Getting Saab 9-5 seats to fit

Post by **High Peaker** » 13 Sep 2007, 15:38

I've just bought a pair of Saab 9-5 seats to put in my pride an joy, having just suffered 2 weeks' holiday on the originals.

Unlike the 9000 seats, the runners are only 15mm wider than the VW ones. It might as well be a mile though, as I can't work out the best way to make them fit. Being more modern than the 9000, the 9-5 seats are both adjustable for height and rake, so adjusting the base seems a bit tricky.

Option 1 - grind off the original VW runners from the seat box and weld the Saab ones on in place
Option 2 - alter the seat, which will require the cross tube being shortened by 15mm (easy) then the screw end re-welding on.
Option3 - use a universal swivel base as the adaptor (I want the passenger side to swivel anyway), bolting the top plate through the VW tracks, and the Saab runners on to the top plate.

Any advice, ideas, and must-nots welcome!
Thanks.

Post by **Johny B** » 13 Sep 2007, 20:51

go for option 3

Post by **DiscoDave** » 13 Sep 2007, 20:53

option 4 make your own adapter plate???

i wouldn't start buggering about with the original seat boxes oncase you want to put your old seats back one day!

i woudl get a plate and bolt it through the original seat box and then weld the runners on to the plate!

sounds easy!

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 14 Sep 2007, 08:32

Or PM me cos I've a single universal swivel base for sale, drilled and ready to bolt in and put an adaptor plate on't driver's side.

I believe we're not a million miles apart geographically

Ian.

Post by **slowrunner** » 15 Sep 2007, 20:27

The procedure I used is on Wiki.
Involves angle grinder and spacers, then bolting in.
They did sit a little higher than the originals.
Be sure to tell your insurance company if you fit them, it's classed as a notifiable modification by many insurance companies.

Oh, and it takes about 6 hours to fit the first one, and 30 minutes to do the second one for some reason.
Have fun

Post by **High Peaker** » 17 Sep 2007, 17:11

Thanks for tips everyone, and thanks Ian for the bases.
A weekend of careful pondering lies ahead.
Still got to lower the driver's one though, but seems clear enough once height mechanism is removed.

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 17 Sep 2007, 20:50

Good to meet you at last, nice van

Hope I helped to clear the water a tad ? It's not always easy describing things ... a picture's worth a thousand words etc etc

Hopefully see you at the Duke ?

Cheers,Ian.