This week I finally got the new floor in with L-Track for my sliding Siennas! I had to wait a few years for everything to come together but patience paid off and I purchased the new Sienna seat bases and L-Track system from Michael Gabriel/MG Metalworks/ExpoVans/BaseFab. BaseFab is his spinoff company that focuses on seat systems. Michael had installed my Siennas originally with the old seat bases he designed (purchased from UJoint) permanently bolted into the van floor.
All along I had wanted to make these seats into sliders but had to wait for Michael to design and market the new seat bases. They pair with Unwin seat lockers that allow you to lock/unlock/roll your seat to whatever position on the L-Track you desire. Since I’m building a transformer, this capability was essential to the build.
I contracted with Van Specialties in Tualatin, OR to lay the floor and track because the install involved dropping the gas tank and the drive shaft to bolt the track through the floor every four inches. The system is spec’d for safety and used throughout the mobility and wheelchair van industry. These tracks aren’t going anywhere!
The Unwin seat lockers are a genius invention. They bolt to the new seat bases and lock/unlock via a step-on/lift up spring mechanism. When you want to move the seat, you push the safety tab and pull up on the mechanism, which unlocks it. Then you pull the seat back a notch and it pops out of the track. You tilt the seat back and roll the seat along the track on the built-in wheel. Step hard on the foot pad to lock. To remove the seat, just roll to the rear and lift out of the van. This way I can have 4 seats, 3 seats, or just 2, depending on need.
The floor was treated with Cascade Audio Sound dampening Quiet Kote before laying 3/4” plywood. Loncoin Lonseal “Moonwalk” is glued to the plywood. The L-Track is flanged to fit in routed slots. I ordered two sets of 48” track and it fit perfectly from behind the front seats to just in front of my underfloor storage box.
The next stage of my plan is to build modular cabinets that will fit into the L-Track. But first I have to clean out the garage to get all the woodworking tools in position. I’m hoping for an August start on that process. Here’s some pics of the new floor system:
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