Steering wheel upgrade - '54 8P 3.2 Manual.

[Dan320is]

Hi guys,

Having picked up a '54 8P 3.2 manual yesterday I'd like to upgrade the steering wheel with one from an S-Line.

Having done some reading regarding airbag compatibility (single stage etc), what are my options?

I've seen the cost of new airbag units and as you will agree, they're not cheap.

Thanks in advance.

 

[mike foster]

Hi guys,

Having picked up a '54 8P 3.2 manual yesterday I'd like to upgrade the steering wheel with one from an S-Line.

Having done some reading regarding airbag compatibility (single stage etc), what are my options?

I've seen the cost of new airbag units and as you will agree, they're not cheap.

Thanks in advance.

Can you post a picture of your existing wheel please. It will help to provide any options that may be available.

 

[Dan320is]

Can you post a picture of your existing wheel please. It will help to provide any options that may be available.

A quick dash out into the lovely weather we're having.

 

[mike foster]

Nice pic and quick too - good effort !

As you suspected there is a problem with the airbag. That wheel has a single stage airbag which means that the control module and all the other airbags are single stage as well.

I believe you want to upgrade to the three spoke wheel with the 'shield-shaped' airbag which is dual stage.

Whilst there is no problem fitting the wheel physically, the only way to get a dual stage airbag to work on a single stage system is to mess about with the airbag wiring. This in itself is dangerous ( some people have done it though ) but the overriding problem is whether or not it will work in the event of an accident. This cannot be guaranteed.

Someone may come along and offer a solution for you but I'm sorry to say I'm not aware of one !

Good luck anyway !

 

[Dan320is]

Thank you for your quick input Mike. What a swine, should have bought a later car haha. I'm not going to tamper with airbag wiring. I'm sure there are those who are running without an airbag but I'm not willing to do that.