3 replies to this topic

[Cook]

Hi,  I've read a bit about how WB ute bucket seat runners seem to be a bit unique and other runners from HJ-HZ won't fit the floor pan, and other model seats like HJ-HZ don't fit WB runners, but wondering if WB statesman runners are the same as the ute.  Reason I ask is that I want to convert the bench seat to buckets and therefore need a set of runners.  I understand first generation commodore seat will bolt up to these runners. Thanks in advance.  Cheers Ron

[yel327]

WB Statesman and WB commercial buckets are the same runners and same floor pan. And yes, if you unbolt the VB-VL runners off the seats the WB runners will bolt on and then those seats will bolt into a WB floor.

 

The captive nuts in the floor of a WB on the outside (those closest to the sills) are in the same location as HQ-HZ hence why HQ-HZ and WB bench seats are interchangeable. However the holes closest to the tunnel are about 20mm or thereabouts further away from the tunnel on a WB than they are on a HQ-HZ. So to fit WB buckets into a HQ-HZ what you have to do is drill 4 x holes (two each side of the tunnel as in two per seat) just next to the existing HQ-HZ tunnel side holes. Then bust four captive floor nuts out of a HQ-WB wreck (they are welded in but will normally break off with persuasion or you cut out a floor piece and grind off the unwanted floor leaving just the nut), clean them up and put them under the floor below the new holes. They basically sit hard up against the existing nuts, so you can tack weld them to the existing nuts. This way the seat is then anchored identically to how it was done by GMH, and picks up the same under floor member etc.

[Cook]

Yel327.  Awesome advice.  Thanks heaps.  Cheers Ron

[yel327]

If you put VB-VL Commodore and WB runners side by side you can see how simple the mod is to make them fit the WB (simply some outriggers), but the outriggers are specially riveted to the runners so would be hard to do yourself without fabrication and welding involved which with seat runners means Engineering (to the letter of the law anyway). Best to just use WB runners, this is why I have a few sets of WB Kingswood ute buckets stashed away so I can use the runners.