Anyone tried 912 seats in thier speedster? Do they fit?
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Anyone tried 912 seats in thier speedster? Do they fit?
They would be way too wide in a VW pan based Speedster. Maybe ok in a tube framed one. You need seats 18" wide - 20" most!
Ben:
912 seats won't fit, but 914's fit into a CMC like a glove.
gn
912 seats won't fit, but 914's fit into a CMC like a glove.
gn
I see the 912's here and there for sale and thought they might look more correct. I have been looking for a set of 914s but no luck local as yet. may have to go ebay I suppose.
Thanks for the info.
Thanks for the info.
Ben:
If you go the 914 seat route, get ALL of the mounting harware; slides, recliners, and recliner floor pieces. If you have all that, it's a really simple job to install them in a speedy.
gn
If you go the 914 seat route, get ALL of the mounting harware; slides, recliners, and recliner floor pieces. If you have all that, it's a really simple job to install them in a speedy.
gn
Gordon,
I actually acquired a set of 914 seats today off of a friend and have spent this afternoon checking them for fit in the car.
They are perfect! Even for me at 6'5" I have loads of legroom.
My job now is wto find out if there is a source for covers for 914 seats, or whether I will have to take them to an upholsterers to be recovered.
Ben, I can definitely recommend the 914 seat route.
Jim.
I actually acquired a set of 914 seats today off of a friend and have spent this afternoon checking them for fit in the car.
They are perfect! Even for me at 6'5" I have loads of legroom.
My job now is wto find out if there is a source for covers for 914 seats, or whether I will have to take them to an upholsterers to be recovered.
Ben, I can definitely recommend the 914 seat route.
Jim.
Jim,
My seats arn't too bad but they dont fit my old but to well. I don't think there is anybody making covers for the 914's. Most cut the backs down so they are no longer high backs.
My seats arn't too bad but they dont fit my old but to well. I don't think there is anybody making covers for the 914's. Most cut the backs down so they are no longer high backs.
If you cut off the head rests you'll get a more authentic look and not have to cut your tonneau. The seats are all fiberglass and they are easily removed with a hand saw. I used pieces of the cut off section (with fiberglass cloth and resin) to reinforce the back and give a rounded look. The OEM covers can be reused in a pinch. If anyone needs one of the toothed tilt adjusters (part that connects to car frame member with 2 bolts) I have an extra one available.
Wofgang,
If possible I would appreciate any photos of the piece you could send or post (along with some measurements if poss.).
Also, any information about the hinges that are used to pivot the back of the seat frame - if you know where to get them, etc.
Cheers,
Jim.
If possible I would appreciate any photos of the piece you could send or post (along with some measurements if poss.).
Also, any information about the hinges that are used to pivot the back of the seat frame - if you know where to get them, etc.
Cheers,
Jim.
Bear in mind that 914 seats, although targeting the American market, and mostly in the 70's, were doing so at a time before the current fasionability of "Relaxed Fit" trouser-wear. If you're accustomed to the fit of trucker-style "Long Haul Jeans" (Wider in the seat and thighs where it's needed most) you probably won't comfortably fit in or on 914 seats. The entire seat is only 15" wide, and the seat bottom pad is probably only 10" wide at the rear (pun intended). If you've been blessed with a wider posterior, you might suffer from "clenched crack syndrome", whereby the seat bolsters are tight enough to clench your (butt) cheeks together whenever you're sitting in the seat, cutting off air in or out. Now that we've settled that (not ANOTHER pun!!!), here's "the rest of the story":
Both Tweeks and Automotion had seat cover kits as recently as their last catalogs. Unfortunately, the colour selection for 914's isn't especially impressive (remember, these cars were made during the 70's when dirt brown was considered a designer colour).
The good news is that those particular seats are super easy to re-upholster, and local auto trim folks usually don't charge an arm and a leg if they see one or more seats to give you an estimate - I've seen vinyl quotes of $300 USD and under for two, and $500 - $600 for leather, here in New England from some of the best stitchers.
I've had a few too many auto/bike accidents in the past so I kept the high backs on my seats and simply took the tonneau to a stitcher to put pockets in it for the seat backs. He matched the tonneau material and stitched it all up and it cost me about $130 USD - I thought that was pretty good, and they look as good as those seen on late model MGB's.
Gordon
One of the "Butt-Clenchin Speedstah Guys" from Rhode Island
(good thing I live in a small state)
P.S: for my rear (there we go again) hinges, I simply did the Home Depot thing and got a pair of 4" strap hinges for a door or gate, mounted one half on the floor and the other half to the seat sliders in such an orientation that the entire seat can pivot back as it reclines as a unit (since the seat back can't bend separately). I fastened them to the floor with 5/16" hardware and a stress plate beneath the floor to distribute the load, and to the sliders with 5/16" hardware and that was that. Mount the toothed recliner ratchet gizmo towards the front and you can get 3" - 4" of recliner "swing" depending on whether you have a roll bar interfering with the seat back top or not.
gn
Both Tweeks and Automotion had seat cover kits as recently as their last catalogs. Unfortunately, the colour selection for 914's isn't especially impressive (remember, these cars were made during the 70's when dirt brown was considered a designer colour).
The good news is that those particular seats are super easy to re-upholster, and local auto trim folks usually don't charge an arm and a leg if they see one or more seats to give you an estimate - I've seen vinyl quotes of $300 USD and under for two, and $500 - $600 for leather, here in New England from some of the best stitchers.
I've had a few too many auto/bike accidents in the past so I kept the high backs on my seats and simply took the tonneau to a stitcher to put pockets in it for the seat backs. He matched the tonneau material and stitched it all up and it cost me about $130 USD - I thought that was pretty good, and they look as good as those seen on late model MGB's.
Gordon
One of the "Butt-Clenchin Speedstah Guys" from Rhode Island
(good thing I live in a small state)
P.S: for my rear (there we go again) hinges, I simply did the Home Depot thing and got a pair of 4" strap hinges for a door or gate, mounted one half on the floor and the other half to the seat sliders in such an orientation that the entire seat can pivot back as it reclines as a unit (since the seat back can't bend separately). I fastened them to the floor with 5/16" hardware and a stress plate beneath the floor to distribute the load, and to the sliders with 5/16" hardware and that was that. Mount the toothed recliner ratchet gizmo towards the front and you can get 3" - 4" of recliner "swing" depending on whether you have a roll bar interfering with the seat back top or not.
gn
"Bear in mind that 914 seats, although targeting the American market, and mostly in the 70's, were doing so at a time before the current fasionability of "Relaxed Fit" trouser-wear"
You're tellin' me ! ! I dragged out the old Jordache Jeans the other day and could barely button them around my HEAD, let alone my WAIST ! !
Workin' , playin', day or night. Jordache has the look that's right . . . the Jordache Look . . .
Anyone remember the "Coffee Generation?" Hold on tight to your dreams . . .
"I kept the high backs on my seats and simply took the tonneau to a stitcher to put pockets in it for the seat backs"
I took the headrests off of my first MGB (a ratted out 1973) and cut ovals out of the headrest pockets for me and my buddy to see out of. When my sister snapped us in under the tonneau cover, it looked like the car was driving itself. Our heads poked perfectly up into the pockets and the oval holes made limited driving easy peasy.
I gotta try that again . . .
On a SERIOUS note: the www.914club.com web site is a great bunch of owners/builders who often have terrific deals on seats and upholstery, and all that stuff. Also gauges and wheels and pretty much all things Porsche. They have wonderful information on building up the Type IV engines as well. Worth a look . . .
You're tellin' me ! ! I dragged out the old Jordache Jeans the other day and could barely button them around my HEAD, let alone my WAIST ! !
Workin' , playin', day or night. Jordache has the look that's right . . . the Jordache Look . . .
Anyone remember the "Coffee Generation?" Hold on tight to your dreams . . .
"I kept the high backs on my seats and simply took the tonneau to a stitcher to put pockets in it for the seat backs"
I took the headrests off of my first MGB (a ratted out 1973) and cut ovals out of the headrest pockets for me and my buddy to see out of. When my sister snapped us in under the tonneau cover, it looked like the car was driving itself. Our heads poked perfectly up into the pockets and the oval holes made limited driving easy peasy.
I gotta try that again . . .
On a SERIOUS note: the www.914club.com web site is a great bunch of owners/builders who often have terrific deals on seats and upholstery, and all that stuff. Also gauges and wheels and pretty much all things Porsche. They have wonderful information on building up the Type IV engines as well. Worth a look . . .