Elise Airbag Steering Wheel Hub Adaptor

[superbad]

What do you think?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vauxhall-Tigra-dr ... 2303cac677

Googling that GM part number on yours throws up a couple Finnish junkyard links pointing to an Opel Corsa. (You'd think that GM could have got their 200 airbag contact ring designers in a room and had them standardize on a single design...)

[Elanlover]

Hard to tell from that. The only thing we need from the ring is the plug to the airbag. And it has to be an identical match. Everything else seems to look the same as the one I have. It would be a cheap gamble at that price but there's no way to tell if it will fit without a closeup of the plug to see what it looks like.

[lotos]

$60 - http://www.autopurkaamot.com/naytaosa.php?id=29536

[lotos]

$60 - http://cgi.ebay.fr/COLLECTEUR-AIRBAG-OP ... 79001r2402

[Elanlover]

It doesn't get much better than this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2005-Lot ... 19b966c4b3

(and yes, we're still moving forward on the adpator - just a few more modifications to the design before its ready)

[lotos]

(and yes, we're still moving forward on the adpator - just a few more modifications to the design before its ready)

Just curious where we stand on this one?

[Elanlover]

Sorry, this is entirely in my court and I've been extremely busy with too many other important things to get back on it. I did communicate with Bob in early spring and identified the changes needed. I may need to send the prototype back though for Bob to make the adjustments for the final version. I won't get back on this until after the end of next week but hopefully will be on it then. I'm still committed to getting a working hub made.

[racerstev]

Any updates?

[Elanlover]

Sorry for the late reply and sorry in general for the delays on this. It been a bad spring/summer personally with lots of things going on - all bad. To top it off, in a classic case of biting off more than I can chew the car is sitting in the garage, in pieces, and hasn't seen the light of day all summer. There's a distinct possibility that I won't drive the car at all this year

The only good news is that I had a minor breakthrough yesterday on an electrical issue so I'm feeling a little more motivated to tackel all the issues. I'll look at the hub today. That's a promise.

[lotos]

Please don't feel bad... No worries - thanks for checking in on the project.

[Elanlover]

Thanks Randy but I do feel bad. I should have dealt with this long ago. I am fully comitted so no one should think it won't get done. Its just taking longer than I had hoped.

I've gone out to the car, removed the nut and discovered that the hub is seized onto the column spline I've given it a generous squirt of WD40 and will try to remove it later today. The changes required to the hub were very minor. The only thing I'm struggling with is getting the wheel to sit closer to the dash. It sits closer to the driver than the stock wheel and, with the smaller radius of the Elise wheel, the instruments are slightly obscured. That's for a 5'10" driver with the stock seats lowered a bit. If I can get the wheel in closer it will be better. You can see the gauges, its just the top of the speedo and rpm gauges that are blocked.

One solution may be to slice off some of the threaded part of the tip of the column so the hub (and wheel) can sit closer without the tip hitting against the bottom of the airbag. I'd have to check to see how much could be cut off and still ensure the stock wheel could be reattached. How would people feel about that?

[lotos]

When you get the hub off - could you measure the distance with the stock wheel, and the new hub/elise wheel? So we'll know exactly how much closer it's sitting.

I'd certainly prefer not to modify the car itself if at all possible..

[Elanlover]

Its still stuck. I'm still squirting oil on it. It will come off......one day.

[Elanlover]

Success! The wheel is now off. I will take a bunch of measurements then forward my notes and changes off to Bob shortly once I re-review everything. By the way, since the driver's side is empty and access to the steering column, etc. is relatively easy I will have another look at the possibility of raising the steerign column a bit for those who are interested. Already saw something I need to look at.

[esprit888]

Did you also read the steering column spacer washers service bulletin ?

Success! The wheel is now off. I will take a bunch of measurements then forward my notes and changes off to Bob shortly once I re-review everything. By the way, since the driver's side is empty and access to the steering column, etc. is relatively easy I will have another look at the possibility of raising the steerign column a bit for those who are interested. Already saw something I need to look at.

[Elanlover]

Did you also read the steering column spacer washers service bulletin ?

It was the next one I read after the panel lights one Planning to have a look at that today but i think it won't apply to my car given its VIN.

Lotos (and others), the Elise wheel sticks out to the driver approximately half an inch more than the stock wheel. Its not a huge amount but it is noticeable.

[Elanlover]

Hub's in the mail and (hopefully) will be in Bob's hands by the end of the week.

[Elanlover]

Just confirming that Bob has the prototype hub back with the list of changes and will start work on it when time pemits.

[bobbrown]

1. Elanlover (address OK)
2. superbad (address OK)
3. lotos (address OK)
4. cliffyg
5. Tigerdog (address OK)
6. Matt RI (address OK)
7. gomper71
8.



I've made a start on these and the cost delivered to the USA is going to be £60.00 each.
Some peoples addresses I have others others I will need along with the money I'll pm those on the list later.

I'm making 8 so if all on the list still want them there is one left.
I can make more but would need to get some more material in.

Bob

faster than a speeding snail on tranquilizers

[bobbrown]

These will be anodised and black the prefered colour but if you want them a different colour let me know and I will see what I can do but it us easier to have them one colour.

Bob