Steering Wheels, Airbags, and Clocksprings...

OK, I'm looking for some airbag (SIR, not suspension) experts out there, maybe I really need a C-body expert, I donno...

I'm doing a drastic color change on the OCC, so I'm changing the interior colors to a neutral grey/black scheme in lieu of burgundy.  I scored a nice grey dash out of a '91 RM sedan last week, but the point of the car is to be obviously OLDSMOBILE, so a grey wheel with a tri-shield on the airbag isn't going to do.  

There are lots of nice looking steering wheels out there, like this leather-wrapped job I spotted in a '94 Ninety-Eight (it's just a little dirty), but I want to keep the driver's airbag functional.  I know that not all systems are created equal, so I'm looking for clues that might help me decipher the interchangeability of some of these.  For example, IF (I don't know that it did, just asking 'if') a '92 Touring used the same wheel as my OCC, and a '92 Regency had a wheel like the one pictured available as an option, I might think the swap should be pretty straightforward.

I would expect to have to grab the clockspring along with the wheel and airbag if I were to go with something like the pictured example, but I'm not stuck on the buttons or anything.  I'm just trying to figure out what my options are because every wheel I see that looks like mine, looks like mine (read: looks like crap).  I see a lot of nice C-body wheels in the yards, but I don't know if they are a superior alternative or more trouble than they are worth.

Anyone out there with steering wheel/airbag swap experience, or a parts catalog that will tell me what other models used the same SIR system as the OCC?

It figures that as soon as I ask, I start to find a few of the clues I was looking for. I wish I was always so lucky.

This site doesn't appear to be 100% comprehensive, but it does have some interchanges, so that's helpful:

http://www.wholesalegmpartsonline.com/products/Oldsmobile/Custom-CruiserWagon/WHEEL-Steering/2859149/17990501.html

Oldsmobile 88 4DR Royale 1992, 1993
Oldsmobile 88 4DR ROYALE LS 1992, 1993
Oldsmobile 88 4DR ROYALE SERIES 1992, 1993
Oldsmobile 98 4DR Base 1991, 1992, 1993
Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Wagon 1991, 1992
Oldsmobile Cutlass 4DR CIERA S 1993
Oldsmobile Cutlass 4DR CIERA SL 1993
Oldsmobile Cutlass Wagon CIERA CRUISER S 1993
Oldsmobile Cutlass Wagon CRUISER SL 1993
Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera 4DR S 1993
Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera 4DR SL 1993
Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera Wagon CRUISER S 1993
Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser Wagon SL 1993

Any model that used this sapphire wheel is probably a good place to start. They don't have the blue airbag listed, so there are still some interchangeability questions on the SIR system. Some of these models also had grey or graphite wheels, so that's helpful.

It looks like C, H or A bodies from '91-'93 may be good candidates. I hadn't even considered looking inside any A bodies...

Saving your burgundy interior pieces?

Andebe wrote:

Saving your burgundy interior pieces?

Due to time & budget constraints along with parts availability, I'm likely to be painting or re-covering most of the red stuff. That will be the easiest way to make sure everything matches. Obviously, painting a steering wheel and airbag isn't feasible, so those will be swapped. The original dash pad and steering wheel are not in great shape, so I'm not sure anyone will want them, but I'll put anything usable out there once it's off the car.

I'll also be pulling the exterior plastic body cladding. Again, not perfect, but it's all there and will be made available.

Oh yes I saw your post about changing the interior, 91-93 TBI Caprice wagon had gray interior that would swap over. I suppose even some 94-96 pieces would swap over as well.

If the Olds steering wheels look like the ones in the OCC, they are the same. Some of the wheels have buttons for controlling the radio. They have two buttons on each side. The air bag will fit either one.

There is a company that custom recovers steering wheels. It is not cheap, but you can pick your color. Any hard parts require paint. The recommended brand of paint is SEM.

93 and later spare covers have a different placement for the hold down thumb screw. You have to get the D pillar trim to match the hole placement.

I have a spare Olds airbag that came with my car, its dark blue. I know in some of the guys here have swapped in wheels with buttons and airbags, as well as making them work. From what I can recall, to get them to work you'd need the clock spring and them have to wire them in.

Had an Olds 98 in for service at the dealership I work at just yesterday with that wheel.

Dr.Oldsmobile wrote:

Andebe wrote:

Saving your burgundy interior pieces?

Due to time & budget constraints along with parts availability, I'm likely to be painting or re-covering most of the red stuff.  That will be the easiest way to make sure everything matches.  Obviously, painting a steering wheel and airbag isn't feasible, so those will be swapped.  The original dash pad and steering wheel are not in great shape, so I'm not sure anyone will want them, but I'll put anything usable out there once it's off the car.  

I'll also be pulling the exterior plastic body cladding.  Again, not perfect, but it's all there and will be made available.

Actually, painting the airbag and wheel are both pretty common. Look up SEM products. Many people here have used the product several times, and always report excellent results.