David:

I, too, just recently bought a middle seat with tracks for my westy.  The the
tracks are also different sizes.  I remember this from my '82 passenger
Vanagon.  In that car, the long one stretched from the far side to the sliding
door, while the short one went from the far side to about a foot short of the
sliding door.

I believe the different lengths are simply to ease installation.  You slide the
seat onto the longest first.  After the first foot of slide, you hardly have to
wiggle it to match up the other track.  I'm not sure you can duplicate this
"feature" with the Westy installation.  I haven't installed mine yet.  If you
develop any good tips, please pass them on!

Maynard
'82 Westy Diesel "Reinhardt"
'93 EV GL "Klinger"

On Sunday, September 05, 1999 5:06 PM, David Bogle [SMTP:bogle@BWAY.NET] wrote:
> Dear All,
>
> I have just purchased a used fixed-back middle seat and tracks.
>
> The tracks are different lengths.  ONe reaches to the cabinets and the
> other is shorter by about a foot or less.
>
> Larry Johnson has kindly confirmed that in his Westy the
> factory-installed tracks both reach to and under the cabinets, and both
> begin at the sliding door opening.
>
> Can someone shed some light on why the tracks might be different
> lengths.  I want to get it installed correctly, if possible.
> --
> Regards,
> David Bogle
> Brooklyn
> '87 Vanagon GL Syncro Westfalia