Seats and engineer certs

megalania Insano Dub Head

722 posts · joined May 2006 · 29 Jan 2007, 12:36 pm

#568064

Hi guys,
after missing out on some SAAS seats from Neil in WA I was thinking of maybe trying a different avenue for some front seats for my 76 kombi. Someone suggested Honda Prelude seats, and I have also heard about seats from a magna, Paseo or any of the rice burners will work.

Currently I have two front seats for my 76 that were in a 76 van that caught fire and the shell is still fine and they came with the base plate and runners.Now I was wondering, if I grinded off the bottom of the seats from a prelude and bolted the old seat bases onto the base of the new seats so that they still function the same, do I still require an engineers certificate?

Are there any alternatives for front seats that don't require an engineers certificate besides retrimming standards?

Also does the different height in the seat base make it harder to drive the bus? (my fiance is on the shortish side?

I have searched the site but the threads don't really answer my specific questions.

Thanks in advance

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 29 Jan 2007, 1:55 pm

#568079

I believe Legally anything You do to seats require an engineers certificate...

but there are heaps of VWs running different seats and bases....

without certificates....

Many late model seats are just bolted to the floor with 4 small bolts....
so I don't know why all the fuss....
but seats and belts need to be done properly...
which is all it boils down to....

You would have to be careful with the seat base, and the angle it slides forward on...
otherwise Your friend could find herself too high for the pedals...

cheers

Lee

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

VWCOOL 23 Windows of Awesome

5,158 posts · joined Jun 2003 · 29 Jan 2007, 2:35 pm

#568091

yes, seats require engineers certificates

Pay your debts, CxxT

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 29 Jan 2007, 5:32 pm

#568152

if ur cars already on the road i wouldnt stress about one too much
ive got gen5 celica seats in my Lbug and its passed pinkslips no worries and my 70 has honda accord seats it got thro a bluey no probs the inspector thought they were originals rehuplolsterd LOL

megalania Insano Dub Head

722 posts · joined May 2006 · 29 Jan 2007, 7:18 pm

#568185

My prob is it isn't registered yet. Damn!

type3lover in the garage...

796 posts · joined Feb 2005 · 29 Jan 2007, 7:27 pm

#568188

I am facing the same dilemma with the notch!
I have been told that as long as the original VW runners are used that it's not necessary to have an engineers certificate. That may have changed, or it may just be wrong but an option maybe it it turns out to be true.
I also have a 76 kombi and am currently bolting mazda 323 seats in. As far as I am concerned, in that car as long as I do it safely that will be good enough, but hey...it's registered.
Cheers, Toby :thumb

.

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 · 30 Jan 2007, 4:29 pm

#568385

DUB74L wrote:if ur cars already on the road i wouldnt stress about one too much
ive got gen5 celica seats in my Lbug and its passed pinkslips no worries and my 70 has honda accord seats it got thro a bluey no probs the inspector thought they were originals rehuplolsterd LOL

yes but if you have an accident and your insurance company looks at the car they can wipe you insurance on the spot, so is it really worth it

“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 30 Jan 2007, 5:43 pm

#568414

yea thats true but my bug goes to a couple of vw events a year and the rest of the time its tucked away in the shed so its fairly low risk im my situation

and most insurance companies would write off a daily driven vw after a stone chip so seats are probably the least of their concerns

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 · 30 Jan 2007, 5:48 pm

#568416

i know mine has had 2 repairs last year both over the 500 buck mark so what you say isnt quite true. but as mine is a daily i thought there is no chance im risking it also my old mans and auvis inspector so mine is one of the first they look at

“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

LUFTMEISTER Veteran Volks Folk

2,041 posts · joined Jul 2005 · 30 Jan 2007, 10:01 pm

#568500

insurance can write you off if your rear tail light bulb was not working at the time of an accident. If there is a loop hole they can use it any time. luck of the draw really.

Customer service is not dead in Australia.

Always after HAZET & MATRA & VW factory tools

xornge666x Wolfsburg Wizard

460 posts · joined Sep 2006 · 31 Jan 2007, 1:51 am

#568528

The rule of using the original runners is true, but that is if the seat fits the runners without modification. Welding or bolting the seats to the original seat bases, to fit the runners requires engineering. In a bus I dont know of a seat that will slide right in.
I have seen some VERY dodgy seat installations in the past!
There is a good reason for them being inspected!