| MIATA BUILD |
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 | |  | June 9, 2009 - I decided it was time to install a quick-release steering wheel on the car.
I swear, every time I get out of it, I'm less graceful. Janel agrees (that we need a removable wheel, not that I'm not graceful - at least, not to my face) so I picked one up. Besides, they're cool.
The adapter from LTB Motorsports and nice and solid. It's a weld-on unit, as in my experience the bolt-on ones add quite a bit of extra space to the wheel location. The first step was to drill some holes in the adapter so I could weld it to the shaft.
entry 681 - tags: steering | | |  | June 9, 2009 - Because the stock shaft is tapered - that's how the stock wheel wedges on, really - I wanted a better support at the end.
I ground down a nut so that it was a nice tight fit inside the splined adapter, giving me more support.
entry 682 - tags: steering | | |  | June 9, 2009 - Before welding the splined tube on to the column, I made sure I didn't damage anything inside the car!
Not completely successfully, I needed an extra layer on top of the driver's seat, as it picked up a few dark freckles. Still, no holes.
Once the adapter was welded in to place, I had to make a few alterations to the combo switch to allow it to pass over the larger diameter steering column. This also meant I lost my self-cancelling turn indicators, and the way the adapter bolts to the wheel means I also lost my horn button. I have a few ideas on how to deal with the former, and the latter will not be a big problem to work around.
And now the steering wheel comes off! Race car cred. And easier exiting of the vehicle. Not completely necessary, but it'll make me giggle.
entry 683 - tags: steering | | |
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