: 2803
Location: Mount Laurel, NJ
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 5:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
Excellent! Really, really great write up. Would you be willing to put up dimensions of the mounting bracket so others could fab it?
In some ways, the double jump seats would be an improvement for me on the center seat, as they would provide access to a mounting location (the B pillar) to put a pair of 3 point belts in, a situation not practical with the center mounted, 2/3 seat.
Again, really brilliantly done!
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 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bugger101
Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2010
Posts: 1558
Location: orlando
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Manfreds78bay
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2009
Posts: 807
Location: PNW
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 11:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
| That's a great idea! You could even figure away so that it tilts forward so you can still use it as a footstool if the front seat is turned around or as a table. I got rid of the stove an opted for a 73 driverside jump seat. But the area behind the passenger seat is wasted space. You have given me food for thought. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kirk
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2003
Posts: 5492
Location: North Texas
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Did you have those vanagon seats recovered in green plaid? If so, what did that set you back?
_________________
MAKE FORUMS GREAT AGAIN
Bear
Fasty
Super |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
shaun0008
Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2004
Posts: 58
Location: San Francisco
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 6:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Besides adding the jump seat I replaced the front seats with a pair of captain seats from a 90 Vanagon. The cost to reupolster the front seats was $500.00 for labour and about $150.00 for the cloth. The jump seat was $230.00 for labour and $50.00 for cloth. It is not cheap but it is worth every dollar. I have done six of these buses and each one has had these seats in it and it makes it so much nicer to drive.
_________________
1990 Tristar Syncro Doka
1987 German fire van
1987 German Army Radio van
1987 German Ambulance
1990 16" Syncro Westfalia
1987 Syncro Westfalia
1963 Beetle Convertible |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Manfreds78bay
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2009
Posts: 807
Location: PNW
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
| shaun0008 wrote: |
| Besides adding the jump seat I replaced the front seats with a pair of captain seats from a 90 Vanagon. The cost to reupolster the front seats was $500.00 for labour and about $150.00 for the cloth. The jump seat was $230.00 for labour and $50.00 for cloth. It is not cheap but it is worth every dollar. I have done six of these buses and each one has had these seats in it and it makes it so much nicer to drive. |
Ditto. I had two vanagon seats redone in plaid for my westy and it was 250 a seat. A lot cheaper than the 1k I've seen online for the same thing. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pkrboo
Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2009
Posts: 512
Location: Lincolnshire, UK
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
i really want to do this but getting one of these seats in the UK is like finding rocking horse poo
_________________
1979 Sage Green Westfalia P22 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kirk
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2003
Posts: 5492
Location: North Texas
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 1:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| shaun0008 wrote: |
| Besides adding the jump seat I replaced the front seats with a pair of captain seats from a 90 Vanagon. The cost to reupolster the front seats was $500.00 for labour and about $150.00 for the cloth. The jump seat was $230.00 for labour and $50.00 for cloth. It is not cheap but it is worth every dollar. I have done six of these buses and each one has had these seats in it and it makes it so much nicer to drive. |
That is exactly what I'd like to do to save my stock seats. They work well with the swivel?
_________________
MAKE FORUMS GREAT AGAIN
Bear
Fasty
Super |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
shaun0008
Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2004
Posts: 58
Location: San Francisco
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:06 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| That is exactly what I'd like to do to save my stock seats. They work well with the swivel? |
There is no change in how well the swivel works with a Vanagon seat. Though if you use a seat with ajustable arm rests you will have to remove the stock armrest from the door as it will interfere with each other and you will not be able to close the door. What I do is remove the stock armrest and and add a door grab handle from a Vanagon to allow me somthing to aid closing the door. Shaun
_________________
1990 Tristar Syncro Doka
1987 German fire van
1987 German Army Radio van
1987 German Ambulance
1990 16" Syncro Westfalia
1987 Syncro Westfalia
1963 Beetle Convertible |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Manfreds78bay
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2009
Posts: 807
Location: PNW
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| shaun0008 wrote: |
| Quote: |
| That is exactly what I'd like to do to save my stock seats. They work well with the swivel? |
There is no change in how well the swivel works with a Vanagon seat. Though if you use a seat with ajustable arm rests you will have to remove the stock armrest from the door as it will interfere with each other and you will not be able to close the door. What I do is remove the stock armrest and and add a door grab handle from a Vanagon to allow me somthing to aid closing the door. Shaun |
Ditto they were perfectly. And you get armrests! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
otiswesty
Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2006
Posts: 1776
Location: Portland
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 10:02 pm Post subject: Re: Installing a Vanagon jump seat into a 77' Westy Lots of Pics FAQ |
|
|
Nice work Shaun.
Here is how I did my jumpseat. Face plate is a cut down rear bench front with door and the sides are cabinet wood on a custom steel frame.
Swivel seat for the mount and a stock bus front seat (headrest delete). Fabricated table stores between the two seats.
_________________
1978 Sage Green P22 Westfalia
1988 T3 Syncro Single cab
Just a regular guy |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
