Non-permanent way to make the air bag black

[HISSIN50]

Hello,

I have a quick, albeit stupid question. It has been some time (10 years) since I converted an interior from one color to another. This is just tiny-scale though - I need to make my steering-wheel air-bag-cover black. Now I am kind of a weenie in that I always like to be able to go back to original (tan). What are the options?

I dont think I can get a cover alone without the air bag crap (in other words, find a cheap black cover that could use my existing air bag guts). I also cant think of a way to put a laminate or facade over the tan air bag, so the facade could be painted without actually applying black dye to the air bag cover itself.

I figure most of y'all just paint/dye the bag (VHT is best, from what I recall reading. I think I used Duplicolor last time I did this). If I had to go back to a tan wheel, that could end up sucking though.

I figure it is a long shot, but I am not nearly as up on this kind of stuff as many of y'all are and I would hate to not have known about some way of making this happen. I welcome any thoughts. Thanks!

 

[Blackened302]

JT,
the first thing i'll mention, although i know you're not looking for a delete, is this delete i just got from 50resto.

the actual black cover is riveted--perhaps you could undo the rivets and swap covers? or maybe take your bag guts and put it on this instead?

second, how about making a paintable cover out of a thin layer of fiberglass? just cover your orig in foil/tape, mold a thin layer, paint it, then attach it w/ 3M adhesive or something?

hehe, you could just buy a can of black dye/paint and a can of tan so you can repaint/dye it?

 

[Philstang]

why would you want to switch it back to tan if you are set on it being black ?

 

[GRGT1994]

The paint/dye from 50Resto is great. Lays on very well, durable, and the color and finish match stock.

As far as a temporary approach, I can't think of anything that would be both cheap and work really well. Pulling the airbag guts out and putting them in that airbag delete does not sound smart. I would guess the delete is not safely designed to have an airbag blasting through it (maybe it is the same - but dont chance it unless you KNOW). Also, airbags are very sensitive, and I wouldnt want to do anything invasive with it at all.

So my ideas would be: Just get the delete and run without an airbag. Get a used (unblown) black airbag cover out of a junk yard (unlikely and probably not much cheaper that a new one). Get some black fabric, leather or vinal (sp?) and find a way to attach it to the cover that would be reversible (hot glue?). Or spend some dough and buy a new airbag assembly (prolly the easiest, and surely the most directly "reversible").

 

[nc_stang_girl]

NAPA Auto Parts carries vinyl spray in black, tan, etc...it's made to flex somewhat, so it goes on very well. I'm sure it could always be removed with some paint thinner too...

 

[SeventyMach1]

The paint that I use on my RC truck (made for Lexan material painting only) is VERY flexible. You can get it in any color. I know it flakes off of the truck's inner surface if you rub it hard enough .... but I don't know about the material the wheel cover is made of. I'd get some at a hobby shop (a buck or 2 for a small can) & test it on something & see how you like it.

 

[MysteryMachine]

yeah them things can blow easy i don't suggest taking one apart

 

[donjohn]

I like RAM000's idea about buying the delete and swapping the guts out

I rewired my airbags, so if you unplug the battery and wait like 5 minutes, you should never have a problem with it accidently blowing

RAM000: is the delete the same as stock (with the additional riveted part)?


also, like nc_stang_girl said... wouldn't paint thinner work fine? it shouldn't have ill effects on the original material would it?

 

[MysteryMachine]

Rewiring and taking apart is two different things but I still wouldn't do it. Have heard of a lot of fire fighters getting hurt by them things blowing for no reason. If your concerned about safety I wouldn't do it

 

[Blackened302]

RAM000: is the delete the same as stock (with the additional riveted part)?

i really don't know--i have the part in front of me, but i've never seen the actual stock part off the wheel to compare.

 

[HISSIN50]

Thank you for the advice everyone.

Since the stupid air bag cover and/or assembly is so expensive, I really didnt want to paint it (I think any solvent would remove some of the shine from the air bag cover - my existing one has a mint finish but it's the wrong color. ).

Paul, thanks for the pic and idea. I looked those up - pricey little buggers. I wasnt even sure there was such a thing though - that was a great idea.

Greg, I looked at it and am not sure if I can make the vinyl work (I have spare black vinyl and had that same thought). I suck at contours and such with items like that. I might end up doing that (or trying atleast).

I am still trying to think of some adhesive liner type thing that I can paint and apply (like a clear sheet of plastic that can be painted and applied over the horn pad).

Justin, thanks for the RC truck paint idea (I have the feeling you like the smell of Nitro).

Chris has the right idea with the airbags. I have had it off before - I just made sure to let the capacitors in the air bag puter discharge first. It might actually be listed as taking a little longer than that in the factory manual (20-30 mins stuck in my brain).

Jinx, one thing they do worry about is the sodium Azide (IIRC, that is one of the chemicals used in bags) when working around blown bags. That's some mean chit.

If it was easy, cheap and clean, I would not mind deleting the airbag, but figure I might as well keep it around if there is not some big price difference (were I deleting it, I would do like will be done on my fox and use an aftermarket wheel and relocate the CC buttons to a custom panel).

Thanks again for all the ideas ladies and gent's. I still dont know what I am doing (the dealie Paul linked too is too pricey for this project, or that would be the way to go for me)..............

 

[Blackened302]

hmm, just curious--what you found was $70, yes?

 

[MysteryMachine]

yeah that **** inside them stinks. But a few companies make things that you can put over the bags for rescue purposes that if one blows it either holds the force or pops it so it can't hurt anybody. I have seen them and our company has talked about them a couple times. People can say just disconnect the battery and wait so long but not all cars are just 5 min and them things are uncontrolable. Airbags are set off by a shotgun shell pretty carzy when its right by your face. Don't wanna see ya get hurt doing something as stupid as changing a color