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In this forum, there are threads about installing the early 90's Cavalier steering wheels onto the Gen 3 cars, and I liked the looks of that wheel, but didn't care for it not having the air bag system in it. So I hit on this idea back last summer. Was junkyard-ing a little bit and spotted a much more pleasant looking and somewhat sporty Pontiac branded steering wheel that does have the air bag in it in an early 2000's low-optioned plain jane Bonneville sitting there. Most of the Bonnevilles had feature buttons on both sides of the wheel to control the radios with, but if you can find a base model car, they will not.
I'm not too crazy about the stock Firebird wheel they used for the 91-92's, I think they look really dumpy because of the massive air bag assembly, and the corners on mine on the air bag cover are curling up now, exposing the lovely cream colored filling underneath. I've seen this to be a common problem on that particular steering wheel, they used the same one on tons of GM cars back then, (and even the Lotus Esprits from that era!) and the very same one is in our '93 Saturn we keep around here for emergency winter use has the exact same wheel and the very same problem with it. Decided to take a chance that the Bonneville wheel might fit, a Pontiac is a Pontiac, right? and was hoping to retain the air bag feature on the Bird, and doled out the $20 they wanted for it. With the air bag.
I can tell you for certain now that it does NOT mount on the 91-92 Firebird steering shaft because I took the original wheel off the 92 and test-fitted the Bonny. The splines are not the same in the Bonneville wheel to mount it on. But that doesn't mean I can't have new splines cut into it or an adapter made by a friend who has lathes and milling machines and god knows what else in his home machine shop because he's one of those kind of guys. He can make anything. Or tell the machines to make it!
I'll have him look this project over, see if it's going to be anything major to do, what it takes money-wise to do the fix, and report back. If it retains the air bag system, that would keep us all who want something different from having to see the air bag warning light on because you put a wheel on that doesn't have one. It also keeps you out of hot water with an insurance company if your car is in an accident. And---it has the genuine Pontiac logo right there front and center!
Not to bust *****, , , but, , it looks like it'd be more at home in a minivan than in a thirdgen. It just don't scream (or even whisper) "sports car" to me.....
But, to each their own Pinballer, if it looks good to you, go for it
(laugh) There wasn't a whole lot that looked good at all back then, so I hear what you're telling me. Even the Corvette steering wheels in the 90's all looked like crap and you'd think GM would have went all out on their flagship sports car and come up with something better than what they resorted to. I think they were hampered by the shape of the airbag modules they were handed until it got into the 2000's and some smaller units came around to design around.
This wheel I'm trying is pretty common, it was used in other Pontiac models like the Grand Prix, so it's an easy find. It has a couple of grip positions that are comfortable for me, and looks period correct, so I'll give it a try and see how it turns out. My wheel is black, and I'll highlight the Pontiac emblem when done with some red to set it off and "sporty" it up a little.
At least this newer wheel has a more concave center instead of that huge lump sticking out of the originals. That's the part I just can't stand.
(laugh) There wasn't a whole lot that looked good at all back then, so I hear what you're telling me. Even the Corvette steering wheels in the 90's all looked like crap and you'd think GM would have went all out on their flagship sports car and come up with something better than what they resorted to. I think they were hampered by the shape of the airbag modules they were handed until it got into the 2000's and some smaller units came around to design around.
This wheel I'm trying is pretty common, it was used in other Pontiac models like the Grand Prix, so it's an easy find. It has a couple of grip positions that are comfortable for me, and looks period correct, so I'll give it a try and see how it turns out. My wheel is black, and I'll highlight the Pontiac emblem when done with some red to set it off and "sporty" it up a little.
At least this newer wheel has a more concave center instead of that huge lump sticking out of the originals. That's the part I just can't stand.
I hear ya, a lot of 80s stuff looks today what the kids nowadays call "Cheugy", and perhaps it being black with the Pontiac emblem in red will make it look sportier
01-12-2024, 07:50 PM
