Date:         Sat, 11 Aug 2001 14:55:39 -0700
Reply-To:     Michael Snow <mwsnow@HOME.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Snow <mwsnow@HOME.COM>
Subject:      Re: Jump Seats-How to Mount to Floor?
In-Reply-To:  <20010811.164559.-222479.1.KAYAKJR@juno.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

The factory uses a plate on each side of the floor (top and bottom, inside
and outside).  The bottom plate has a 'pipe' welded perpendicular to its
face that sticks up through the floor.  The seat frame fits into this pipe.
The brackets are welded in place.  I compromised a bit and fabricated floor
plates from bar stock that are welded to the floor on the inside only.
There are no holes drilled through the floor.  I've been using it this way
for about a year with no problems.  I used two layers of 1/4 inch stock that
is the same width as the recesses in the floor, possibly 1.5 or 1.75 inch.
The bottom piece is about 5 inches long, top is about 2 inches.  I drilled a
hole the right size (about 1/2 inch) for the seat bracket pegs (with the
plastic caps to keep it quiet) through both layers of the steel.  They are
welded into a single unit like this (pathetic) illustration.

Side View
         ____________
 _______|____________|________
|_____________________________|

Top View
 _____________________________
|       |            |        |
|       |     __     |        |
|       |    /  \    |        |
|       |    \__/    |        |
|       |            |        |
|_______|____________|________|

(the hole is, of course, round)

The whole thing is spot welded directly to the floor around the perimeter.
I have the passenger van floor padding that is molded to the shape of the
floor.  I used a utility knife to relieve the underside of the padding for
the floor brackets.  My fabricated floor bracket is about the same thickness
as the molded padding, so there is no bulge in the carpet.

Where the seat bracket mounts to the battery box, I drilled holes and used 1
inch wide x 1/8 inch thick stock on the back side with large washers.  You
have to remove the fuel overflow tank in the wheel well to do this.

Mike Snow




I just picked up folding jump seats from an 87 Wolfburg.  The two legs
fit into hollow cyinders that are welded to the floor.  Has anyone else
mounted these into a van that did not have the welded brackets, nor the
welded in nuts in the seat pedestals hat the top brackets screws into?

John R
81 Westy