First post here. I've been reading a lot of threads, lots of great info.

Anyway, I have an 89 RS 305 TBI 5 speed, and I'm 6'3". I could use a little more leg room. There are lots of threads on here about seats, seat relocation brackets, 4th gen seats in 3rd gens, etc. But there seems to be conflicting info so I was hoping that maybe a consensus has been reached...
Are 4th gen seats lower vs 3rd gen? It seems this was hotly debated.
Also, if I get the late 3rd gen rails with the lever that allows the bottom to rock back, or the 4th gen rails with the same lever, and mount to my 3rd gen seats, will my seats be taller or lower? Would power rails be lower?
I want more legroom but I can't sacrifice headroom. It seems like the relocation brackets add height which would be bad.

While I'm at it, my headliner is sagging but intact. I could get an aftermarket headliner, which from what I've read here will give me more headroom, but some posts made it sound like the aftermarket ones aren't as nice. Should I fix this one or go aftermarket?

If it helps, my 89 has 48k miles, and the seats look like brand new. The headliner cloth is great, other than coming loose.

 

I am also over 6' and struggled with leg room for a couple of years before installing the universal seat adapter brackets from Yearone a couple years back and they give plenty of leg space now. I actually can't have the seat in the furthest back position anymore.

Yearone Link: https://www.yearone.com/Product/1964...7PzO-ci0&gQT=2

Hawks alternative link: https://www.hawksmotorsports.com/196...er-seat/?gQT=2

 

Did they raise the seat up at all?

 

Not that I have noticed, but it may also be due to me having fourth gen seats/rails too LOL

 

Do they have the adjustment where the seat bottom can rotate back?

 

Mine have the adjustment of forward/backward, recline, and the whole seat can tilt back. Mine are the manual sliders, so maybe the power rails are slightly higher due to the motors underneath.

 

4th gen seats are lower.
All power seats are a bit higher (again with 4th gen being lower).
The manual rails from a 4th gen with the "rocking" mechanism are lower than stock third gen seats (had these in mine for a bit).
Seat relocation brackets exist, looks like the link has been posted above.

Hope that helps.

 

So if I mount manual (with rocking mechanisms) 4th gen rails to my 3rd gen seats I should be lower, and maybe slightly further back, correct?
The car is all original now, 48k miles, seats look like new. So if I could get my seats lower and slightly further back that would be ideal.

 

My two cents on the rails -

My car is a 1989. Originally had the mechanism for the whole seat to roll backwards. I swapped them out for manual 1982 Camaro rails - both sides only slider and no roll mechanism. The stock 3rd gen seats on the original rails seated me very much lower height wise in the car.

 

3rd gen seats on 4th gen rails will net you very little if any difference. The reason 4th gen seats are lower is because the seat foams are much thinner.

Not sure there is much to be done while retaining the 3rd gen seats.

 

I see your dilema. I am only 5'-10" and I have the seat adjusted as far back as it will go, which is perfect for my leg room but after I got my '82 Viscount seats reupholstered with new foam, I have very little headroom. If I were taller, this current situation would not work for me. I even wondered if the Trans Am tracks are shorter than the Firebird tracks that I used, but people hear said they're all the same. I guess that new seat foam is some firm stuff...

 

I just ordered a set of the brackets from Hawks. Excited to see how they work out.

 

Year One brackets are installed and all the way back is about perfect now. I do still want to get lower too, but I guess that will require 4th gen seats which may be a later deal. Thanks