Hey guys...

Ok, so it's been about 5 months, but I finally got around to putting the new (to me) leather rear seats from a 2002 T/A into my 84 T/A. The first difference is that my original back-rest design was a split seat, I could fold down the driver or passenger side independently. The new one isn't. The second thing I learned, was that the original bottom cushions aren't as large as the new ones. The new ones stick out about 2" further and as such, I am having a bugger of a time bolting it down. The third problem/issue that I've noted is that the drive-shaft hump that runs through the car has two "wings" on it that the split rear-seat used to support the middle section so it wouldn't flop around. With the new solid seat-back installed, these wings are visible and that really sucks.

All in all, I'm tempted to leave the original rear-seats in and just have them re-cushioned and recovered when I have the spare cash lying around.

I'm curious as to anyone elses issues/problems and what, if any were your solutions? Thanks!

 

Hey Ozz1967. Ill help ya out. Those issues have been talked about probably 100 times or more around here. So the issues you ran into are definetly common and arent a big deal. Definetly not worth getting those other rear seats recovered and all in my opinion.

When I installed my rear 4th gen seats, the bottom cusions fit perfectly. No issues bolting them in. They fit 100%. So Im not sure why you are having issues with getting them to bolt in. Maybe the little loop infront of the cushion is tweaked a bit??

Your issue with the split rear seat inner bracket is the most troublesome. Most guys cut that thing off. Me included. If you are absolutely in love with the split seat design, then you might want to see about gettin the stockers recovered. But if the 4th gen style is what you have and what you want, you can just cut out that bracket and be done with it.

If you dont want to cut that bracket, you either have to leave it and try to hide it...or put the split back seats back in.

Good luck!

J.

 

I drilled the welds out and completely took that bar out. Really makes it look better. I didn't have any issues with the rear seat bottoms, slide right in for me. Now the are a tad skinnier, but not enough to notice.

 

Somethings wrong there...The 4th gen seat bottoms are narrower (barely, and nobody ever even noticed mine), certainly not 2' wider.

 

i put leather seats from a 4th gen camaro in my 89 trans am and had no issues, besides the bar.. i left it for a little and am waiting to take the whole peice out when i install my new carpet.. my rear seat bottoms are also a tiny bit narrower than the stock seats were, didnt have any issues with bolting them down

 

He said they stick out 2" farther, not that they are 2" wider

 

I put a fourth Gen cloth set of seat in my 92 with no problem, everthing lined up perfect, although I originally had the one peice rear seat back.
Sorry to hear you had trouble, I know it is frustrating when it does not turn out like you want. Do what you need to do to make it right for you.

Looked at the pictures, that is a nice car, I want to find a radio like yours, but I am going to hang on to the stock cassette, you never know what future owners will want.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2913386

 

Make sure you install the rear seat bottoms before you install the rear seat backrest. The seats should fit - something is bent or just positioned wrong. It's possible that the mounting "holes" on the new seat bottoms are bent ( as if someone pulled up the rear seat bottom from the back while it was still installed. )

When you install the rear seat bottoms line up the mount "holes" with the nut welded into the floor and let the back of the seat "float" until the front is mounted. Once the bolt is tight in the front, push down on the back the seat to set it in place and install the backrest.

As far as the bar for the split-rear seats,........... Like someone already wrote; drill out the spot welds and save it in case you want to use it again in the future !

 

Thanks guys, I'll take a look at the seat bottoms and see if the loop is tweaked or something. Now I know you all say the 4th gens are narrower, but in all honesty, the 4th gen seats seem a tad larger than my originals...Of course I could be crazy too. However, I definitely believe they are longer...I push the seat all the way back in and the loop on the front is not only 1/2 in higher than the hole, but about an inch in front of it.

I'm going to try bolting them down first, and then pushing the backs down, that seems like the best idea. THanks again for all the imput guys, I really appreciate it.

 

It's a bent mounting loop, add some velcro to the back of the seats to help hold them down also.

 

Front to back, I think they might be a tad longer. I know mine seemed to fit tighter. The bolts seemed harder to fully tighten, But side to side? Definitely narrower, which is what I, and probably everybody else, thought of first.

 

I'm not going to argue semantics about it. I"ll take a look at those loops tonight, maybe I can bend them back into shape a bit.

I think the biggest difference I noticed is that the seat sits "deeper" than the 3rd gen seats and the side cushions are thicker which is maybe why it seems to be larger...more of an optical illusion type thing than any real size difference.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...l-dcao0148.jpg

 

So are there any 4th gen that have the folding split rear seats to get around the inner bracket issue?

 

No

That was a 3rd gen only option and it didnt last long

+ for removing the bar and bracket

TA seats are the most comfy I think

 

That sucks. I was going to start looking for some split back 4th gen seats. I guess I won't do that now.

 

All GTAs got split backs. Just keep your back seats. No real reason to swap the rears out, other than making them match. Just get your seats recovered to match. 3rd to 4th, or 4th to 3rd. Then, you can keep your split seats.

 

It's so easy to take that bar off. When you have the seats out, pull the carpet towards the front of the car until the bar is exposed. Drill the 4 spot welds out, remove bar, put carpet back, install seats. I put some duct tape over the holes for now, when I pull the carpet out to replace it, I'll just hit the 4 holes with a quick weld to close the holes up.

I have gray carpet and nobody ever notices that the carpet is cut for that bar. With darker carpet, you wont be able to see it at all.

 

same price for covers to get new ones for the 4th gen but use split backs. at least that is what Bruce said a while back.

 

Later model GTAs didnt get the split seats

 

I had the split rear seat back in my '84. When I installed my 4th Gen T/A seats I actually left the center pivot bar attached to the floor and the 4th Gen seat back still fit fine. Granted it did press against the bar, but it didn't cause any issue with the seat being installed (which you know). I put new carpet in at the same time, so the carpet covered the bar and it just looked like a lump in the tunnel. Removing the whole bar/plate would probably be best, but you should be able to make it work without, I did!

I didn't have any trouble with the seat bottoms fitting, don't know what's up with that...

-Paul

 

Well I got the seats in. I took out the seat-back and "floated" the rear part of the seats while I pushed down on the front to get the bolts in. You guys were right, those loops were all F*ckered up. probably from being in storage where I bought them.

They are a bit skinnier on the sides...not quite an inch I'd guess is the new gap that I have between the seat cushion and where the seat-belt mount is. All in all, it doesn't look too bad.

However, the little wings are visible. There is no way for me to place the seat-back so they aren't, though I am loathe to get rid of them. I think I'll try and cover them if possible like quadgoat said he did. Thanks for all the help!

 

Take a pic of it