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Yes, exactly that. Not trying to reinvent the wheel or anything. 

A few people have asked why I want to do this. It's mostly about my wife. Her back needs comfortable seating and the stock buckets would never work. I need to go with roadster seats. I have a set of late 356/ early 912 seats I plan to restore that would more than likely work for her. The issue is that putting them in a speedster, they need to be mounted lower and the tunnel gets in the way, not to mention the parking brake would never fit between them. So, chop the tunnel, lower the shifter, relocate the e brake and put in a different heater knob.

Jeff

So... the tunnel is not the main problem with a pan-based replica, Jeff.

The main problem with the vast majority of pan-based speedsters is that the subframe members run inboard of the door openings, creating a really wide sill and a seating area that is significantly narrower than even a VW Beetle.

If you want to run wider seats, this is where I'd concentrate my efforts. There's zero (like no reason at all) why that longitudinal frame member should be where it is. Getting the subframe remade would be the first order of business towards getting a usable seating area.

I don't like the idea of the 1x3" steel attached to bottom of the tunnel.  Seems it would very easily bottom out on speed bumps and humps!  The normal pan perimeter frame is quite substantial except the very corners could twist.  Maybe adding a couple cross pieces of 1x3 steel for seats to sit on would help to keep that twisting down. Along with some gussets in corners. A rear roll bar or even one that just catches the shoulder harness would help too.

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Last edited by WOLFGANG

Unibody adds a lot of strength so  maybe adding to the inside of the lowered tunnel by welding in a 2inch bar on both sides for the whole length of the tunnel might add to the tunnel stiffness then do the other body stiffening stuff like gussets  to add to the overall rigidity would be great but as Stan has said the interior width and foot wells I would address as well

The door sills on replicas are sooooo wide! I know its due to the narrow nature of the vw pans. But if you were to make your own, you should be able to widen them AND move the subframe out a few inches.

The white speedster is real with roadster seats, The blue is a replica with speedster seats. The speedster seats just fit on the replica.

I have to do the roadster seats without question.43ead43870

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@ALB posted:

Remember that in removing the VW hand brake and going to the 356 umbrella style unit- handbrake turns will no longer be in your repertoire of driving techniques.  You also won't have any use for one of these that I'll be putting in the raffle pile at the next Carlisle weekend I attend...lightened hand brake pieces- Al's

Wow, @ALB !  That just screams "Steam Punk".

Also, When I narrowed my roadster seats I also looked at what it would take to make the outer frame rails narrower and I totally agree with Mr. Merklin - That would be a really big job.  Way more work than my making the seat bases narrower.

Last edited by Gordon Nichols
@ALB posted:

Remember that in removing the VW hand brake and going to the 356 umbrella style unit- handbrake turns will no longer be in your repertoire of driving techniques.  You also won't have any use for one of these that I'll be putting in the raffle pile at the next Carlisle weekend I attend...lightened hand brake pieces- Al's

I finally figured out why it’s taking so long to see your creation Al drilling all those holes can keep you up at night and keep you going for many days if your intent On doing every metallic part …. thank God the body is fibreglass  weeeuuuwwgh

Last edited by IaM-Ray

Wow - a lot of work to fit old 356 seats!  They were wide but the horse hair stuffing wasn't that comfortable.  I'd take a look at Mazda Miata seats instead.  They are narrow enough to fit and they are comfortable and adjustable to fit anyone.  Plus newer ones have head restraints that are safer (ha, heat pads and head rest speakers too).  Since not in a Speedster might also attempt to get the air bags to function.  Mazda even fitted genuine Recaro seats too --- really nice Nappa leather or alcatera.

Older ones - $500

2004-2005 Mazdaspeed Miata Black Leather Seats / Pair / NB1412004-2005 Mazdaspeed Miata Black Leather Seats / Pair / NB141

New Recaro-

Image result for mazda miata seats

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