Custom Steering Wheel!

Just installed a custom steering wheel and wanted to show everybody! I love the look.

Okay... Don't understand why it posted the picture upside down. Haha but you all get the point.

Wow, that looks nice. Details?

Sure! It's easy enough to do. Although it deletes your airbag. I simply pulled the bulb out on the backside of the cluster to get rid of the light. I used the Grant 201 steering wheel and laid down a few coats of polyurethane myself. For the install kit I used the Grant 3196 GM kit although it's not a perfect fit to the column so I used two washers to keep the cover from rubbing on the column while turning the wheel. The horn button is Grant 5631. The wheel comes with a blank horn button that I'll be laying down a 1913 Buick logo on. My wife makes custom shirt and bags so I can do anything with vinyl haha.

Oh and I used SEM 17153, Classic Coat, Medium Beige to paint the install kit to match the interior color.

Nice touch!!!

Brilliant! I love it.

If you remove a portion of the tabs on the inside of the column bezel, the cover will not rub. Just be careful that you do not distort or cut through the outside of the bezel. The washers may compromise the adapter's grip on the column.

I hear what you're saying Fred, but I have had zero issues so far.

As you say...so far.

Looks so much better, but I'm not sure I would be willing to give up my airbag.

very nice !!

nstg8r wrote:

Looks so much better, but I'm not sure I would be willing to give up my airbag.

Have you seen the crash tests for these cars? You aren't giving up much removing the air bag

Nice!!

I'm starting to wonder if keeping the air bag is worth it honestly....how long are they good for? 20 years and still safe?

Fred Kiehl wrote:

As you say...so far.

Well I appreciate the concern. I'll make sure to not go get myself killed.

brokecello wrote:

Nice!!  

I'm starting to wonder if keeping the air bag is worth it honestly....how long are they good for?  20 years and still safe?  

My thoughts exactly.

reverendgreasy wrote:

brokecello wrote:

Nice!!  

I'm starting to wonder if keeping the air bag is worth it honestly....how long are they good for?  20 years and still safe?  

My thoughts exactly.

I meant more from a liability standpoint. Someone borrows my car and gets in a wreck and hurts themselves now I've opened myself up to a lawsuit. I hate that we live in such a litigious society that I have to think that way, but I do

That's why you NEVER let another man touch your woodie.

reverendgreasy wrote:

That's why you NEVER let another man touch your woodie.

Ok, that made me chuckle.

Camping 101...Wait,are we talking about wagons?

Haha nice!

reverendgreasy wrote:

That's why you NEVER let another man touch your woodie.

I've been looking for years for more ladies to touch mine…….

Aren't we all

reverendgreasy wrote:

That's why you NEVER let another man touch your woodie.

Splinters can be a real pain man, I'm telling you.

Well, if safety is the first filter through which all our decisions must pass, the best thing to do is never get into any car. Otherwise, modify as it pleases you, try not to do something profoundly stupid, drive carefully, and be happy.

Now from a practical standpoint, I was looking around my basement and found a 95 Camaro leather wrapped wheel in good shape, and better looking than a beat TBI caprice wheel. I was actually looking for a 87 Monte SS wheel I have somewhere but found this Camaro wheel instead, once I find the airbag I can figure out if it's a direct swap.

dmg4 wrote:

Well, if safety is the first filter through which all our decisions must pass, the best thing to do is never get into any car.  Otherwise, modify as it pleases you, try not to do something profoundly stupid, drive carefully, and be happy.

Agreed!!!

With all the air bag issues here in the south I removed mine long ago and would not trust a 20 year old air bag in anything. Much more peace of mind driving without a defective bomb in your face...Jeff

reading these old posts made me wonder myself about airbags - seems the older wagons might have an issue with stale bags
I also like the idea of justifying replacing the wheel with a pretty custom one

https://www.autotrader.com/car-shopping/do-airbags-need-to-be-replaced-at-a-certain-age-245010

https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/do-airbags-go-bad-you-wont-like-this-answer/

Looks great. The horn buttons on the stock steering wheels are hot or miss and are often broken. Trading the airbag for a reliable horn seems like a good trade. Nice addition.

Here are some of the installs I have done:

All wood probably from a yacht



MOMO




Moto Lita

Here is classic NARDI:


I am currently driving with the MOMO, and the Moto Lita.

Thanks for sharing the part numbers. That really wakes up the dah area.

Here is the current wheel in the White Elephant.

hey Fred Kiel is that forever sharp wheel adapter you are using.i have a wheel i want to put on and when i looked at the site the shipping to Canada was as much as the part so after i pay the taxes and duty i am looking at $125 so i am going to wait but that's probably the the way to go after xmas

Check with your local parts store first. You may be able to get one there. I do not know what parts stores you have in Canada, but Autozone, O'Reilly, and the like should have them available. I do not know if you are looking for a black, or chrome part. It seems difficult to get the chrome ones right now. I do not have access to Canadian ebay or Amazon, so my searches are on the US versions.

I used a Grant adapter, then a 1 inch spacer on one of my cars, and it works. I did have to modify the hole for the horn connector.

Grant adapter black

https://www.ebay.com/itm/383894476151?hash=item5961e4d577:g:5oUAAOSw6P1f-IZd

Grant adapter chrome

https://www.ebay.com/itm/133374275374?epid=9013345835&hash=item1f0db9ef2e:g:vyQAAOSwlCFdEMSA

Other in chrome or black on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Polished-Adapter-Installation-Aftermarket-Steering/dp/B077DYCT67/ref=sr_1_37?crid=1X4TMOVGGPSTZ&keywords=grant+steering+wheel+adapter+for+gm&qid=1640303332&sprefix=grant+steering+wheel+adapter%2Caps%2C217&sr=8-37

6 hole 1 inch adapter/spacer

https://www.ebay.com/itm/393235172237?fits=Model%3AChevy&hash=item5b8ea48b8d:g:kSsAAOSwPuZga~7Z

One piece that may work

https://www.ebay.com/itm/402879613646?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D235995%26meid%3Dc274005d362542efae2b71d8220e2781%26pid%3D101195%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D133374275374%26itm%3D402879613646%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv9PairwiseUnbiasedWebWithSearchFilterPromotion&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851&amdata=cksum%3A402879613646c274005d362542efae2b71d8220e2781%7Cenc%3AAQAGAAACIE%252FakFX%252FGk4a6j3ixPJuOvWvbw4IP0BRG0EWnWp4qaXSdez3tQBDosIVH%252BnVz0PnRsEmphgU%252BInRHqQg3sFxyqdSnEWfnxROC0xW1i0LLaazErjCNiTuELE5Qg4IdyoQ5oPFo2lg36PqGri8FYSl8FyEE7dylsQVF0Ck1N42%252BfukQB4J0Yn7Lne6vbHvkUY8XmdkpiCyq7zqcE9lCT4ibZ2AU7NDLWM3FSpD7NJwjyvOtqIa%252Bm%252FL866A0csuHc7B0yd5ew4go4CGO84311s6%252FAWo8WTlaSLATHDPEpAroaDZOwiug018e%252BlkgodsVb8SinlXj%252FDrvvIxuwFUQCJrr%252BB%252B5Yj0dCJAizpflibS7N0TvuLNJ95Ai8yJBNbcsq%252FAu5lEsMVntdwtju9q9ITrHs9V%252FeKxX9LrOAXNxDPoJ%252FPNs%252F9PXgoNx2Ic466S5eyLKfjNg7YCMLxlec3vm11cKcnveVYjyI43jyqxwbWpFmobA10X9NaAABYIgZhumqn7fE86PwRoryqAxnvveIsNppMsykEyJRaAKOgQNx%252FkRegbuVqGEJ4d%252BdCgQnc3DcBUOD3WcxZL2g6ppTCiBEEFf4G1snda5afNFu9SheYlHjL4cPwdHPgIjZ1venh7Th%252FXGZCnW6m7ybM1r%252FrTrBop%252FCiMiRgVo4FE3PqVi9zoaGRFdh4t2oEzZvJnu96MJEok2V93b917F%252BOCNcH6InXP7rc%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2047675