Like the title says - I have the steering wheel and the covers around the steering column off today until 6pm CST or so. If anyone needs pics of anything or a how-to on the install of a new steering wheel - now's the time to ask. I got my nifty new Sony Cybershot and need excuses to use it

BTW - Changing out for a Rav4 3 spoke with center peice that it's texture matches out interior - super nice courtesy of Zero

This post has been edited by DEATH: Aug 19, 2008 - 4:04 PM

A How To would be great! I don't need it right now but might be handy in the future, and i don't think their is one on this forum/site...

Yeah I pretty much already decided to make one and started taking pics. But honestly I felt like I might be patronizing some of you cause honestly, changing the radio out is a bigger chore than this. It was retarded easy. 2 bolts, 2 electrical connects and one large nut in the center - a little rocking back and forth and done - install new one. I'm gonna do one anyway as the electrical connects don't match up and I feel I could help a few people with this minor obstical

Side note: A local junkyard has told me they are willing to trade out 4 spokes for 3 spokes for a small amount of cash. I'll be helping the Houston people first as we can do the swap right in their parking lot [It really is that easy] in 20mins but after that I will offer other people the same deal. LMK if you are interested in a 3spoke.

This post has been edited by DEATH: Aug 18, 2008 - 9:05 AM

Pictures are always fun!

gonna need to see pics of the new wheel... we need to approve

That I can do:

BTW - I have to say that I am thoroughly unimpressed with the "safety" built into the splines on the steering column. I design spline shafts at work regularly and even in a 1hp transmission application I would have at least doubled the size of those splines. I understand that this is human power vs. what the raod surface can transmit back up the steering gearing but still - I think about half the splines and double the meat per spline would have made me feel more comfortable.
More pics and a how-to coming soon.

Edit - damned crooked ass pedal

This post has been edited by DEATH: Aug 18, 2008 - 4:01 PM

This post has been edited by D-Man: Aug 18, 2008 - 4:07 PM

how many boost gauges do you have ?

I want a 3 spoke wheel!

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LOL - I knew someone observant would notice. The Non-TRD boost gauge is D-Man's - I've just been using it to make sure I sell him a working gauge. The other two are staying tho. One is run to the compressor housing of the Turbo itself so I see what boost is hitting the wastegate actuator and also so, using the second boost gauge located at the back of the intake manifold, I can monitor the pressure drop across the IC and piping. Mainly I want to be able to do this because I have another larger IC that I want to try out but I wanna make sure that, in addition to lag, I see what, if any, differences there might be in overall boost pressure to the motor.
You'll notice there are also two volts meters but the one on the left will be getting replaced with a EGT gauge when I get the money for that expensive ass gauge.

BTW - Here are pics of my "old" steering wheel that I replaced and is now for sale. This wheel is about 1yo, bought new from Toyota and has absoluetely zero scratches, wear or fading on it:



If you need a good wheel LMK - it is for sale here:
http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=61144&st=0
And I'll be making a How-To here in a few days that will show you how to change the wheel in 20mins with only two simple tools

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You were already on my list of possible recepients You should know that.

The last thing I wanna say about that wheel is about my experience with it. You have no idea, until you change it, how much a little change like that can effect your driving experience [This probably isn't helping my for sale thread]. I drove around last night with the new wheel and it just felt so much better in my hands. That may be due, in part, to the fact that I drove around with this same style wheel for the last five years on my last 6gc. But it really did bring a smile to my face. I love the little grips it has above the two side posts and the little notch below that where you thunb just fits the groove perfectly. This one however makes a very ****ty pillow for while you wait for your girl to do her shopping - if you have that in you life, as I do often, this wheel is not for you. LOL.

This post has been edited by DEATH: Aug 19, 2008 - 9:43 AM

you got my head spinning with that interior shot

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Good thing you won't be driving her then
One thing about me - I have my own tastes. The exterior of my car is completely stock components [Except for the 404 skirts which are close enough to TRD that I'm not buying and painting new ones - I actually like them better anyway] in an odd arrangement and altho others may not like it - I could care less - I LOVE it - perfect IMO. The interior may have alot of gauges [Not really compared to alot of cars with less mods actually] but once I get the last gauge in and one of those boost gauges and one of those volts meters out [They are basically place holders ATM] every single gauge will be functional and necessary to the proper monitoring of my engine. Also they all look like the stock gauges [meaning they have black faces, all light the same red, similar fonts/sweep, etc. except the AEM which is close but digital - a necessary evil as it is a very necessary gauge]. I don't think any of these gauges will be considered frivolous by anyone who knows what they are talking about:
-AEM Wideband [The one you can't see due to glare in the DS vent]
-EGT Gauge [The one I still need]
-TRD Boost Gauge, 15PSI [Final boost pressure at manifold]
-TRD Boost Gauge, 10PSI [Wastegate/Turbo Outlet pressure]
-Oil Pressure
-Water Temp
-Volts meter [Something I think all cars should have let alone cars with audio and other electronics - I'll never understand why they stopped putting them in cars stock]
And that's all there is really. it looks like alot but it really isn't and they are all necessary as I said. Now if my car was N/A it would be pointless to have some of these - but it's not.

This post has been edited by DEATH: Aug 19, 2008 - 2:54 PM

Wheel looks good! And familiar! Ill have to get pics of my 3 spoke up as well.

Feel free to do it here bro - no need to make another thread [This might as well be the Post your 3 spoke steering wheel thread ]
Man it sure feels nice on the hands while driving - thanks again.

This post has been edited by DEATH: Aug 19, 2008 - 2:49 PM

It's totally all about the ergonomic kung-fu thumb rest action that has me wanting one. I've wanted one for a long time actually, since shortly after I got my Celica and even knew I COULD replace the steering wheel!

Edit: sorry if that's yet another detriment to your FS thread. The benefit to buying your 4-spoke it that it's a flawless mint original equipment for our particular car, and for collector purposes, if someone were to ever try to keep a 6th gen to be a collector's item (I think 25 years is the actual technical law for a collector's car), that 4 spoke is definitely a VERY nice find!

This post has been edited by GriffGirl: Aug 19, 2008 - 2:19 PM

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Yup - you got it. That truely is the biggest benifit.
IDC if noone buys the wheel - I'll just get you to ebay it for me [shameless veiled request LOL]
the other thing I thought about is someone is gonna need an airbag before too long - with our cars being the age they are the airbags will be out of their warranty period soon [Not sure if ours throws a cel automatically like some cars do] and this one's airbag has never been hooked up. That alone makes it worth what I'm asking for it.
Hey! Where are those guys who pay top dollar for airbags now when I need them?

This post has been edited by DEATH: Aug 19, 2008 - 2:54 PM

Veiled behind saran wrap, maybe

Funny story yesterday:
I was driving with the GF and had the spare wheel in the back seat and my GF starts complaining "Watch out for that truck! Slow down...Blah Blah" and I hate that sh*t so I reached back there and told her if she was gonna passenger seat drive to here [Hands her the wheel] pretend your driving and let me drive MY car I love that girl and she really is cool but do all women have to be passenger seat drivers?

mine came with the 3spoke from the factory

nothing fancy.

old pic btw

7 gauges 0.0

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Yeah - '99's will do that to you. You got that leather one with the stitches too - the nicest setup for our cars IMO.

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Slow Turd with rainbow graphix o.0

This post has been edited by DEATH: Aug 20, 2008 - 8:11 AM

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That looks nice man.

Is there a guide anywhere on how to take the 4 spoke wheel off?

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Gutless Turd

This post has been edited by CelicaST_CALI: Oct 15, 2008 - 12:23 AM

I like njccmd2002's wheel better than DEATH's...that one just looks too truck-ish and thick.

Super Turnsmeon

o.O

That's my 95 non AB 3 spoke steering wheel.

>http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showto...ng++wheel++swap


>I've got that same one!! just waiting to be installed

I'll get to it eventually...

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It's called personaly preference
To me mine has some batman-esques curve where you put your thumb that goes perfectly with the aeshtetic I'm trying [successfully] to achieve.
njccmd2002's wheel looks right for what he's doing.
This why we have choices - for other's to think outside the box and find a taste all their own - otherwise we'd all be driving around with stock cars and saying how perfect they are.

This post has been edited by DEATH: Oct 15, 2008 - 8:33 AM

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X2; then EVERYONE would have the awesome power of the RazrWing

Oh, and as for njccmd2002's wheel, IMHO it gives a CarbonFiber trend illusion to it... Where as Death's does not. Death's is perfect for his car, as he dosen't have a stitch of CarbonFiber in that car. (well the hood is CF, but it's not the glossy-show car style that everyone automaticaly thinks of) See his profile.