Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 04:14:15 -0500
Reply-To: Stephen Steele <steeles@HORIZONVIEW.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stephen Steele <steeles@HORIZONVIEW.NET>
Subject: Re: Tips on making space under Westfalia swivel seat usable?
In-Reply-To: <20060214040042.52462.qmail@web82012.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"
I have no pictures but this is fairly straight forward and intuitive when
you look at the seat bases.
On the front of each front seat box is enough space for removal of
approximately 2 3/4"by 14" of metal to expose the shelf that's already there
but just not accessible. The depth of the cut can be determined by sticking
your fingers into the slot above the metal front and feeling the bottom of
the shelf behind it. Once you've approximated this a more exact measurement
(measure twice, cut once) can be made with some sort of feeler gauge/tape
and then marked on the outside of the metal by pulling back the carpeting. I
chose to retain the carpeting to "hide" the new compartment. The width for
the opening can be varied, but I chose the widest possible cut to allow for
my road atlas, with a little side wall left to allow for the carpet to be
Velcroed on the two sides. Feel around, you'll figure it out.
Once marked for depth and width, I used a Dremel-like tool with a metal
cutting disc to make the one horizontal and two vertical cuts. The metal is
thick and sparks will fly, so take appropriate precautions. Originally I
was going to reinstall the cut out material with a bottom hinge to serves as
a door. But the stiffness of the carpet concealed the space nicely, two
small vertical cuts in the carpet and a little VelcroŽ holds it place. I
don't have to futz around with a latch when trying to open the door while
seated.
A layer of non-skid tray liner serves nicely to keep things from sliding
forward even in panic stops. The space is room enough for lots of small
items like binoculars, CD/DVD player, music storage, cameras, etc.; freeing
up space in the glove box and being much more concealed. If you didn't know
it's there you would never see it.
This worked on my '87 Westy and I have plans to do the same on my '89.
HTH.
I got this idea from Kai Fregmon(sp) one of the famed Tierra del Fuego
tripsters.
BTW: He has a second LP tank installed (which I will do on Someday Isle) and
also has installed a removable AC tunnel in his Westy and a clothes net on
his rear hatch and... and... and.
--
Stephen
Chillicothe OH
on 2/13/06 23:00, rpc at populuxe59@YAHOO.COM wrote:
> Hello,
> I have donor swivel seat mechanisms from a fellow list member to install in my
> Multivan. I am anxious to get them in before spring. Does anyone have or know
> of pictures/info on opening the front seat base to keep it usable? I can cut
> it with a Sawzall, but would like to complete it for a finished look that will
> hold the stuff I currently keep under there (first aid kit,music,binaoulars,
> compass, camera).
>
> And, do I have to cut my battery cover? Or will a cover from a Westy base fit
> in there? I am assuming they do use the same type of sheet metal cover.
>
> I was able to finally get a seat off the track and out. Was trying to pull it
> back (wrong way)-- going on 2 years of trying. Looked it up in VW manual. It
> goes forward. Simple.
> Thanks,
> Chris C 90mv
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