During my recent camper-conversion project I had the opportunity to remove those swivel mechanism base plates to install on my GL.  I removed them easily and neatly by using one of those cut-off wheels (comes in assorted widths, sold at a hardware store) in my drill.  I cut through the welds and the plate lifted right off.  It took about a hour for both sides and I used up 4 of the wheels.  It cost about ten dollars for the tools and was well worth it.

Charlie

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From:   The Bus Depot[SMTP:ron@NETCARRIER.COM]
Sent:   Monday, May 17, 1999 8:42 AM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Re: 82 Engine FS & Swivel ??

> Also I'd like to convert my 87 Syncro Seats into swivel seats Like the
> 82 has. has anyone done this?? Looks like welding might be called for...

The Westfalias have a flat plate welded across the seat base, with a
circular indentation that the swival mechanism sits on.  This base is very,
very difficult to remove from the camper without butchering it, so typically
used seat swivel assemblies are sold sans this plate.  It looks to me,
though, that fabricating and welding on such a plate would not be all that
difficult with the correct tools.  Indeed, I have sold a few used ones to
people that have done that.

The swivels from '77 onward all use the same seat tracks, and therefore will
probably work, although the Vanagon swivels ('80-up) are somewhat deeper and
therefore would allow a wider range of motion of the seat forward and
backward.

Incidentally, I do have one used pair of Vanagon swivels for $125 for the
pair (does two seats).

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  http://www.busdepot.com
  (215) 234-VWVW
>