RX7Club.com - Mazda RX7 Forum - My Nardi Steeing Wheel Install

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My Nardi Steeing Wheel Install

First of all, thanks to Bryan[purerx7] at RX7Boutique.com for an awesome transaction. From pm to wheel delivery it was 10 days. My Nardi wheel looked MINT. Even though he is off doing a summer internship in Atlanta, his associate here took care of me and was willing to accommodate my schedule for personally handing off the wheel to me. Even took the time to clean it and condition it with some leather treatment before delivery.

Thanks also to his thread which helped with my installHow to install an OEM Nardi Steering Wheel! .

Took about an hour with more time spent by me since I reclaimed connectors from the old wheel vs. just splicing wires together.
Some pics of the ABS and wheel removal. Orange plug is ground. The white plug to the right of the wheel is cruise control. 21mm wheel nut in the center wasn't too hard to get off. My wheel popped right off without using Bryan's paperclip trick.:)

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...all7120914.jpg
http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...all7120915.jpg
http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...all7120912.jpg
Reclaimed the stock connectors and placed them on the Nardi wheel.
http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...tall712097.jpg
All done!!! The pics DO NOT do the wheel justice and the feel if just a bit smaller is noticeable.
http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...tall712096.jpg http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...tall712093.jpg

I only wish I had done this sooner. Changes the look of the interior dramatically. I almost wish I had saved up longer for a Spirit wheel..I can't imagine how awesome that looks!

What do you mean by "Reclaimed the stock connectors"????

Did you unclip the pins from the JDM connector on the bag & slide them into the U.S. bag connector? Do both connectors have the same pins??

The Spirit R wheel does look nice.

I have done two steering wheel conversions on my car over the years.

1st to a 99 spec nardi wheel like yours, then I scored a Spirit R wheel.

I cut the connector wires off blown U.S. bags. I then soldered & used srink tubing to cover it.

No issues with the cruise control buttons (I have an R1)

Thanks for all the kind words Eddie!

Quote:

Originally Posted by evot23 (Post 9352752)

My wheel popped right off without using Bryan's paperclip trick.:)

Must be all that muscle, ha.

Quote:

Originally Posted by evot23 (Post 9352752)

I almost wish I had saved up longer for a Spirit wheel..I can't imagine how awesome that looks!

I have one coming in this week, I can make it happen - only 2600 miles on it!

Runs and hides before I get yelled at for making you spend more money :)

Glad you enjoyed your purchase and I can't wait to see it in person.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sled Driver (Post 9352804)

What do you mean by "Reclaimed the stock connectors"????

What he means is he reused his FD connectors and retrofitted them on the Nardi wheel airbag. Come to think of it, I thought you only had to do this on the Miata wheel, like the one I installed? Anyway, makes for an OEM fit. Here is a pic of my Miata wheel with custom inset logo. Installed it last week:

http://rotarycarclub.com/rotary_foru...1&d=1246717419

I agree this is one of the best upgrades available for the FD.

You don't need to do it, you can splice into each of the two wires, but using the connectors is worth the extra time spent IMO. Only problem is it kills the value of your old steering wheel/airbag.

hey eddie that wheel looks great! i picked up a 00+ nardi wheel the other day, i can't wait to get home and install it. i thought about picking up a spirit r wheel to but i couldn't justify spending 800 bux on it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Hayes (Post 9352851)

What he means is he reused his FD connectors and retrofitted them on the Nardi wheel airbag.

I agree this is one of the best upgrades available for the FD.

Yup, just wanted more of an OEM install. Took a little more time but worth it for me. Would have been quicker if my solder iron wasn't so cheap...thing took forever to heat up.

As for the value of the stock wheel...I'm not sure if anyone buys those anymore. LOL.

Quote:

Originally Posted by evot23 (Post 9353464)

The airbag would be worth something. They go for about $100 on eBay. I did the same thing as you though and didn't worry about the old wheel and airbag. Matter of fact, left it at Kilo Racing and I am not looking back!

thanks for the share....

Thanks. You really in the Philippines with a rotary or are you just a pinoy

I like the OEM look of it! good job!