Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 21:24:15 EDT
Reply-To: Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeff Oxroad <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject: seat padding swap, GL to non?
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I've been looking at later model velour GL front seats. It seems to have
substantially more padding than the stock seat in my NON-GL 83 Westfalia. I have
the old school blue and brown striped fabric seats--NOT the velour seats.
ETKA shows two part numbers for the two different back paddings for the
seats, meaning the padding in the GL seats is different than the padding in the
early 80s Westfalia seats. But, the metal parts--structural parts-- like the
frame of the seat back are the same as far as I saw from 83-89 and possibly
earlier and later.
Has anyone either contemplated or completed a swap of the cushioning from a
GL into the substandard Westfalia seat. For those unfamiliar: the front seats
in my Westfalia have no lumbar support and weak side support and all in all
just thin padding. Seems the GL seat is at least better, and possibly the cushion
from the GL would fit easily under the Westfalia fabric. Primarily at this
point I'm contemplating the seat back, but possibly the seat bottom would be
ripe for the swap as well.
The velour seat upholstry in the GL also accounts for some of the cushioning
as it is padded, but only ever-so-slightly padded.
The upholstry fabric seems to come off easily enough by unhooking the
"staples" at the bottom. Then just take it off like a shirt. Swap the padding. And
put the shirt back on--all be it a little smaller shirt with the new padding.
But it seems there would still be enough fabric in the Westfalia to accept the
larger cushion.
I suppose the best way to upgrade would be to find an entire GL Westfalia and
swap the seats. And that would be nice. But for me this is a bit impractical
since I'd have to find the right color in great condition etc. and that sounds
$$$$$! So barring the expensive upgrade I could easily find dirty and
relatively unusable GL seats in a wrecking yard, dig down the undamaged foam/horse
hair and swap the foam/horsehair padding into my bus. Thus also keeping the
original fabric interior. Any ideas?
Best
Jeff
83.5 Westfalia
LA,CA