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[DiscoStudd]

Well seeing as everyone else seems to have one of these threads, Ima start my own right now.

Very soonly (perhaps this weekend) we are trading in my Malibu towards the purchase of an 07 Impala, which I'm letting the wife have.  Long story short, I decided I don't want to buy a Monte SS this year with the Pontiac G8 coming out next year (don't want to be stuck with a FWD V8 when I can have RWD in a year.)  So I'm taking the IMPALER and decided to do some upgrades to it, and possibly keep it until the G8 and/or 2010 Impala comes out.

First thing I'm doing (picked this bad boy up on eBay for $75) :





I'm not swapping the whole column, just the wheel and signal switch for right now.  I did some poking around the NAIOA (North America Impala Owner's Association) forum and found out that the wheel with SWC's is plug-n-play, with no need to change the clockspring.  The non-SWC wheel with cruise uses the same clockspring, and the radio is already wired for SWC's.

Which leads into the second thing I'm doing:



http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=005&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=150050018750&rd=1,1

That's right, I'm putting the stock radio back in, not only for the SWC's sake, but to hook up an iPod controller.  It will display track/title info on the RDS display (it fools the radio into thinking an XM receiver is plugged into it, allowing you to completely control the iPod and display the song info.)

Getting back to the steering column.  I found that I don't have to swap the column out when I convert to console shift.  The column shifter unbolts, and I'll just use the column covers from the new column.

Next up on the mods list for '07:
-Console shift conversion
-Overhead console install
-Impala/Monte LS gauge cluster conversion
-Front and rear LS bumpers (with the front chin spoiler from an SS)
-Indy SS grille painted body color
-"Rub strips" painted body color
-Mount the Eagle 192's from the Regal (with new BFG g-Force sport tires)
-Impala LS Sport/SS taillight covers
-SS decklid spoiler

Engine mods?  Not sure yet.  I'm torn between buying a low-mileage boneyard 3400 and throwing a 3500 top-end on it (and possibly a cam) or swapping in an L67.  I guess it depends on how long I plan on keeping this car.

Updates to follow as I make progress...

[Dstanic]

Those should make your car look real nice.  And that iPod thing is sweet too!

[LownSlow]

sweet.   hope you actually end up getting one of those holdens.

[DiscoStudd]

sweet.   hope you actually end up getting one of those holdens.

I hope they're "americanized" enough!  If not, then I'll just wait for the 2010 Impala's introduction.  Regardless, my next new car is going to be a RWD V8.

I was thinking about creating another thread entitled "Regal Re-Grandpafication" but I'm sure a thread detailing how I'm putting my Regal back to stock would be quite boring...

[SlowGTP]

very nice list of upgrades...can't wait to see how it goes!

[DiscoStudd]

I'm hoping my sale of the Regal and the parts I strip off of it will cover most of the cost of my planned mods!

[DiscoStudd]

Woo Hoo, the iPod adapter arrives tomorrow!  Looks like I'm gonna be busy this weekend.

Now just gotta figure out how to pull this wheel.  It doesn't have any threads in it for the puller to grab onto, so what I think I'm going to have to do is pull the column covers, then unbolt the rear cover from the wheel and slide it down the column so I'll be able to slide a couple of nuts between the wheel and the clockspring for the puller's bolts to grab onto.

I'm also hoping I can remove the signal switch without pulling the clockspring.  I'm changing it because the dimmer is kinda flaky (you really have to tug on the lever to get it to "click.")  The one on the new column works like it should...

[DiscoStudd]

I broke my f'n steering wheel puller! :cuss:



I managed to get the wheel off, however.  After I removed the remnants of my puller, I pounded on the sumbitchin shaft whilst holding the wheel and after a good 2 minutes, the bastage popped free!

Here's how badly I mushroomed the shaft:



Before I pulled the wheel, I popped off the column covers and only managed to break one small tab:



Managed to pull the signal switch off without removing the clockspring as well.

Here's a pic of the carnage:



Now I need to go buy a new puller and cross my fingers that the wheel on the IMPALER isn't fused to the shaft like this one was, 'cause I ain't gonna use the hammer this time.

EDIT:

Snapped some pics of the back side of the steering wheel.  It appears the airbag is retained by spring clips instead of being bolted in place.  Appearantly, all you have to do to disengage the airbag is insert a flat blade screwdriver in each tang and twist.

Cover on:



Cover off:



Here's a close-up of the retaining "spring" :

[DiscoStudd]

Fuck shit piss bitch fuck fuckedy fuck fuck!  

My new wheel isn't the same color as the old one!!! :cuss:   How many different shades of "taupe" did GM use, anyway?!?



Well, I'm not going to buy another airbag, so I'm just going to swap the rear cover from the old wheel and put the WheelSkins cover on the new wheel and all you'll be able to notice is the spokes being a different color.


On a positive note, I received the iPod adapter today!  Here she is all connected up to the stock radio:

[Euro]

LOL that sucks.  I don't think it'll look that off.  Should look good

[Dstanic]

So once you got the new wheel installed, did the factory CD player work automatically?  or did you have to do anything else?

[DiscoStudd]

I haven't put the new wheel on yet.  I have an "aftermarket" XM tuner hooked into the Pioneer HU (the wife was sick of it when she had the car - now that it's mine, I kinda enjoy it,) and don't have my own iPod yet, so I put the project on the back burner.  As soon as I find an XM tuner that'll work with the stock HU, I'll be swapping everything over...

[Dstanic]

Oh so you just took that wheel off the column you got, not the one in your car... I SEE.

[DiscoStudd]

Here's a post on NAIOA of a guy who put a Monte wheel with SWC's on his Impy:

http://www.naioa.com/v2/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=12230&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=monte+wheel&start=0

[Dstanic]

WOOT!!  Got a free stock tail panel at work today!  Bodyshop was doing some "spring cleaning", I also got a headlight (forget which one).  I might paint the tail panel body color, later on when I have money lol.