Hey guys, well I was always thinking about this but after reading this thread I decided to become a little more serious about it. Is there a way to lock the rear seats from folding down in my 1991 trans am 'vert? Since locking the car with a convertible top is almost pointless (you could probably punch out the rear window), I figured I would leave all my valuables in the trunk... then I realized that the rear seats fold down regardless top up or down and if I have something in there a thief could just fold the seats down and reach in unless its too big to fit through the opening. Because sometimes I just feel really paranoid leaving my T/A in a parking lot with the top down (even with the top up) since obviously I keep its paperwork in there and I like to keep other things such as my ipod, etc.

Any ideas? Or some kit for a locking center consol lid or something similar would be nice too. I'm not extremely worried since this isn't my daily driver and I'll take my other car into bad neighborhoods but thieves pounce anywhere.

 

Why not just put the small valuables in the trunk's locking storage compartment? It would be near to impossible getting into it by reaching through from the rear seats. Probably be easier to pop the trunk lid to get at the compartment. And in this case, locking the rear seats wouldn't help.
Interesting idea though.

 

Are you talking about the lock on the trunk lid itself or is there some separate locking compartment inside of it?

 

His 'vert doesn't have the locking storage compartment on the drivers side in the trunk. His has a formed carpet piece on each side that replaced the modified coupe interior pieces that were used through 1990.

Back to the question. I suppose you cluld install a heavy gauge panel behind the handle that had a locking push pin that would prevent the handle from being rotated to release the seat back.

Lon

 

I'm also interested in finding a solution to this. Is it possible to replace the formed carpet piece with the older modified coupe interior pieces to gain the locking storage area?

 

Easier solution.. just have really good ins and document what you have in your car and when/if it gets stolen you get brand new shinny replacements or cash!

Its a neat idea but what are you really going to have in your car thats of that kind of value?
esp if you just use it for a every now and then cruiser?

 

I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm 20, this is the first car I actually own, and I can't afford to pay twice the insurance to have everything covered. A 20yo with a Camaro vert is expensive enough as it is just for liability.

I'm a semi-professional photographer and I always have my camera and some equipment with me. That's approx $4,000 worth of equpiment just for the camera, a lens, and a tripod. Also, I keep my GPS in the tunk, sometimes my laptop (~$2,000) and I'm planning on installing a computer in the trunk. The stuff I have in the trunk is worth double what I paid for the car.

This car is my daily driver (I got it July 1 and I'm hoping I can handle it in Michigan winters). I'm not too concerned about the stuff in the trunk because I have an alarm hooked up with a proximity sensor so if someone just leans in to look into the car it does a warn-away and as soon as they reach in the alarm goes off (130db siren ), but it would still be interesting to figure something out.

I mainly wanted to know about putting the plastic compartments into my vert instead of the molded carpet.

 

Holy crap thats a lot of stuff! good for you!
I was 18ish when I got my 89 formula 350 so yes i Kinda remember what pricey ins is about..
Some advice for you that I got from my dad, buy a cheap 500 dollar car to drive everyday, save the vert 4 nice days.. The vert sux in snow and salt.
Alarms dont matter to much if "they" want somthing "they" will get it no matter where its @.
the money you save by putting storage ins on the vert in the winter will cover the cost of cheap ins on your beater.. in most cases.

 

Best rule is "out of sight - out of mind", if they don't see it they won't be breaking in to get it.
If they do break in nothing is gonna keep them out of the compartments other than a safe bolted to the floor, or a rattlesnake.

If you are really worried about something - take it with you or leave it home for the home invasion robbers.

 

Several things I noticed in your post OP. First it is very hard to drive a thirdgen in the winter. The car is so light in the rear. Sure you can put sandbags in the trunk. Where I live there are tons of salt trucks throwing rock and all types of things. Then you slide on ice. My 92 thirdgen which is in perfect mechanical condition hates the winter. My 88 has never been driven from '88 to present between Nov 1 to April. My advice, reguardless of your age, get a winter car. You will be happier that way.

Secondly trying to have the ultimate security in a vert is hard. We only drive ours for pleasure but I always take valuables out of my car when I get out. Verts left with the top down will get looked into. BTW Nice neighboorhoods are where the criminals travel to because they assume the better off have more than someone in a poor community.

 

Buy your self a winter beater ,mine are put away from Nov 1 to April as well!
Have never had them out in the winter or rain.

 

I gotta say I agree with this one, I tried to drive mine in the winter when I first got it but its just no good. You'll find yourself fishtailing just driving in a straight line, any sort of incline will have you spinning. Not to mention the salt and crap is just the worst thing you can do to a car, I bought a rusty old ranger 4x4 and I could not be happier with my decision.