Sandrocks master plan

[RetroC10Sport]

I've been looking at a 1988 GMC stepside that's rust free but has a spun rod bearing...But it's $1200 and I'm having a hard time justifying that.

 

[Old77]

No doubt! Not running that seems pretty steep but I do like the obs stepsides!

 

[HotRodPC]

NO, Retro has been cheating on us. He has posted more GMT400 ads than he has SB's on the BS on CL thread.

 

[Old77]

A GMT400 would still be cool with retros mod ideas

 

[HotRodPC]

A GMT400 would still be cool with retros mod ideas

Would you shut fhe F up and go get your ass back on that damn boat. Take a trip toward Africa wouldja ??? Maybe some damn pirates will get you outta our way !!!

 

[Old77]

someone's gotta back up Retro! I'm a lover of all era of GM trucks

 

[HotRodPC]

someone's gotta back up Retro! I'm a lover of all era of GM trucks

We're all behind him. A SB or K5 he can live with will show up soon.

 

[sandrock]

Airbag will not be functional...getting that to work would be a nightmare, and a malfunction would SUCK.

As for the rest of the wheel...if you don't want steering wheel controls, go with the Grand Am wheel that is shaped just like this, or the Grand Prix wheel. Bonnevilles also have the same wheel, but steering controls were standard. If you don't like grey, SEM makes a very nice paint that is meant for vinyl and matches factory colors perfectly.

Now then...this wheel will fit the older columns, BUT the older columns don't have the right collar on them to support the clockspring that makes the buttons functional. Refitting the collar doesn't look like it will be an issue.

In short, if anyone wants to do this mod, grab the whole column from the donor vehicle, and be prepared to Frankenstein the two columns together. When the time comes, I'll do a writeup on it.

 

[crazy4offroad]

I hope you figure out a way to fully disable it or remove the canister that inflates it somehow so it is completely safe. Then you can figure out something cool to do with the parts that make it work! Like use it to launch a pencil into the stratosphere lol.

 

[sandrock]

Here's a real quick primer on air bag operation and deployment. The airbag gets its power through the clockspring in the column. There are only two leads...positive and negative. The clockspring gets its signal from what is called the DRM module, or the brain of the system. The designers and engineers built in a battery backup inside the DRM in case power is lost for some reason or another, but they were smart enough to put a timer on it. If a sensor detects a collision, the DRM sends the electrical charge to the clockspring, which deploys the bag. The DRM will still do this even if there is no system voltage IF AND ONLY IF a collision is detected within the backup time frame. If no collision is detected, the DRM shuts off. This is why the manuals say to wait to work on the steering wheel after disconnecting the battery.

I know air bag covers exist. I used to work for a less-than-reputable used car dealer in the Pensacola area. One time we got this Saturn in. It had slight front end damage, but enough to pop the airbags. He bought the parts needed to fix up the frontend, but once he found out what the airbag cost (and what needed to be done to reset the system), he bought a dummy cover to replace the bag and wanted me to put it in, and pinch the airbag light. At that point, I quit because I didn't want my name attached to any lawsuits.

 

[Old77]

That's pretty shady but I'm sure it happens fairly often unfortunately....

 

[RetroC10Sport]

I am definitely wanting to do steering wheel controls.

Pontiac, Buick and Olds had RSWC without an airbag.

My deal is that i would want to make the airbag functional...I have a pretty good idea as to how, but would need to investigate further to see if it's possible.

 

[sandrock]

Anything is possible. But refitting a vehicle originally equipped without an airbag is borderline unsafe in my books. The deployment sensors are calibrated for a specific vehicle type, weight, and location. And even if one was to fully integrate it, no dealer anywhere will enable it (The DRM is pretty smart). And newer systems are integrated in the CAN (controller area network), so they will not work as standalone.

This is stuff I already had when I was working on a '96 Camaro which ended up being scrapped once I got my transfer approved, so I figured I could use it with this project

 

[RetroC10Sport]

You'd be surprised what I can make work...

 

[Old77]

Then I wanna see them back up sensors on your next truck!