formula forever

thanks for posting this.

Fords88Bird

As said before, excellent write up. Later.

Lantern_21

Hey guys,

I had some punk try to steal my 91 camaro and he smashed up the steering column shroud pretty bad, I have replaced most of this, but I have this piece that I am not sure of where it goes, I have have the Haynes manual for it but it doesnt show this piece please if anyone can help me figure it out that would be awesome.

Jaydawg7

sorry, I cant see your pic. I'll try to find & upload some schematics from my service manual (1991!) for you.

Lantern_21

Thanks man. Yeah sorry I only have the camera on my phone and its pretty much crap.

Jaydawg7

Was it just broken around the key area? I guess the theft deterrant in the key worked, huh?

Lantern_21

It was the whole top housing they broke through, luckily I found this forum/ guide and took it apart but as previously said, i cant figure out where that piece goes. But yeah the VATS worked, haha. It looked like he tried getting in from the blinker switch and just broke most of the plastic housing.

Jaydawg7

Just found this on thirdgen.org

http://www.shbox.com/1/steering_column_exploded.jpg

Let me know if this helps.

Lantern_21

Yeah it did, it is the actuator/ dimmer switch. Do I just put the housing on first then connect it? Still learning how to read these diagrams.
Oh and thanks for the help.

Jaydawg7

What #?

Also try the picture on this link

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/rep...00c1528008ea2e


Its been so long since I had to mess with mine... but I think a piece fits inside that one (#21?)

Also, thank bigj350, lol

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...ng-column.html

Lantern_21

Yep thats it ty for your help again. I did like the title wtf is this piece lol.

Jaydawg7

Awesome, I had my car a while when the high beam switch crapped out. Only then did I realize the car had a buzzer that sounded when I left the key in it or when the door was open just because I took the steering column apart. lol

artmanc

I am putting my column back together and don't know how to install this piece, I'm thinking it was in the hole that the door chime contacts came out from, is this correct ?

artmanc

OK, I finally found someone who knew where this clip went, it goes in the small rectangular hole next to the ignition switch hold down pin, I put it in after the switch, hold down pin and torx bolt where in place and then the clip goes in with the large end up and toward the front, push it in all the way and then install the white plastic piece with the 2 contacts on top of the end of the clip and push all the way in. Somehow I removed it or it fell out and none of the pictures show it nor do the schematics, been driving me nuts so I thought I'd share, Thanks for the rest, made it easy for a first timer!

lawdog49

iTrader: (6)

ok, so has anyone swapped a stock earlier Z wheel into an airbag equipped car? I have a nice 86 Z wheel that I want to install. do i need the grant kit- or will my wheel bolt on after removing airbag stuff?

potterc32

iTrader: (1)

So I've made that tool to pull out the pins about 4 times now. I keep on breaking the screws, I even rode my bike to the machine shop here in town, and the strongest one he said I would find that size is 304 stainless. So I bought a couple of them. They didn't bend like the phillips head screws did, but the head of the screw just twisted off.

The one on the left side of the column came out relatively easy, but the one on the right will not budge a single bit. Are there any tricks to pulling these things out? And are grade 8 stronger than 304 stainless? The guy at the machine shop told me I wouldn't find a grade 8 in that small of screw/bolt (8-32).

I'm going to check at Home Depot for some grade 8 hardware, and see if that works better, but if anyone has a suggestion let me know!

potterc32

iTrader: (1)

So there is no way I'm getting a punch to work, i tried, and got it to where I can strike the punch, but the way I'm striking it, I'll end up breaking something else before that comes out. I'm just going to try and drill it out or something as a last resort.

Does anyone know where I can get another pivot pin? I found one on ebay for $25, but good lord, is it made of gold?

89demon

iTrader: (1)

OK....I followed the thread step by step getting my new Grant on my 91 RS but, now I have a problem and I wanna scream. I unplugged the airbag from the connector at the base of the steering column and now the car won't start...... No power to the starter of the fuel pump so it can prime when you turn the key to on...... I believe it is that VATS bull.... HELP!!!

CRCustoms

Do vats bypass. Not too hard.. Does security light turn on when you try to start it? Does anything click when you turn the key to start? Does the security light flash when you try to crank?

Did you plug airbag back in? I'm guessing the grant weel doesnt use your airbag? By the way, Do not probe those wires. The airbag light on?


Keep me in line, some of those features may not be on your car. I'm into the 4th gens now, but my 91 car was sweet.

Andy Fanshawe

iTrader: (1)

Here's a video to supplement the brilliant write up.


The horn connector regularly snaps



but all you have to do is dremel another slot in the other side!



Not massively clear but I am hoping you can see the slot.

Andy.

marine12001

Great write up !!!! I bought a 92 Camaro RS 305 for 600 bucks this week. Wouldnt start but the owners said it ran good.

Towed it home and went to work. Steering wheel was practically hanging off and I found a pin on the floorboard. Good thing I didnt throw it away.

Turns out the ignition linkage was broken and was not engaging. Went to the Oriely's and picked up a new kit. Took everything apart and put everything back together correctly the first try.

Car is now running with bypassed vats. All I need now is to replace a pulley and this is a good running car. Engine sounds good and mean.

MN91TA

Just did a column rebuild myself and thought I'd post a few things. First, a pic of my loose pivot pin:



Next, a picture of the four bolts deep inside the column:



Unlike OP's, mine were regular hex head (some metric size), were all tight, seemed to have some kind of anti-loosening feature (nylon lock or similar), and were retained to prevent complete removal. This may be a feature of later columns...?

Next, I decided that I wanted to prevent the pins from ever loosening again. I picked up a 4" stainless hose clamp and wrapped it around the pins, right up against the shoulder on the column:




I had to cut a slot in the upper column cover to clear the "head" of the clamp, and trim some plastic inside of the turn signal housing piece. It took a bit of finagling to squeeze it on over the clamp, but in the end it went on without too much of a fight. Here's how it looks now:




You'd never notice it unless you were looking for it, and I'm pretty sure it will never loosen up again!

RSValor91

Great Job!!!! I´ll try it the next weekend, the "special tool" to take off the wheel has a specific name? It´s hard to take off with just the arms? can I do the same with a bearing take off tool?? sorry for my english!!! I´m from Mexico, there´s no enough information here!! and I never did that before, I have a crash and The Air Bag Explode so I wanna change the wheel!! It looks Awesome like that!!!!!

tunatrky

My pivot pin puller broke inside of the right side tilt pin. Oh man. It won't drill out either. Think I may replace the column now.

Pardy83

Great piece of information. Do you know if I can use the same adapter on my 91 firebird. She deserves a steering wheel upgrade.

Pardy83

What would be the best automatic shifter for a 4 speed? Any ideas?

stuckinkaos

ATTENTION!
Save yourself the headache. Before you begin, go to your friendly neighborhood auto store and borrow a steering wheel puller and a steering wheel lock plate remover.
I got the lock plate retaining wire out with a clever balancing act, but getting it back in was a bear. Man, that was fun! Get the right tools for the job!

Brian Baker

How do you get the air bag light to stay off once you remove the air bag switch? Mine just stays on. Great info and write up. Thanks

Brian Baker

My air bag light stays on trying to figure out how to make it stay out. And no security light issues.