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Date:         Mon, 9 Aug 2010 23:51:47 -0700
Reply-To:     BenT Syncro <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         BenT Syncro <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Refresher: Does not anyone have specific information on instaling
              Golf/Jetta seats in Vanagon?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hello Everyone,

I know this is a rehashed subject but I do not recall anyone giving any specific infomraiton on cutting and welding Vanagon tracks on the Golf/Jetta seats besides the Recaros which came with removable tracks. I know how to fit those.

There are some attractive seats offered in other VW's. The subject of my inquiry are the ones from the Mark 3 GTI & GLI. They look similar to the Recaros with taller side bolsters and reclined about the same. They also have height adjustable driver's seats. These models appear to be at the bottom of their price curve. People are looking agt them as just old cars and not quite collectible yet. Parts are still relatively expensive compared to the Mk1 & Mk2 models. At the same time, they are not as expensive as the newer Mk 4 & Mk 5.

The problem with putting these seats in a Vanagon is the tracks are part of the seat frame unlike the Recaros. Forget getting rid of the seats and buying Recaros. That's not the sort of advise I need nor does that address the question. If you've never looked at the bottom of those seats, there is a center rail which is used to lock the seat in various distances. Then there are a pair of legs at the rear which slide into tracks on either side. Now the Vanagon has a pair of rails with a lever for stop. The sport seats appear taller because of the thigh support. Otherwise, without the rear legs, they are very similar in height to the Vanagon seat bottom. The framework underneath is made of tubing except that center rail.

Here's what I propose. The tube frame is narrow enough to just fit between the space of the Vanagon seat rails. That means they can drop right down between the seat tracks on the van pedestal. I figured cutting the rear legs would be the easiest to get the whole seat to drop in. Then the center rail has to be removed as well as the seats belt portion. Vanagons have their belts bolted to the seat pedestal. OK so the Vanagon seat rails can then be welded onto a cross bar which can then be welded to the tube frame. I see that the height adjustment makes the modification difficult so the plan is to delete that as well.

Going back to my old emails, I see that a few people said they "... cut and welded..." portions so the seats can fit. I could not find anyone specifying exactly what they did. Can anybody enlighten me before I fire up the saw?

I have a pair of nice black seats from a Mk3 Jetta that I am looking to try this procedure on. Matching rear seats would be cannibalized to upholster the back seat.

TIA, -- BenT


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