1991 Nissan 240SX - The Inside Touch - Project LS13

To finish off the interior of Project LS13, a new steering wheel was a dire necessity. Not only was the stock OEM one faded and ripped but its styling was more bland than a white piece of bread. Off it came and into the garbage it went. In its place would reside a new Momo Monte Carlo steering wheel. With its minimalistic design and leather wrapping, the Monte Carlo is the perfect wheel for a clean-looking interior. It won’t attract too much attention, but true enthusiasts will appreciate its classic styling. With a 320mm diameter, it’s a bit smaller than stock, but not so much where you feel like you’re driving a go-kart.

Another reason to upgrade to an aftermarket wheel is to add a steering wheel hub that offers a quick-release option — a great line of defense against a thief. While not completely theft-proof, it may be a deciding factor for a criminal to walk by and pass your car rather than take a chance at stealing it. We all know how easy early ’90s-era cars are to break into, so adding a proper quick-release setup is a smart idea.

Works Bell short hub, Rapfix II quick release and key lock system are all made in Japan and offer excellent quality, ensuring tight fitment of the wheel between the quick-release hub.

Works Bell short hub, Rapfix II quick release and key lock system are all made in Japan an

A-Spec is a great source for all things hub related, and that’s where I picked up my Works Bell short hub, Rapfix II quick release and key lock system. For good measure, I also grabbed one of A-Spec’s awesome-looking titanium shift and drift knobs that I’ll use once the car is complete.

This is the first time I’ve used a Works Bell setup, and judging by the quality of the products, it won’t be the last. Works Bell is a pioneer of the quick-release hub and has therefore perfected its ball bearing release and lock design, ensuring the wheel is tight and free of excess play when on the column. Combined with the short hub, the wheel extends slightly farther back than where the OEM wheel would sit. This actually provides better hand-to-wheel position, especially for the track.

If you’re into the burnt-titanium look (who isn’t?), then an A-Spec titanium shift and drift knob are the perfect addition to your interior.

If you’re into the burnt-titanium look (who isn’t?), then an A-Spec titanium shift and dri

As I mentioned earlier, the quick-release setup is great to deter thieves, but it’s not 100 percent effective. To add even more security, a key lock system is a worthy purchase. When your wheel is removed, it locks onto the hub and prevents anyone with the same steering wheel setup bolting it onto yours. If you park your car anywhere public, then having a Works Bell key lock system is a must-have, not to mention it provides peace of mind.

Installing these parts requires a steering wheel puller to remove the old wheel, then the Works Bell parts slide right onto the column. About the only thing you’ll have to worry about is the horn hookup. You can quickly find the wire that leads to the horn with a multi-meter, and with a brass tab (I use a Honda one PN: 35259-SH3-A02) it’s as simple as running a wire from the connector to the tab, and you’ll have a working horn again.

This tab or something similar is what you’ll need to make your horn work.

Getting back to the issue of security, I took it upon myself to wire in an alarm because there’s no way I’ll park this car anywhere without having a good security system intact. As to which system to get, there are many on the market, but one of the best and most trusted is from Directed Electronics: the Viper 3303 Responder LC3 SuperCode two-way security system. I’m not going to get into all the features because there’s literally about a page worth of specs, so if you’re interested just have a look at Viper’s website. Instead, I’ll provide you with my experiences of using Directed’s alarm systems for more than eight years. They have yet to let me down and saved my Integra from being stolen one night, thanks to the two-way pager alerting me. I ran out onto my second-story balcony to find someone underneath the hood of my car yanking the battery off. Thankfully, I had installed a battery backup (much like I will do on the 240SX) from Directed and it ensured the system stayed on even when the battery was disconnected. Long story short, I chased the thief away and still had Project DC2 in my possession, thanks largely to the Viper alarm system.

One of the new features on the 3303 (and most Viper systems) I must praise is the rechargeable two-way pager remote. In older models, you had to constantly replace the batteries every couple months or so. With the new remote, you simply plug it in and it’s charged within hours. Furthermore, the LCD display has a wealth of information at the palm of your hand, and its range is about 2,000 feet.