steering wheel

[fenderman]

Well, I know that I said I'd be leaving my car stock, but then I realized that if I left my mods to bolt on and didn't make the car too flashy, that I could keep the old parts and convert the car back to concourse later if I so choose to do so. I would like to upgrade the interior because I don't want the car easily distinguishable from any other Camaro on first glance. I am thinking that I want to do a retro theme with mine encompassing 30 years. Since mine is a 99, I wanted to incorporate various interior parts from a 69. While I don't know how it would look, I would like to get the 3 spoke 69 Camaro steering wheel. Does anyone know how many splines both cars (69 and 99) have? It would be cool if this was a direct bolt on mod. Thanks for the help.

[Loochy88]

i do not believe its a direct bolt on. also, you wont have an airbag anymore.

[dmiller_2005]

No Airbag=Not Good

[RCJim]

Opinions vary on that topic:

[fenderman]

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread, but I decided since it pertains to the same topic that there was no need for a new one.

I found from doing some research that apparently any Camaro steering wheel will fit into our cars. The adapter from the first gen all the way up until 1989 is the same part number. The reason 1990 and up have not been listed is because in 1990 GM started putting airbags in the Camaros and second party tampering or advertising is illegal. In fact as many of you probably know, West Coast Customs was fined for removing airbags in place of LCD screens.

Before I go on my rant and rave, if you remove the airbags in your vehicle you do so under your own will and accord. This is not posted to talk you into removing your own airbags, but to provide information for people who have been asking the same questions I have. Honestly, I wouldn't put up so much of a negative stance if there were options other than styling rings available for airbag equipped vehicles.

There is no good argument to convince me personally to keep my airbags. If someone were to own an 80's Camaro (which many still use as a daily driver), nobody here would talk them out of it for not having an airbag. However if this person wanted to remove an airbag from their airbag equipped car, scare tactics would be thrown from every direction that would range from life saving to the threat of having their face smashed in.

The same government who enforces airbag laws sends small children to school packed together on buses without seatbelts. This government also allows people if they so choose to ride around on motorcycles where no part of the body is restrained. You can't brace yourself in the car.... you're going to do it on a motorcycle? B.S.

It's ok to risk throwing your entire body out onto the pavement and into other traffic as long as you have a helmet on your head, but remove that little pillow between your face and the steering wheel in your car and you're gonna die? B.S.

Now, onto my legal research. If I read the TX state law correctly, there are only a few illegal things concerning airbags.

1. Removing them for someone else.
2. Installing them in a vehicle that they are not suited for.
3. Removing them and selling the vehicle without written notification that the vehicle no longer has its airbags.

Anything else goes. TX state inspection criteria does not include working airbags in its checklist. The only restraint system checked is the seatbelt system, and that's under the most thorough of inspections. Some of these shops here in TX will do little more than blow the horn and turn your lights on. But there is nothing in the TX inspection code that states that airbags are necessary. Below is the link for all you Texans who want to know what is required and what is not in the inspection. This is also a good link for those of you who live in TX who want to know about Altezzas, etc.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/insp...classsubmit=Go

[Loochy88]

the point is still that you are making a car that was pretty safe just a little less safe. it may not be illegal, but for the sake of appearance it might not be the best idea.

Its the same issue as whether should you take your bumper supports out because you want to be a little faster at the track?

[Vracer111]

Originally posted by Loochy88:
the point is still that you are making a car that was pretty safe just a little less safe. it may not be illegal, but for the sake of appearance it might not be the best idea.

Its the same issue as whether should you take your bumper supports out because you want to be a little faster at the track?

For a street car I would leave the stock SRS steering wheel in. My stock SRS steering wheel was removed and replaced with a Sparco racing steering wheel because I have a 4-point roll bar installed along with 4-point harness for autocross and track, so I am pretty much secured in with increased protection for roll-over. SRS for track/racing vehicles is not a good idea if you value your life, which is why most sanctioning rules require you to disable or remove the SRS system.

[ April 18, 2005, 07:42 PM: Message edited by: FirebirdGT ]