Hey guys I've been wanting a 3rd gen Camaro for a long time. My dad had several. My problem is that I have 3 kids. My wife says no because We all cant fit in it.
Has anyone done a swap to add seats in? LOL, I know its far fetched but I would really love to have a 3rd gen. Thanks.

 

Lol wow you must really want one! I would say...imo....it's not a family car and your kids will destroy the cars interior. If you want one it needs to be a secondary vehicle for you and only you.
If you want a 4 door sports sedan get a new charger. I have one and it's roomy and looks awesome and is pretty fast for the 292hp v6. My 3rd Gen is for cruising with the wife; )

 

Grrr not what I wanted to hear lol. Thanks for the reality check though lol. I already have a "cruising car" my 78 Montecarlo. When I get done building it, it will have a roll cage, so no kids in the back of that one.
I'm not a real fan of the chargers. A friend of mine owns one and she lets me drive it. Nice cars just not for me.

 

Not sure how safe it would be, but you could fab something up. Like stated above though, I still don't think it would be enough room for 3 kids..

Off top of my head, only way I could see to get it done is to build something like this first:

Rear Seat "delete"
But instead of making it flat, try to make 3 "dips" for seat cushions, then you would have to mount 3 seat belts.. and is it even legal, pass inspection?

 

Then you run into other problems, depending on how old the kids are, this will raise them up close to the roof, possibly stopping you from seeing out the back?

 

The hump looks huge in that picture. Wow, I didn't remember it being that big. Im seriously doubting it will work. Im not too worried about inspection. I know a great welder that would make it stronger than factory. But now you have me thinking safety issues like crush zones and if it got rolled over, would it smash in too far.

 

Take it from me, I owned 2 "F" bodies when my daughters were small in the mid '90's...an '83 T/A CFI 305 and a '83 Z28 with a 305 to 350 upgrade, I drove the Z28. the wife drove the T/A. We never went anywhere together in the same car as it was too hard getting the kids in and out of the back, so we would take both cars to dinner, etc...a total pain in the **** and waste of gas lol...but if it's really what you want man, I say go for it, who's to say it would not work out for you?

 

I'm sure a good Reupholster shop could safely make a lower bench seat for that,belts and all.

 

get a good used Pontiac G8

 

If you have the will and fabrication skills I'm sure it could be done. Legality is another issue. I say go for it, it would be unique for sure

 

I had to break down and buy a third car once our son was born making us a family of 5. It just can't haul all of us if something happens to my wife's truck again. Two years ago when our truck broke down, before our son, my car was pressed into family hauling duties. I'll admit, it was a bit tough with both kids in car seats in the back, the wife and me trying to do any kind of "family" getting around. I thought it was AWESOME! The looks we got were priceless when we all piled out. My kid also loved it that they got to ride in "Daddy's car!" That said, with a family of 5, man family comes first, that's my only recommendation.

 

Good thread...wow. You might want to re-phrase your comment above, I hope.

Its not that your "problem" is the 3 kids; it's the desire to have a third gen with 3 kids!!

 

LOL didnt mean it in that way at all.
My youngest is still in a car seat, I might try a booster on him in the summer next year. My middle is in a booster, she has to do her own belt and wont have it any other way. My oldest is 4 years older than all of them.

Im definitely going to have to do some more research before/if I buy one.

 

I'd be more concerned with 3 LITTLE KIDS in the back without shoulder belts,lap belts just don't cut it with Booster Seats

 

As mentioned aside from seat belts being a problem, the feet for the kid stuck in the middle would be smashing the rear of your center console. Heck, I have two boys and I freak out if their feet even come close to the back of the front seats, let alone if one was in the middle back there!

Plus yeah, no matter how careful your try to be, after 10 years your interior WILL be trashed just from normal wear. My car was MINT 15yrs ago and winning trophys at shows and getting books, etc. now, you would think it was owned by white trash :/ ....and you don't even wanna know what all new interior parts will run you later on I NEVER let my kids eat in the car, have drinks, anything, it's all from just regular use. The interiors on these cars totally suck ***** really bad for surviving unless they never have any passengers and stay out of the sun from new.

 

I know you will hate to hear this, but the best thing you can do is flip your builds around.

Build the '78 monte as the hot street/cruiser car, and get a third gen and use the parts for your monte build in it. Do the cage and all with the third gen.

The monte will fit your whole family plus more.

My mama had a 1981 monte carlo when I was a teenager. We had her, her hubby, my teen sister, and my dad all in that car a few times. Fit all just fine and could have squeezed one more person in thanks to the split bench front seat and column shift auto.

My buddy had a nice 1986 trans am with a 350 HP 350 in it. He loved that car.....He sold it 3 mo. after they brought baby #1 home due to probs fitting the car seat in the car, hard to get in/out through door, rear seat didn't hold/fit car seat right. Tried putting car seat rear facing in front seat, but his 5'7" g/f could not fit in rear seat very well.

The third gen F bodies only seat 2 people good.

 

I have had 3 girls in the back of my bird, and it didn't look too comfy. I wouldn't suggest it at all. I know kids are smaller, but they will grow quickly. As stated above, I don't know how I feel about them just having a lap belt as well.

 

Not putting miles on your ride so it will be more appealing to the next owner is like not having sex with your girlfriend so she will be more appealing to her next boyfriend

 

I never get tired of hearing that one, so true haha!

 

Forgot about the lap belt thing, good point.

Definitely not going to be able to flip the build, too far along now.

This was one of my ideas also. Wonder if I can convince the wife...

Unfortunately I'm not going to buy a 3rd gen. Seems like the most logical thing to do. I'm too concerned with the safety of my children.

I really appreciate all the info and input from all of you. This forum seems to be a good one, lots of knowledge with out being mean. Thank you.

 

Keep looking around in the meantime. Might be able to score a good 3rd gen for a long term project. They aren't disappearing that fast. You have plenty of time!

Good Luck