I am a pretty big guy(6'3", 400lbs) and I have a problem with seats in the 3rd gens. The brackets seem to break down over time and cause the seat back to lean back way too far. I hate, and I mean HATE, leaning back. I like to sit upright because I'm too tall to use the head rest so I have to hold my head up when the seat leans back, and that gets tiring and makes my neck hurt on longer drives. I am curious if it would be worth getting a set of 4th gen seats? Would they be any stronger/better?

 

I have 4th gen seats in my 89 t/a and I think they are more comfortable and they might be stronger.... there are many very knowledgable people on these boards,....maybe they will have comments also..

 

I dont know about stronger...but just the fact that they are NEWER means they will be sturdier. 3rd gen seats are at a minimum 15 years old at this point...and thats if you have a 92, and not accounting for miles. When I swapped my 87 seats for 01 seats they felt MUCH better. The hinges werent worn out and they were a ton firmer. I say go for it.

Please dont take offense to this, there is none intended..just conversation... but at 6'3, 400lbs, can you even get comfy in that f-body? I only ask, because I met a guy not too long ago and he was 6'6 ~415 (like big black from Rob & Big) and made me (6'4 ~250) look like a punk. As for the head rest situation, the 4th gen seats arent going to give you any more support than the thirdgen seats for the headrest.

I have seen things that you attach to the headrests of cars, and they act like a neck support pillow type deal. Sort of like what you would use on an airplane to sleep and keep your head from laying to the side giving you neck cramps. Might give one of those a try.

Good luck man!

J.

 

Hell I am 6'4 -6'5 and a shade under 400. Ingress and egress in a 3rd gen is somewhat difficult yet not totally impossible. Just got know when to tuck your head. and Having a 3rd gen with T-tops doesn't hurt either!

Another problem is that being one big sumbitch and owning these cars is that you will go through steering colummns, seats, and/or consoles quicker than normal-sized people. Reason is that you use the steering wheel and console to position oneself in the seat.

Still I wouldn't have it any other way!

 

I agree, its difficult sometimes, especially when I work a lot and my legs are sore, that makes getting in miserable. On my 90 Bird I actually fabricated seat relocation brackets to move the seat back about 3 inch's or so. That was absolutely wonderful and I recomend it to all tall people. But as big as I am, fortunately I have maintained fairly good flexibility. And to be perfectly honest, I can get in and out of my 90 Bird and 83 TA way easier than I can any of the newer cars like Grand Am and Grand Prix's. I cant even get in my old 93 Grand Am AT ALL and even if I did driving it would be a PITA. Once I am in my Birds I am plenty comfy. On long trips the metal in the seat tends to be a literal pain in my *** but short of 500 miles I dont even feel it. And as far as head room, I agree T-tops are a blessing straight from God himself to those of us who are tall. Except when you hit a big bump with a hat on and that damned little button on the top of the hat hits the t-tops, that hurts like hell.

I havent worn anything out except seats cause I purposely dont grab stuff to position myself, unless my wifes in the passenger seat, then I have a handle for leverage..lol..

People think our 3rd gens are small and cramped inside but in reality they have more room for front occupants than 80% of the new cars coming out now. Hell my dads crappy Ford F150 seat belts werent even long enough to go around me, my cousings Chevy Astro Van was the same way.

heres a couple pics that show me next to my 90 Bird.

 

At 6'5", 200 lbs, I have no problems getting in or out, not hitting my head, nor did I even feel the need to move my seat back at all, nor do I have T-tops. I have 4th gen seats in my GTA, but didn't always in my other 3rd gens.

Keep in mind, the majority of my height in in my legs...40" inseam onmy pants! Sitting down, I'm level with everybody else. Standing up, is another thing!

 

I just got my 4th gen seats in and wow what a diff. You need to try them you will not be disapointed

 

I just got 4th gen electric seats and i have a hard top. My hair hits the head liner now. Im 6'2 and 200 pounds. I think the 4th gens may sit taller.

 

i put in electric leather 4th gen seats into my 89 trans am and they feel lower.. granted the drivers seat you can adjust the height, but the passenger seat definitely feels a little lower than the 3rd gen seats did..

 

I'm just a big guy. 5'10" at 400. But the 4th gen seats are nice. I had the same problem in my IROC. Every time I push the gas the seat would rock back. It was amusing at first but got old quick. Found a set at the junkyard and put them in. Best thing ever. They even hold you in better in the twists with the air bolsters. I even put them in my RS. I would definitely go for them. Really nice seats. Adam :-)

 

6'1" 280lbs here, i've had a 91 rs hardtop with the ugly stripped down seats, and a 91 rs hardtop with the deluxe, and a 91 z vert with 4 gen leathers, and hands down the 4th gen seats are the way to go without a doubt. You will be happy. I don't know if it's just me but my thirdgens are pretty much perfect comfortability wise. I love em.

 

Ha, got you all beat on height. I'm 6'9" and fit quite comfortalbly in my 87'. However I only weigh 190 pounds. I have the seat all the way back and the back reclined a bit. As someone mentioned earlier the t-roofs are a blessing. I'd have trouble if I didn't have those. I did have the seats recovered a few years back and the upholstery guy moved my lumbar support higher for me. The only other thing that I've done to the car is to move the rearview mirror higher on the W/S so it doesn't create a big blind spot for me.

 

Funny you mention the mirror creating the blind spot, I had that problem in my 90 Bird, the mirror was straight ahead in my line of vision and I had to duck to look around it sometimes. Not a problem with my 83 TA though, when I got it the mirror was not attached and nothing was on the windshield, so I decided to leave it off and instead I bought a digital camera mount and have it attached exactly where the mirror was and I love that, its a perfect vantage point for video's. Plus I use it to catch police driving like idiots so I can file complaints with video proof.

 

Ive always said my 87 TA is the MOST comfortable car Ive ever been in as far as seating position and room. Like I said up top, Im 6'4 250 and I fit perfectly.

i usually use the door sill to get myself out. About the only thing that is giving me fits right now, is trying to design a roll cage that will fit the car and me and pass tech at the track.

hgffrank: I think you'll be pleased switching to 4th gen seats. Especially if you have metal poking into you on the other seats. I havent felt anything obtrusive in my new seats during long trips or anything. Another option, if you still feel the bracing through the seat, is to add alittle more foam. I got used seats for my jeep and the foam was colapsed in one spot making it feel liek i was sitting on a piece of steel. I just pulled the cover back, added some foam, and it felt brand new again.

Good luck man!

J.

 

6'6" @290lbs and the 4th gen seats were a big improvement over the stockers. At one point I was using C4 Corvette seats in the search for better back support but the '01 T/A power seats fit the bill exactly.