My little custom steering wheel project.

Carnut · October 17, 2016, 08:39:02 PM

Heh, heh, I'm sure you all are just dying to see a PT Cruiser project. Well anyway here goes like it or not.

First I bought a used wheel, with cruise switch and vanity cover still installed, off ebay.

Then friend tvicky helped out with the mod work.

Then cut away everything that doesn't look like a wheel adaptor.

Then layout and drill 3 holes for studs to hold custom wheel.

Used wood as a spacer so that modified vanity cover and cruise control could be used.

Cut away unneeded portion of vanity cover.

Modified vanity cover to be used.

Create and install a vanity top cover.

Check custom steering wheel install.

Create horn ring spacers from brake line tubing.

Check horn ring install

Now ready to install on car.

Carnut · October 17, 2016, 08:40:49 PM

Now install custom wheel on the car.

Remove Airbag and Steering wheel. To keep airbag light off a 2ohm 1/2-1/4 watt resistor needs to be soldered between the two airbag wires and then the wire stowed away under the adaptor.

Bolt the adaptor to the column with the factory bolt.

Hook up the cruise control wire.

Bolt on the wheel with nuts and tubing spacers for horn mechanism. hook up the horn wire to the horn ring and then install spring and snap on horn button.

WhaaLaa! New custom steering wheel and with working horn, cruise and turn signal canceling

Heh,heh, please don't kibbutz the steering wheel too much, in my mind it's really just a mockup/interim wheel until I find the custom wheel that I really like.

kb426 · October 17, 2016, 08:49:04 PM

Way to go, George! Creativity at work.

UGLY OLDS · October 17, 2016, 09:32:22 PM

NEAT :!:

I LIKE it

Bob...

58 Yeoman · October 18, 2016, 08:17:54 AM

Looks good.

nzsimon · October 21, 2016, 03:19:02 AM

Am I the only one that thinks disconnecting an air bag and installing a wheel that will kill you in a smash is a bad idea ? It would be illegal here

idrivejunk · October 21, 2016, 07:24:47 AM

Quote from: "nzsimon"Am I the only one that thinks disconnecting an air bag and installing a wheel that will kill you in a smash is a bad idea ? It would be illegal here

Probably is and it might be. Steering wheels don't cause many deaths when the seat belt is in use, but airbags cause scores of unnecessary injuries by deploying in situations when they are not needed. Or wanted. I asked my ins man about deactivating airbags. He said shut up and unplug them if that's how you want to roll. Ask me why I do.

kb426 · October 21, 2016, 07:51:01 PM

nzsimon, I don't believe that wheel will hurt anybody. All newer vehicles have collapsible steering columns. That was what I perceived to be the biggest danger to the driver. The after market wheels have way less structure that most factory wheels.

papastoyss · October 22, 2016, 04:24:47 PM

Quote from: "idrivejunk"
Quote from: "nzsimon"Am I the only one that thinks disconnecting an air bag and installing a wheel that will kill you in a smash is a bad idea ? It would be illegal here
Probably is and it might be. Steering wheels don't cause many deaths when the seat belt is in use, but airbags cause scores of unnecessary injuries by deploying in situations when they are not needed. Or wanted. I asked my ins man about deactivating airbags. He said shut up and unplug them if that's how you want to roll. Ask me why I do.

Personally I wouldn't want to expose myself to that much liability. Personal injury blood sucker, "Mr. Carnut, why did you remove that airbag &then disable the warning light so that no one would know what you did?"

Carnut · October 22, 2016, 05:39:53 PM

Oh gee, I've been a outlaw, scofflaw and neer do well most all my life.

I've actually driven cars without seat belts. ridden motorcycles without a helmet, even exceeded the speed limit a time or two.

I'm open to a whole lot more liability than an airbag delete.

Heck on this car, I've defeated the ABS so I can run big n little tires,

Run an exhaust system without a muffler.

Oh and the down pipe without a cat, I'm ruining everyones environment.

Sorry.

WZ JUNK · October 22, 2016, 06:31:29 PM

Quote from: "Carnut"Oh gee, I've been a outlaw, scofflaw and neer do well most all my life.

I've actually driven cars without seat belts. ridden motorcycles without a helmet, even exceeded the speed limit a time or two.

I'm open to a whole lot more liability than an airbag delete.

Heck on this car, I've defeated the ABS so I can run big n little tires,

Run an exhaust system without a muffler.

Oh and the down pipe without a cat, I'm ruining everyones environment.

Sorry.

Good for you. There still is a little rebel in you. Next thing you know you will be running with scissors.

John

idrivejunk · October 22, 2016, 06:45:44 PM

Or drinking from the hose. SIR fuse out and one ABS connector unplugged, dash lights blazing is how I roll. I learned the hard way.

kb426 · October 22, 2016, 06:54:32 PM

chimp koose · October 22, 2016, 11:42:41 PM

My 65 merc has no seatbelts or airbags ,.......but its had a windbag in it a time or two !

Carnut · November 18, 2016, 04:32:14 AM

Just decided to recover the steering wheel in my Conv instead of putting in a new one.

Got a great deal off ebay for a new leather cover. Leather is good and it came with 2 needles and enough thread to do the 'baseball' stitching to sew it on. Can't beat $10.78 and free shipping. Sorry it is from China.

New Premium Black Genuine Leather Steering Wheel Cover 38cm 15" | eBay

The bumps you see at 3 locations on the wheel are from the previous cover on the wheel and not the new cover. Just put the new cover over the old one which kinda gave the wheel a bit more 'heft'. Did pretty much wear out my fingers for awhile, but it was nice to do it myself.