I just got a set of 4th gen Trans Am seats. The seatbelt retainer is one piece, unlike the 3rd gen that comes apart.

Has anyone who converted tried cutting a thin slot in the retainer to feed the seatbelt through it? Did the retainer work OK after that?

Thanks!

 

Yeah, Tom, that's how I did mine, with a coping saw to make the smallest kerf I could, and it worked fine.

Someone (Zepher I think) said the guide for the convertible is already cut, but I couldn't confirm that.

 

Tom, I just cut right between the two screwholes, I guess that's what you had in mind too, but you didn't say.

 

Saywhut: thanks broh! That is an even better idea, I was thinking of cutting at the bottom of the U but your idea sounds like it would be more rigid.

 

Yeah, I cut mine between the two screw holes as well.

Steve

 

...question for Tom...why didn't you put in the belts from the same car???? They install very easily and the only piece from your old assemblies you need to re-use is the plastic cover thet hides the lower recoil by the bottom of the bucket seat. Just drill out the rivot holding the cover on the housing and rivot it back on to the 4th gen belt where it bolts to the floor. The 4th gen only has the one recoil up in the roof panel for your front belts. I changed front and rear belts and it took maybe an hour tops. Huge cosmetic improvement that compliments the new leather interior. You have to make the notch in your original recoil cover(on the floor) a little deeper so the new 4th gen belt will sit through the top and have the right alignment but it all comes together easy once you try to bolt it up the first time. I am a freak with my car but when finished it looks great and gets rid of old seatbelts that are faded frayed or stained.My belts and seats were out of a 2002 T\A and I had no problems.

 

Hey Tom ol buddy!! You know what they say about great minds!! I just got a set of 4th gen seats myself, on Monday, and was wondering the same thing as you. I took a hack saw, and cut a thin slit right in the middle of the two attachment screws (starting the cut on the mounting side of course). After cutting through, i used a blade to cut off the frilly edges, and installed. It looks perfect. If you didn't know any better, you wouldn't even know that it wasn't factory.

Man, I just love the 4th gen seats. I got mine out of a 96 TA, and it only cost me $500 canadian for the complete set (graphite leather, with the lumbar, and side bolster gizmo). You know, that's only about $300 in US dollars. The seats look hot, and they are much more comfortable than the 3rd gens I had before.

Cheers

 

Ya, the 4th gen Vert seatbelt guides are already slit.
I bought a set for my seats since they were only $3 each.

Here are the part numbers, (I have the stock ones in the baggies sitting here in my room)
16799317
16799316

 

Zepher: thanks for the part numbers!

 

no prob, just doing my part to help out others.

 

Shane, post some pic's of your seats installed!

 

OK, I'll do it asap. Man, I gotta say the TA seats are awesome. In fact, i'm going to go as far as saying that it may be the single best mod I've done to my car. The look of them is simply incredible. Hmmm..... maybe I should've posted this endorsement in the "aftermarket product review" board. Anyway, I hope you like yours as much as I do mine!!

 

Hey Tom, I know you didn't ask for these, just posting 'cause I think we have the same seats. This car got wrecked in June, haven't got it back yet, man do I miss the seats! They're going in my new convertible as soon as the insurance company finishes d*cking me around.



More pics Here

And Tom, you're gonna wonder why you didn't get those seats years ago, you're gonna love 'em!

 

saywhat: thanks for posting that pic and the link! Yes, those are the identical seats I just got! :-) I started getting interested in the 4th gen seats a couple months ago.

 

I also cut between the 2 screws. Works great.

 

Hey Tom!

Does anyone knopw if those part numbers can be used on a pair of 99 Z28 Leather seats?


I just installed my seats in my car about 2 weeks ago. I swapped in some grey seats belts, graphite carpets. I had the ugly, fading tan interior. Anyway I want to avoid any cutting so if those part numbers work for the Camaro seats I'll just fork over the $6 instead.

 

Yeah, they should work on all 4th gen seats..........

 

Rene, I have no clue if they do. I am going to try my local dealer for those retainers and see how they are.

 

If I had seen the post earlier, I would have checked myself.
My friend just left and he has a 99 Hugger Orange SS.
I'd call him back, but he left his Cell phone here as well.
We were playing Unreal Tournament with 4 players on my PS2 and 108" giant screen.

 

Tom, after you get the 4th gens in, let me know how you like them compared to the flo-fits. I've got a set of tan flo-fits sitting in my living room, and I find them 100000% more supportive than my 4th gen seats. In fact, I bought the flo fits for the GTA, but I still haven't installed them because I'm leaning toward recovering them to go into the IROC. My only issue is that other than sitting in them to watch tv, I haven't had any long-term seat time in them. Let me know how you think the 4th gens compare to the flo fits after you've had time to get used to them. Thanks.

 

The Flo-Fit's are truly awesome seats. Very comfortable in long haul driving situations. Ultra supportive when canyon carving.

I just want a change. That's why I am going with the 'luxury' 4th gen leather seats. I will let you know what I think after I have lived with them for a while.

 

Be prepared to slide all over the place in those canyons.