Ok sorry, probably a noob questions... I did some searching and didn't really come up with an answer so maybe someone can help.

I want to install a Grant steering wheel in my '91 Camaro RS.

I know I will need a steering wheel puller, and from my searching I will need a grant installation kit correct?

I have searched google, summit, etc and I can not find a Grant installation kit for a '91. My search results only come up with a kit for '89 and older... Whats the deal???

 

my best guess would be something with the airbag since they put the airbags in in 1990

 

Download this catalogue:

http://64.60.165.189/pdf/07_Auto_Catalog.PDF

Scroll down to the Installation kits.

I belive what you want is kit # 3196

Summit has it for ~$17

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/GRT-3196/

 

Ive done the swap myself. You need an installation kit. I dont remember which one i got. I picked my wheel up at the local autozone (years ago) and checked the back. Its got a list of what cars the wheel fits and what installation kit you need.

Edit: that kit 92-Formula posted looks right to me.

 

Thanks for the replies. I'll give that kit a try. For some odd reason though the kit on Summit Racing says its only for '89 and older camaro's... And it doesn't say it works with the evolution series wheels. Anyone know if that will matter? I assume I should be able to install any Grant wheel...

 

Almost everyone I've heard of using the kit in 90 and older have to either trim the black plastic on the steering column back, or trim the black piece in the kit. Thats probably why it says 89 and newer. I just trimmed the column.

 

Did any of you get this to work in a 91 and newer car? I heard directly from Grant that none of their products will work in a car originally equipped with airbags. But if it is possible I would be interested in knowing how. I got this wheel as a present a year or 2 ago, and just now getting around to installing it.

 

get the kit for 89 camaro when you go to installing the wheel hub in your post 90 f body you will notice that the kit hits the lip of the steering colume. You have to cut alittle lip of your steering colume to make the hub fit correct. If you can cut the hub instead. Better cuting the cheap 17 dollor hub rather the your colume. I have a grant in my 91.

 

Awesome! Thanks!! I will go and order that 3196 kit then.

Thanks again!

 

I have a grant wheel in my 92. The reason their site doesn't list anything above 90 is due to the airbags. They don't want to be liable for someone removing a safety device to install one of their wheels. That's what one of their reps told me, not in so many words though. I bought the kit listed above, and just trimmed the cover plate with a cutoff wheel in my dremel. Just be careful, in some states it may be illegal to remove the airbag, fortunately for me PA is not one of them however.

 

OH shoot! I didn't think of the legalities... Anyone know off hand if it is illegal in Minnesota?

 

Technically its illegal everywhere in the US. Its a federal law to not remove any safety (as well as emissions) equipment that came on the car from the factory. Some places are just more relaxed on enforcing it than others.

 

I finally found the law I think. Title 49 U.S.C. section 30122

http://www.shuttusa.com/Air_Bag_Removal_s/1906.htm

Looks like it says "...equipment in compliance with an applicable motor vehicle safety standard..." Since Airbags weren't a required safety device until 1994, wouldn't that make my 91 clear?

I know, I'm not a lawyer, but that's what it sounds like to me. lol

 

Actually, the law only specifies that they can't be removed by mechanics, dealers, or other repair shops. There is nothing in the federal law that prevents vehicle owners from removing the airbag from their personal vehicle. This is different from the federal emissions laws which do specifically say that no one is allowed to remove mandated emission control devices.

All that being said, when the federal government starts requiring me to bring my vehicles to them to be inspected, I will follow their requirements more closely. Until that time, I will continue to follow the state of PA's inspection regulations. Those regulations say that I am allowed to remove my airbag, as well as any emissions equipment if the car is driven less than 5k miles/year.

I am not familiar with other states' inspection regulations which is why I suggested to the OP that he check with his state.

 

I am no lawyer either. According to the federal laws, you can remove your airbag with no problems. However, as I mentioned above, your state is the one doing the inspection, not the federal government. Therefore, the laws may be slightly different. That's why I suggested you check. Just call up a local repair shop and ask them it its a problem. They should be able to tell you.

You can also try your state's website. PA has all of the vehicle inspection laws online, as well as the actual procedures the techs are supposed to follow when they inspect a vehicle.

 

From what I know of. Here is Canada if it came with it , it has to be operational in the car. I assume its the same as with you guys in the U.S. as well. If not your lucky but an airbag ticket is a easy one if he doesnt see it

 

Not having an airbag is not a ticketable offense, at least here in PA. Not wearing your seatbelt is however. Only been pulled over once in my Camaro(knock on wood), but the state trooper didnt say anything about my lack of an airbag. He did try to tell me I didn't have my belt on, even though he saw me take it off to dig my wallet out of my back pocket.

 

I know up here if you get a ticket for a airbag or safety device your insurance is gonna love the money your gonna pay for the next few years for sure. Like I said its up to the officer if he notices or even cares up here

 

DON'T CUT INTO YOUR COLUMN. Any debris you get into it can get caght down there and lock up your steering wheel while you are driving. Take 1/8-1/4 inch off the hub that comes in the kit, problem solved. This has happened to other drivers, some of whom didn't survive, you are warned.

Unplug the yellow cable at the base of the column before you start taking anything out, and make sure your head is out of the way, just in case. Just leave it unplugged, because if you try to take more parts of the airbag system (Wiring, sensors) the car may not run. If you remove the DERM it definantly won't run. Just leave the rest of it alone.

You'll also have to remove the bulb that lights up the "INFL REST" in your instrument cluster, unless you wanna see it lit up all the time when you are driving. Expect the CCM to throw the code for the airbag whenever you plug in a diognostic scanner.

This is how it should look when you are done.

 

Good catch on the dash light, I forgot about that. Not sure if someone suggested cutting the column down or not, but I agree only the cover plate in the install kit should be trimmed.

I have removed everything related to the airbag system in my 92 and never had a problem with it not running. Sensors were destroyed when the car was wrecked by my friend I bought the car from, and I removed the column wiring when I changed the wheel. I removed the DERM a little later on when I had the center console out for some other wiring work.

All you need to do to remove the column wiring is remove the clock spring behind the wheel and cut the wires that run into it. Then I just grabbed the connector at the base of the column and pulled the wires down through.

 

His DERM must have been bipassed after the accident. It's a headache you don't want if you don't want to make a whole new project out of rewiring everything to work properly. (Wiring that no mechanic will recognize if you ever have to take it in to chase down another electrical problem.)

It also makes it difficult to sell the car to someone that would want to return to the original steering wheel with the airbag. (Another good reason to cut the hub instead of the column) I don't do anything to my cars that isn't reversible.

I made that Boo-Boo with my 90 Corvette. It sucked.

 

Thanks for the info and pictures!! Are there any special tools needed to pull the old wheel?

 

While I agree with your point about being able to return it to original(especially in regards to a vette), I don't plan on selling it ever(but then, how many people do?). The car was originally a base model V6 RS/T5, so it's restored, original condition value is minimal. It would be worth more sold as a restomod or complete custom.

The DERM was not bypassed after the wreck, as it was undriveable after the wreck, and he never got any further into fixing it than buying the necessary parts. I did all the repairs myself. The airbag did go off in the wreck, so maybe that had something to do with it, I don't know.

And I've since changed every single electrical system, so no mechanic will be able to sort out electrical gremlins without my updated wiring diagrams. Which is fine by me, cause I don't let the idiots around here touch my car beyond the required annual inspection. Most of them will tell you they won't even touch an electrical issue on cars. They just want to make their quick buck on brake jobs and oil changes.

 

You need a steering wheel puller, and a lock plate compressor. And something to trim the cover plate with. A dremel with a cutoff wheel works great

 

Just remember to have the wheels perfectly straight and the steering wheel aligned perfectly with the wheels (straight up and down)when installing every thing.