T-type/Lumina steering wheel swap info?

Is this on the 'other' forum somewhere and I missed it?


1. How hard is it to do the swap? What's involved? Do I need a special adapter or something?
2. Can you SEM the steering wheel? I can get a black one and live with it, but I'd like it more if it were red
3. Can you replace the horn button with something else (If a T-type wheel)? I could have somebody do up a decal for it or whatever, but I just want to make sure I'd be doing it right.

My wagon's going to be a semi-custom before Daytona dammit. If I'm going to go, I'm going with some new goodies.

Edited title and stuff. I found (and bid on) a red lumina sport wheel from eBay. First question still applies

Not Crovo, but I have swapped wheels and dyed, too. And... I have a Lumina Sport wheel in my SS, and installed another one in mom's 91 Caprice.

1. Not hard. Take off the bag, remove nut, use steering wheel puller. Cut airbag wire, install new wheel.
2. Clean, prep, clean, prep, prep, prep, then clean and prep and clean. Then, light mist coats.
3. Don't know. However, if it is like everything else GM ever made, that wheel has been used on lots of different cars. Don't think it was in any Chevys, though. You are likely looking at a custom insert.

I found a Lumina sport wheel that's already red! I bid on it.


My airbag wire is already cut. I don't know why. But when I took it apart to fix the lock cylinder I noticed it was cut (this is why I don't give a crap about not having the air bag. I've gone this long, lol)

So I don't need to buy any special adapters to do the wheel? Woohoo!

No, the wheel will install like factory (cause it is), and a nice bonus is that you will be able to honk the horn much easier.

Or at all - lol

Now to figure out how to get my horn working again....


Also does anyone know if say, AutoZone rents steering wheel pullers? No sense in me buying one for one time. lol

You can rent pullers from AZ.

Awesome. I'll do that then. This sounds like it'll be easy.

Even for me. lol

Stingroo wrote:

Is this on the 'other' forum somewhere and I missed it?


1. How hard is it to do the swap? What's involved? Do I need a special adapter or something?
2. Can you SEM the steering wheel? I can get a black one and live with it, but I'd like it more if it were red
3. Can you replace the horn button with something else (If a T-type wheel)? I could have somebody do up a decal for it or whatever, but I just want to make sure I'd be doing it right.

My wagon's going to be a semi-custom before Daytona dammit. If I'm going to go, I'm going with some new goodies.

Edited title and stuff. I found (and bid on) a red lumina sport wheel from eBay. First question still applies

Wheels bud, do the wheels. Those will change the looks of the car more than anything else!

Got that covered as of just now. Smoothies it is. (I told you I was indecisive as crap until the money got spent. )

A steering wheel update was one of the first mods I did on my Olds Custom Cruiser. I went to the salvage yard and lucked into a nice Ciera International Series with the leather-wrapped 2-spoke. It really made the inside of the Olds look better.





GM used basically the same steering column from 1969 through the 1990's, so you have a TON of choices if you want a factory wheel. No adaptor needed!

I'm on the lookout for a Buick GS wheel for my Roady wagon. The three spoke, but the late 80's, early 90's style used in the LeSabre and Allante, that has solid leather spokes with no metal showing. Sharp.

Have not found a good one yet...but I will!

Good luck and keep the pics coming!

EDIT: Did this same mod on my new '92 Custom Cruiser. Got rid of the air bag wheel. Love this mod!


-Mike

But of course. Good luck on your wheel search. I might be going to the yard this weekend too - so if I find one I'll let you know

Thanks! Buick actually made a lot of versions of these wheels. The one I really want has curved spokes and was used on the 1990 Regal GS and LeSabre with the handling package.

The late 80's Reatta and Riviera used a similar design that was all leather, but had straight spokes. It's my 2nd choice.

3rd choice was used on the first-year Reatta and 2nd year Rivs. Has a little metal showing on the spokes.


These were all just updated Regal T-Type and Grand national Steering wheels, but those had wide metal spokes. I want as much leather as possible.....think it looks more modern.

-Mike

Get the horn wire with the spring on it. The wire for the Caprice wheel is way longer, and has two ends. It just makes it easy. If you do not want the airbag light to stay on, get a 2 ohm 10 watt resistor and put it across the yellow connector below the steering column. You can use two 1 ohm resistors in series, or two 4 ohm resistors in parallel. I got mine ar Radio Shack, and I think they have the 1 ohm resistors in a 2 pack.

I think somebody either pulled the bulb for the airbag light, or it burnt out, because it isn't on now. I honestly didn't even know the car had one.

Just buy a steering wheel puller. They are under twenty bucks from Harbor Freight. If you are going to work on cars, you need tools.

Remover set is $40 from HF. It's something I'll seriously use once. I'd rather just rent it.

jayoldschool wrote:

Just buy a steering wheel puller. They are under twenty bucks from Harbor Freight. If you are going to work on cars, you need tools.

I've used my set a ton, and 2nd that, it was $25. Mine is the combo unit and can be used to pull harmonic balancers too. I've used it to replace turn signal switches and wheels on mine and friends cars, plus it's nice to have in the salvage yarding tool box....just in case. ; )

Oh and I bought my at Harbor Freight here in Austin.

-Mike

I can sell you a brand new one for $8 shipped.

Paypal info? I'm in on that. lol

If you are coming to the Spring Rod Show at Daytona, I will have the steering wheel pullers for $3 each. I will be in the swap meet area. I do not know my location yet. I will be staying at the Jameson Inn Friday and Saturday nights. If you see the White Elephant (white 92 OCC), I am there. My cell is 727-692-5510.

They are not fancy, and only for steering wheels or 2 bolt applications, but the price is right.

I'll be there Saturday for sure. Hopefully I'll get my wheel done before then. LOL

Well I won myself a red Lumina wheel. I'm stoked!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260734650431

Sweet that'll look cool!

Yep. Plus I'll have a horn. lol

So you'll have to remove your bumper sticker now??

Yeah it's going to have to come off. My left hand is going to have to go through physical therapy. Nine months of finger extension and flexion can really take a toll.

Sting you poor baby and your finger too.Good looking steering wheel and will look great
installed.
Congrats.
J E G

Thanks. My mom laughed at me when I bought it and was watching the last hour or so of the auction. She was like "How many people do you really think will want or need a RED steering wheel?"

The cool people, obviously.

SUCCESS!



Now... about my horn. I don't know how to connect it. I saved the wire from the Caprice wheel, just to be safe. My plastic things for the buttons were in a million pieces. How do I wire the new wheel up to make the horn work? I don't understand that part.

Take the horn pad off and shoot me a pic. I forget how to connect it, but it is simple. I think the wire connects to a tab, then the spring loaded connector goes into the hub.

For the love of god, take that wheel cover off!

Congrats on the mod.

What Jay said,take that ugly cover off that pretty steering wheel.Damn dude that really looks
good.How does it feel compared to the original?
Take Care
J E G
Get off the computer and clean out that interior before Mike sees it and has a fit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wheel cover stays until my can of SEM comes and I can spray it. Compared to the original, it's much thicker and more comfortable on my hands. I need to find a new leisure driving position though. I used to rest the palm of my hand between the airbag and the rim and wrap my fingers around behind it (since it didn't work, that is) but now I can't do that.

And as for the interior... sorry LOL A bunch of friends and I spent yesterday at the beach. There's all kinds of debris in there. I'll be vacuuming it out on Saturday.

EDIT: How does the horn pad come off? I don't want to be breaking it already. lol

You pull it.

Seems simple enough. I'll get a photo after classes today

Jay here's what I'm dealing with:

That plastic piece with the spring goes in the hole at 10:00 next to the steering shaft. Push it in, then turn to the right to lock in place (you can see the little tabs on the bottom of the blue part that will catch). Then, put your pad back on. Horn should work.

I just tried that, I got the nob things to line up and twisted it so the blue thing stayed in the hole and still no horn. It LOOKS like there's another wire in there that's been cut or something? I don't know. Something was inside there though.

Oh...another dash mat fan! Like the wheel too...looks like it was made for it!

I have to be a dash mat fan. Do you know where I live?!


But no, it came with the car. The pad is cracked all around the air vent up top too. Pad looks good for now, and is cheaper and easier than replacing the pad.

Stingroo wrote:

I just tried that, I got the nob things to line up and twisted it so the blue thing stayed in the hole and still no horn. It LOOKS like there's another wire in there that's been cut or something? I don't know. Something was inside there though.

First off, put the big nut back on you column shaft to hold the wheel on.

Now, as for the horn, you push and twist the plastic tube with the spring and wire into the hole at 10 position. CAREFULLY twist it in....you can actually break the catch in that hole and the wire won't stay in (ask how I know).

Next, that thin angled flat piece of metal mounted to the horn button itself needs to make contact with the center shaft metal part on the column when you snap the horn button on. If it does not make contact, ya got no horn. If the wire is twisted in and the flat part is making contact, your horn should work. If not, track down and check the horn fuse.

And let us know if that worked!

-Mike

Gotcha. I took the center nut off because I was trying to see if I could figure out the horn thing myself. I gave up and took the pic. :p It's back now, of course.

I'll give it another try here in a few minutes and report back. Gotta take my friend home.

Mike you're a genius! My horn works now!


Well... sort of. LOL One of them died as I was driving. I honked it in my friend's driveway when I realized it worked then when I went to honk at someone who cut me off, it was definitely only the high pitched note working.

No matter though. I have Fleetwood trumpet horns at my house, or I could be a super douche and leave only the air horn wired up.

Good deal! Glad to hear it. Piece-by-piece!

-Mike

Yep. You have no idea how excited I was when I accidentally made the horn sound when putting the horn pad back on the wheel.

Now for the air horns... bwahahahaha.

Ergh.... seriously? I have the dumbest friends.


The horn stopped working again so I took the pad and wheel back off to re-seat the wire (I got it working again). The problem? My friend lost the damn steering wheel nut while playing with it in the passenger seat. This is ridiculous. I can't find it in the car at all, and we looked all over the ground where we were.


Anyone (Fred? Sprocket? Mike?) have a spare? lol

I would watch a reality show about you and your car.

It wouldn't be very entertaining. lol

Nut found! Douchebag friend dealt with. Project complete!

Now for air horns...