My cheap and modern steering wheel solution...
#16
Lead Lap
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Misawa,Japan or Deployed
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My 85 firebird didn't have an airbag and almost every classic car doesn't have one so thats not really an Issue. My question is how are you going to wire in the buttons. I would like to do a similar project and now that wheel is an option. Hell the only thing stopping me from swapping head units in my jeep is the fact I really like my steering wheel buttons.
Oh and I like the suede wrap. I have some for the wood panels when I get done with my swap.
Oh and I like the suede wrap. I have some for the wood panels when I get done with my swap.
#18
Use super glue to bond the edges together (sets in a few SECONDS), then use gorilla glue at the back. Sand the entire thing with 60-80 grit to make sure its smooth and take out any jagged edges from where the airbag deployed. I put in expanding foam for support, so the structure wouldnt collapse if I punched the horn or something.
Should look like this after sanding:
here you can barely make out where the seams are:
Just for comparison, here's a pic of when I got it, the bottom part under the emblem also had a split going right through the middle, pretty much exactly how your seams line up.
Then bondo over it and sand til your arm falls off, then prime and paint. Should look near OEM when you're done. Or you can wrap it.
Your airbag is ridiculously easy to wrap, even working with my suede that doesn't stretch at all. Your airbag is basically a misshapen hexagon that's flat on one side. Easy as hell to wrap. What's tough are complex curves and corners. Yours should be no issue, especially with leather, which stretches a fair bit anyway.
I got the idea from this guy:
http://my350z.com/forum/forced-induc...-clothing.html
Post #7 is the steering wheel he made.
Last edited by tavarish; 07-21-09 at 07:10 PM.
#19
My 85 firebird didn't have an airbag and almost every classic car doesn't have one so thats not really an Issue. My question is how are you going to wire in the buttons. I would like to do a similar project and now that wheel is an option. Hell the only thing stopping me from swapping head units in my jeep is the fact I really like my steering wheel buttons.
Oh and I like the suede wrap. I have some for the wood panels when I get done with my swap.
Oh and I like the suede wrap. I have some for the wood panels when I get done with my swap.
I'm going to be using the PAC-SWI-PS adapter for my Pioneer AVIC-D2. It should work lovely. I'm also going to switch the LEDs from orange to bright white, to match the rest of the car. That's another day, however.
#22
tavarish, quick life lesson for you... dont make assumption when you dont know the facts. Cuz you end up seeming like an idiot when someone proves you wrong.
Anyways look at the quick pics i took. I cant simply press the edges together and glue them. It would come apart. Plus the sides arent flat so i would need to trim all the little plastic supports in order to wrap it.
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/r...o/DSCN2341.jpg
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/r...o/DSCN2342.jpg
Anyways look at the quick pics i took. I cant simply press the edges together and glue them. It would come apart. Plus the sides arent flat so i would need to trim all the little plastic supports in order to wrap it.
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/r...o/DSCN2341.jpg
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/r...o/DSCN2342.jpg
After that, you gorilla glue it to make sure it doesnt ever move. That part takes a few hours, since the glue takes a while to set. I literally did this yesterday, and the entire process is fresh in my mind. Believe me when I say my blown airbag looked EXACTLY like yours. Absolutely no differences, other than yours would probably be easier to glue because there's a bigger hole in the back.
If you're still fuzzy on how to do it, send me your airbag with materials and i'll wrap it for you.
#27
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (2)
Tavarish: your DIY wheel is a 100X better than the one i am thinking of in particular... i won't name any names... It seems you inspired a bunch to think out of the box on this one... good job.
BTW... off topic, was your GLE maxima in your sig a 5 spd. swap? i thought only the SE's came in 5 spd.