Jetta seats in an 80?

[69LC]

I went junkyarding today to look for some different mechanical seats to recover and install into our 95. The only ones that felt right were the mid 90s Jetta seats. They have a strange three point floor rail mounting and would have to have bracket mounts fabbed.

Has anyone tried this?

 

[69LC]

I did find one old 40 with some odd little v6 with a turbo.

 

[2fpower]

I had a pair, that I finally gave up on and sold as what I found was that the brackets for that three point system are not very easy to pull out of the VW.

The other issue is that it is way too tall with that system and motor hanging down below.

After thinking about it looking at @half k cruiser work, you may be able to cut out the adjustment motor and track system and weld in the aftermarket manual seat adjuster. That is the only way I can see this working.

 

[JeepinPete]

I also looked into a set from a '02 Jetta. Same sort of mounting system, decided it wasn't worth the trouble.

That is a Buick V6. Odd place to find one.

 

[half k cruiser]

Go with some known quantities. The WRX seats will fit and fit well. They are also very comfortable, probably most of the Toyota style seats will work.

 

[baldilocks]

This ^^^^! I put 2006 WRX seats in my last crawler and I loved them plus they are well built.

 

[surfpig]

I also looked into a set from a '02 Jetta. Same sort of mounting system, decided it wasn't worth the trouble.

That is a Buick V6. Odd place to find one.

225 or 231?

good torquey motors.

 

[2fpower]

So far I have put in Porsche Boxster seats and Toyota Celica GT seats. I like the Porsche better; however, I did put some cabella's covers on the GT seats, so it could be taking away from the feel. I have sat in the WRX seats, and like the feel of the back bolsters. The bottom bolsters are larger than I would want.

I found some Honda JDM from a Prelude that look great, will see how they fit later this year.

 

[baldilocks]

225 or 231?

good torquey motors.

Most likely the 231 which was turbo charged in the Buick grand national. That may have been one fast fj40.

 

[dales33]

I was eyeing up some audi A4 seats the otherday i thought would work.

 

[LINUS]

VW builds the adjust slider into that gen of unibody vs fixed bolt seats with self contained sliders.

The only older VW seats worth the time to install are 16v / VR6 GTI/GLI/Corrado that came with factory Recaros, as in the seats have the Recaro logo stitched in the seatback cushion.

Those use the universal 6 bolts they use to their sliders - so you sell the powered bases on ebay/vw vortex, etc & the $$$ should near cover getting sliders.

From there you just need the slider adapter bracket to the 80 floorpan (or fab your own).

Unless you're shorter, trying to install other style VW seats will give you a tall stacked height, killing your headroom.

 

[69LC]

I read that WRX seats are the best, but can't find any around here. I can fab though.

 

[half k cruiser]

I read that WRX seats are the best, but can't find any around here. I can fab though.

If you are wider, then you may not like them much. I would suggest sitting in them before dropping the coin.

 

[69LC]

I sat in a right hand drive WRX 12 years ago on a deployment and loved the seats.

Yesterday I sat in a Jetta seat and it fit me really well. I have back issues from Acitve duty and know when a seat is just right. I may be resolved to go the VW route and build brackets.

 

[JeepinPete]

225 or 231?

good torquey motors.

231. Not likely to find a HEI ignition on an odd fire.