Can I put an earlier steering wheel in my 91 XJS? I hate the airbag wheel and would like to put in one from an earlier year car can it be done?

 

Yes, it can be done. The airbag wheel has a spine adapter to make the smaller splines of the steering shaft match the the larger spines of the wheel. If you take that adapter off the shaft, the smaller splines are the same as the early cars.
The bigger issue is that the splines shaft does not extend as far out as the old style column. I got a steering wheel adapter off ebay for an early XJS, and machined down the backside until it was flush with the splines. As it comes, the splines in the adapter are recessed almost an inch. Then it will bolt on. I needed at least a 1" spacer on the steering wheel side to bring the steering wheel out far enough. More would be better as i am 6'4". I tried a 350mm wheel, but a 360mm is better.
To remove the original wheel, you need to disarm the airbag. There are writeups here on how to do it, do a search. Its a mechanical system, no wiring involved.

 

Great! Thanks for the help

 

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WatchGuy,

If you do make the swap, I'd be interested in buying the little adapter that is currently fitted on the top of the steering column,

Tks

Paul

 

I'll keep you posted.

 

If you end up doing this, some pics along the way would be great. I’ve been thinking about doing the same thing on my 1990.

 

Will do

 

Hi WatchGuy

Me too!

I would love to do that Conversion on my 1990 Where can I buy a Boss?

I have a Spare Steering Wheel from my 1989, which is so much nicer than the skinny wheel of my 1990

Although my 1990 has no Air Bag