Steering wheel change - information

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Steering wheel change - information

Postby Alan_C » Sun 06.12.2009, 18:14

I didn't like the original Nardi steering wheel on my SE, so I swapped it for an Elise wheel. I didn't like this one either, too small. I found a nice Momo wheel I liked, but there's no aftermarket boss available. After some research, I've found that the steering column is from an Isuzu, and the stalk switchgear is Vauxhall, not sure about the horn contact. Either way, there is no hub available, and even if a Isuzu hub could be found, it wouldn't work due to the non standard switchgear. So, I made an adaptor. Not too hard, though you'll need a lathe. I purchased a Vauxhall generic boss adaptor that is suitable for either Momo or Nardi wheels as it has both sets of holes:
Vauxhall boss example.jpg

I machined the top ring off from the cone section, this also needed a bit machined from the internal diameter to clear the horn button retainer. The outer most ring of holes is the Nardi pattern, these were drilled out and countersunk, thus enabling the ring to be mounted to the top of the original Lotus adaptor, once the wheel is removed, with M5 countersunk screws.
Adaptor ring-sm.jpg

The Vauxhall boss had a plastic shroud, which nicely fitted to the bottom of the original boss and covered the exposed metal work, unfortunately to fit this required the entire hub to be removed and the lower section removed from the mid section, another 4 M6 screws. The shroud was a bit short, so I placed a bit of mini boot seal trim I had kicking about which seems to do the job. A few drops of superglue retain the shroud.
Completed boss side-sm.jpg
Completed boss top-sm.jpg


The replacement horn did need an extra earth wire running, but not a hard job. Then attach the new wheel and smile :-)
Momo wheel-sm.jpg

It does need a Lotus horn push and I think also a black centre ring, these are on order from Hong Kong, I'll post another picture when they arrive and have been fitted.
M-SR01-BK-F-LOT.jpg



I could supply these adaptors if there's some interest, cost will be £50 plus postage, that'll include all parts required, machined adaptor ring, screws, additional trim and the shroud. Once the adaptor is fitted, it's a simple matter to fit a steering wheel of your choice, Momo, Sparco, OMP etc, as long at it's a 6x70mm PCD mount. As this has only been fitted to an SE I can't vouch for fitting to an S2 or an airbag model.
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Re: Steering wheel change - information

Postby Gareth » Wed 09.12.2009, 17:46

There is a God up there"

See my previous request for "Steering Column Part" in "Problems Need Help"

Put me down for one : if you pm me payment details/address etc a cheque will be dispatched immediately!

:D :D :D :D
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Re: Steering wheel change - information

Postby Alan_C » Thu 10.12.2009, 10:33

I'm gearing up to make 5 of these adaptors available, need to obtain the base boss that requires machining, get them machined and obtain some push-on trim, I'll see if I can find something better than mini boot seal this time. I've listed this under the group buy section for anyone who wants one. UK postage should be £5, so UK LECers total cost will be £55.

Link to group buy: viewtopic.php?f=85&t=16315

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Re: Steering wheel change - information

Postby racerstev » Tue 24.08.2010, 05:02

I just can't stand this airbag wheel, it needs to be changed. Will an adapter from a Elise work?

http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elise/e ... wheel111r/

http://www.elise-shop.com/removable-ste ... e0158cbf40
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Re: Steering wheel change - information

Postby esprit888 » Tue 24.08.2010, 06:52

Yes it will, I swapped my pontiac airbag wheel for an Elise non airbag wheel, you may need to grind off a tab but its a very simple swap (or was for me)
This is only as long as you go non airbag.

racerstev wrote:I just can't stand this airbag wheel, it needs to be changed. Will an adapter from a Elise work?

http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elise/e ... wheel111r/

http://www.elise-shop.com/removable-ste ... e0158cbf40
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Re: Steering wheel change - information

Postby superbad » Tue 24.08.2010, 15:35

racerstev wrote:I just can't stand this airbag wheel, it needs to be changed. Will an adapter from a Elise work?


There's also this effort, which will allow you to use a federal Elise airbag wheel:

viewtopic.php?f=85&t=14783
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Re: Steering wheel change - information

Postby racerstev » Tue 24.08.2010, 19:52

superbad wrote:
racerstev wrote:I just can't stand this airbag wheel, it needs to be changed. Will an adapter from a Elise work?


There's also this effort, which will allow you to use a federal Elise airbag wheel:

viewtopic.php?f=85&t=14783



This one has been dragging on for 16 months...
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Re: Steering wheel change - information

Postby racerstev » Sun 29.08.2010, 01:42

Will this work on a FED Elan?

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=17763
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Re: Steering wheel change - information

Postby esprit888 » Sun 29.08.2010, 07:51

Sure will, i have one in my garage as a spare :-D

racerstev wrote:Will this work on a FED Elan?

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=17763
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Re: Steering wheel change - information

Postby racerstev » Mon 30.08.2010, 04:50

So it bolts right up to my hub or do I need a hub from a non airbag car? This wheel looks
soooo much better then that Pontiac wheel does, plus I'm sure it's not mushy either...
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Re: Steering wheel change - information

Postby esprit888 » Mon 30.08.2010, 06:25

Cant answer that as the one i bought came with the Boss, which is a direct fit.


racerstev wrote:So it bolts right up to my hub or do I need a hub from a non airbag car? This wheel looks
soooo much better then that Pontiac wheel does, plus I'm sure it's not mushy either...
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Re: Steering wheel change - information

Postby racerstev » Mon 30.08.2010, 13:36

Seems my wheel and hub are one peice. So it looks like I need a hub, the next question would be will the
clock spring work with the hub? I' need a horn and it needs to cancel the turn signals.

If this is a Pontiac Firebird steering wheel I wonder if a aftermarket hub for a Pontiac would work for me??

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Re: Steering wheel change - information

Postby donsladek » Sun 19.09.2010, 05:11

Steve -

Although the Pontiac Firebird wheel uses the same airbag and horn bits and looks the same as the Lotus wheel, the Lotus spline is a smaller diameter than the Firebird/Camaro wheel spline. I bought a Firebird/Camaro wheel off of eBay, and the splined hole is considerably larger than the Lotus splined hole.
Camaro-Firebird wheel hub.jpg
Lotus wheel hub 3.jpg
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Re: Steering wheel change - information

Postby racerstev » Tue 21.09.2010, 04:52

Thanks Don, saves me from going to the junk yard! What did you do, I really can''t stand this
wheel...
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