So I had this other thought yesterday and sat up most of the night thinking about it. So what started out as a new carpet and insulation install has turned into a T-5 swap as well. So...


I have a complete steering column out of my 92 RS that I took to the crusher a few months back. Its got a nice steering wheel and the whole column is in good shape, not to mention its the original column that came in a T-5 5-speed car. So, I'm aware that my 89 has VATS on it as does the 92. Can I just swap the ignition switch on the column and use it in my 89? My factory IROC steering wheel is missing the horn button and I haven't had any luck finding one so my other plan was to buy a Grant steering wheel but since I have this whole column with a nice 92 model steering wheel I thought I'd use it. Has anyone done this?

 

Yes, the IGN cyl can be swapped. Be warned the little wire isnt the easiest to trace back through the column

 

wow, this is exactly what I'm about to do except I'm going from a non-tilt column to a tilt one.

A couple questions...
If I used my existing locking cylinder, does that mean that all of the VATS resistors are not located in my current column, so I can just swap the cylinders and I'm good to go?

Or would it be better to use the existing key and cylinder in the tilt column, but if I did that I would want to disable VATS.

which would be the easier method?

 

The VATS resistor is in the key, not the cylinder. The cyl doesn't care anything about that, it just has the contacts that touch it so that the electronic circuit (located elsewhere) can measure it.

The newer column has the air bag. Don't think that makes any difference but just somehting to be aware of.

 

thanks, I just wanted to be sure the rest of the VATS system wasn't also located in the column. I fit is, I would have to swap that out too to match the chip in my key. If it's some other place under the dash, then it would continue to match the key