LT4vert

iTrader: (3)

Thanks man. The Vette should be easier yet. Excluding the shaft, the upper column structure is the same as the c6. On a c5, I might try to get the c6 clockspring working as well.

maxplusten

iTrader: (4)

Yep saw a guy do it on a 99, getting parts together now, since my t/a is setting i may just canabalize it for parts since its probably gonna end up a racecar anyway lol.

Fieroluke

Ok, so I have made a final version of the adapter that goes into the steering wheel. It is tiny and mounts to the OEM connector and has short pigtail for the F-body clockspring:




Adapter with F-body connector



The whole thing installed in the wheel...

And here is the prototype of the receiver. It regenerates the cruise stalk signals. I made the board for GM's old cruise control module enclosure 😉





Old enclosure - new contents!

JROC

That is awesome! Are you going to be selling these?

Fieroluke

Yes, probably. But first let me finish the development. I'll post updates when there's news of course. I am going to send the steering wheel board (whilch should be the final version HW and SW-wise) to LT4VERT for testing, and then he can verify if it fits a real car mechanically and he'll also be able to use the radio controls already.

In the meantime I'll finish development of the base board, because I need to get that one to work with the DashComputer I built as well as the cruise control. The car I had planned on installing this stuff into still isn't ready so I'll probably have to temporarily install this into my daily driver. But hopefully it will all work out quickly...

The Alchemist

iTrader: (19)

Something I realized driving home today in my Saab 9-3, is that it is nearly the same wheel as the corvette. It makes me wonder if I can find a Saab 9-3 wheel and make it work. I don't care if the air bag is disabled, and I can cover over the saab logo, but it makes me wonder.




http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-new-20...JSAAay&vxp=mtr

This is what I actually have in my 9-3. I like the size and shape of it.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/03-06-SAAB-9...dW4yU1&vxp=mtr

Here's a D-shaped bottom one that looks to be a little thicker.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Steering-Whe...BXbodP&vxp=mtr

Considering the 03+ Saab's were GM cars, it might be a good option.

This is really what I want my steering wheel to look like. I like the 4-spoke design, I just want the ring to be thicker, and slightly smaller diameter.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Steering-Whe...kAAOSwqBJXXVVw

mac62989

iTrader: (1)

That leather flat bottom wheel is awesome!

LT4vert

iTrader: (3)

The Saab 9-3 wheel should theoretically work being an Epsilon chassis car. The most painless way to find out without doing any work is to get the part number for the upper steering shaft in the Saab. It should match the part number for 06-10 G6, 07-10 Saturn Aura or a 08-13 Malibu. If it matches the US models then thatll tell you the upper shaft has the same size splines as the shaft you have to use in the fbody. The wildcard here is the 9-3 is more based on the euro version of epsilon and has more in common with an Opel Vectra and Cadillac BLS so it may be its own thing.

The Alchemist

iTrader: (19)

Well, I reached out to the company that modifies the Saab 9-3 wheels, which I may buy, and asked if they could do the same thing to my factory wheel, and they are looking into it. So that may be an option. Buy a cheap-o wheel from a junkyard, and send it to them, let them mod it, then I don't have to worry about any electronics or adapters.

HotWhipT/A

iTrader: (31)

For those that have swapped the shafts in the column, how hard was it really? The instructions aren't super clear on that link. I very mechanically inclined, but this has me nervous as hell.

LT4vert

iTrader: (3)

Its not that its really all that hard. Its just super tedious and time consuming. Having the proper tools makes all the difference as well. Beyond the basic hand tools, you'll need a pivot pin puller for a GM Saginaw style column, "GOOD" snap ring pliers, the lock plate tool and a assortment of picks. I took lots of pics as I dissembled so Id have references putting it back together. The biggest issue I had was the high beam rod of all things, and of course that was the one thing I didnt take pics of. Now matter how I tried to install it, it bound up. I wasted a couple hours getting that one right.

The Alchemist

iTrader: (19)

Yeah, I'm getting to the point in my life, that as mechanically inclined as I am, struggling through something tedious like that would just frustrate the hell out of me.

I am now looking into sending my wheel to someone who will essentially reshape the outer ring, and recover it, even making it a d-shape. I have found a couple places that charge in the $450-600 range, which in the end, becomes a simple remove and replace scenario.... well worth the money.

mac62989

iTrader: (1)

^That seems reasonable. I will keep an eye out to see what you do and how it turns out.

HotWhipT/A

iTrader: (31)

Found these 2 videos to be very helpful and ease my worry of knocking this project out soon.

LT4vert

iTrader: (3)

450-600 is completely reasonable given the work. I think itd be a cool project.

If that should not work and you like the 4 spoke look and want a smaller wheel with a larger rim, perhaps consider a 05-06 Cobalt SS wheel.

LT4vert

iTrader: (3)

This weekend I was able to get Olivers(fieroluke) adapter boards installed. The install was quite simple, further...we have sucess. The radio controls are working with the adapter from Oliver and a pac swi-cp5 radio switch adapter. The cruise switches work perfectly and the info/enter buttons work with the OLED screen to reset the trip meter and set the clock.

Took a bit to figure out, but the pac adapter must be set up in 100% manual mode due to this application being a hybrid set up. I have volume up, volume down, mute, track up, track down, answer call and end call all working sucessfulky with my pioneer HU.

Heres some pics

First up, the radio circuit board. Heres the 2 connectors were dealing with. The left is the oem f car radio switch plug out of the clockspring, the other is the new connector from the 3 spoke radio controls.


Next up is the adapter.


The plug in the old plug along with the new radio control connector


Wrap the circuit board with electrical tape to protect it. Then tuck it away in the space shown but the upper shaft nut being care not to bind the horn.


Next up is the cruise adapter installation. The cruise module casing this installs in can be found in many 80's GM rwd cars and trucks. When I got mine, I got 2. 1 from a 90 Caprice and the other from an late 80's full size conversion van. They were 5 bucks each with the plug. Make sure to leave the wires on the plug as long as you can for flexibility on your install.




The wires you need to use at the bottom of the column are circled.


All wired up nice and tidy. The directions are quite clear so I didnt go into detail. For the ground wire, I just spliced into the existing ground on the 4 wire radio controls harness.


Then found a good place to tuck the module away.


Lastly, heres a vid of it all working. Sorry for the crappy quality, I just used my cell.

Fieroluke

Great to see it all working! Thanks for the vid!

drain89

iTrader: (13)

Incredibly cool.
It'll be my next mod after I get the time to install the goodies I already have.

drain89

iTrader: (13)

I can't praise either of you enough for the quality of work and effort you put into your projects. You two are one helluva team. I can vouch that your work is OEM quality. Actually...better than OEM.

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

More stuff on my "do want" list - even if I'm not quite there yet in installing anything!