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Seats
TorxKiwi - March 3rd, 2012 at 04:41 PM

Ok, still working through the list.

'75 L Bug, 3-point seats which are functional but far from comfortable. What seats have others upgraded to and can I have some photos of how the mounting has been done.

I intend to do this 'legitimately' and have an engineer sign off on the work, so if you've got great shots of the bit of fencing wire anchoring your modification congratulations and good luck, but not really what I'm looking for ;)


Bizarre - March 3rd, 2012 at 05:10 PM

OK - this is what I did

Original base
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d170/blue74l/103_2289.jpg

modified base
I used the "top" of a Recaro rail off an Audi. The Audi has a similar base but one of the "legs" is wider
You need the flat base as the standard base sits too high. This would be easy to make. 2 bits of channel with some bar through the middle
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d170/blue74l/103_2290.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d170/blue74l/Marty/103_2292.jpg

Then I added some Recaros out of a Proton GTi that I picked up for $600 off ebal
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d170/blue74l/Marty/103_2659.jpg


Bizarre - March 3rd, 2012 at 05:12 PM

I swapped passenger for driver so as the adjustment wheel was on the inside and adjustable with the door closed.
These seats have flip adjusterd on both shoulders

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d170/blue74l/Marty/BvQIkfQCWkKGrHqIOKjgEwOiNIT98BMDwO3.jpg


TorxKiwi - March 3rd, 2012 at 05:23 PM

Exactly the sort of info I was after. They actually look like something I could fit my 6ft height and 100kg mass into and still feel my legs when I get out!!!


Bizarre - March 3rd, 2012 at 05:32 PM

You have to be REAL carefull of the base
The standard seat, although the base is higher, somehow your bum sits low.

If it is too high your thighs will hit the steering wheel

I'm 5' 11" and 90kgs and these work great

The Recaros are the easiest to bolt onto the base.
You can see the bracket I made up in the 4th pic to give some tilt

If you are going this way i can take mor pictures when you go to build the bases


Bizarre - March 3rd, 2012 at 05:36 PM

Here is a base that you could easily adapt

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Recaro-Seat-Frame-Vk-Comm-/270925155020?pt=AU_Car_...

I am 99% sure ALL recaros fit the same base

You would just need to blen the VW base and the Recaro together


beetleboyjeff - March 3rd, 2012 at 08:46 PM

I just used some narrow Autotechnica's from Autobarn.

I got my engineering shop to cut the adjusters and slides out of my original seat bases, and we fitted them to a frame we had made up to fit the seats.

This is the bases in the car.
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb364/Jeff_Walsh/General%20VW%20photos/Mybugrolled-SeatbasesforAutotechnicaseats.jpg

Then these were bolted to the seats.
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb364/Jeff_Walsh/General%20VW%20photos/SeatbasesforAutotechnicaseats.jpg

and the seats were fitted into the car.
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb364/Jeff_Walsh/L%20Bug%20interior%20modifications/MyBug-Interiormostlydone.jpg

VERY happy with how they have worked out - very comfortable and they give great support.


1303Steve - March 3rd, 2012 at 09:00 PM

Hi

You must double check the height to ensure the seats are at the correct height.

I mounted Honda Prelude seats in my sons 74, it had the older style stock mounts, I ended up cutting side hoop section on his eats in half to get the low enough.

Steve