Plus 1, Paul (what you said). Our original steering wheel is in great condition and I love the way it looks!Paul Hatfield wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2019 10:19 am Some years back I bought a wood wheel for a C coupe I owned at the time. Really loved it. Now no longer have the car.
But.....
Since that time it seems to me there has been a flood of reproduction wood rimmed steering wheels sold and put on 356's. To the extent that it seems more rare now to have a great condition original plastic rim wheel than a modern reproduction wood rim wheel.
Maybe I'm nuts but I think the pendulum has swung back the other way now, and I am keeping a great condition original plastic rim steering wheel on Miss April.
One more personal opinion. The chrome horn rim is beautiful/elegant, but not sporty. These are sports cars!
Paul
would like thoughts on steering wheel
- Bill Waite
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Re: would like thoughts on steering wheel
Bill Waite
Grand Rapids, MI
1965 356C Coupe "Reversible Outlaw"
Grand Rapids, MI
1965 356C Coupe "Reversible Outlaw"
- Lockie McKinnon
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Re: would like thoughts on steering wheel
hmmm. now I have decided to remove it.....any tips on how to take it off? The horn button looks pretty tight..Martin Benade wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2019 10:56 pm It's easy to switch. Maybe run the stock one every other year. after a while, you will leave one of them on as your favorite.
thanks for all the great comments
Lockie
- Mike Wilson
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Re: would like thoughts on steering wheel
There was a previous thread on removing the steering wheel. You can find it by searching the topic.
Mike
Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
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Re: would like thoughts on steering wheel
One serious note I forgot to add;
If using a wood-rimmed wheel, you should consider a 3-point safety belts to prevent serious facial injury if an accident occurs!
I once knew a college professor who totaled is 4-cam coupe back in the '60s and received a lotta splinters!
If using a wood-rimmed wheel, you should consider a 3-point safety belts to prevent serious facial injury if an accident occurs!
I once knew a college professor who totaled is 4-cam coupe back in the '60s and received a lotta splinters!
- Mike Wilson
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Re: would like thoughts on steering wheel
Good point, Dick. I would recommend a 3-point regardless of the type of steering wheel. Face + wheel (wood/plastic) = injuries.
Mike
Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
- Dave Wildrick
- 356 Fan
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Re: would like thoughts on steering wheel
Grasp the 3-eared hub of the horn button and with a firm downward pressure and a counterclockwise twist, the horn button (& its hub) will pop off. It is a bayonet type of catch, so you need to turn it about 45degrees. The wheel is held on by a 27mm nut; so you need a large combination wrench. After you remove the wheel, the parts you see should look like the following in pictures provided by Jim Breazeale in 2011:
File comment: Steering shaft bearing that is ridiculously expensive and rarely the cause of problems File comment: "split ring" and spring installed on the back of the steering wheel in the correct orientation File comment: "split ring" and spring. The lack of the split ring or improper installation is the cause of most people's grief File comment: 61 356B with steering wheel removed, exposing the steering shaft bearing
File comment: Steering shaft bearing that is ridiculously expensive and rarely the cause of problems File comment: "split ring" and spring installed on the back of the steering wheel in the correct orientation File comment: "split ring" and spring. The lack of the split ring or improper installation is the cause of most people's grief File comment: 61 356B with steering wheel removed, exposing the steering shaft bearing
Dave Wildrick
Houston, TX
#10230
64C coupe
65C coupe
Houston, TX
#10230
64C coupe
65C coupe
- Lockie McKinnon
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Re: would like thoughts on steering wheel
Did the switch and love the new look.
Thanks for all the advice.
Thanks for all the advice.
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- New Look
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Lockie
- Mike Wilson
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Re: would like thoughts on steering wheel
Looks great but more importantly, you like it!
Mike
Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
- Eric McKinley
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Re: would like thoughts on steering wheel
It just looks right.
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Re: would like thoughts on steering wheel
Looks definitely better and more original.
- Sean M Rooks
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Re: would like thoughts on steering wheel
Good change Lockie! Sharp car. Looks great with a black interior.
- Harlan Halsey
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Re: would like thoughts on steering wheel
Since you asked, I think the laminated B Carrera wheel is the most elegant, followed closely by the original 415 mm Nardi. I saw one of those laminated wheels at Bryar back in the 1960s and have never forgotten it. Fortunately my '63 SC came with the Nardi, and I recently went to some trouble to put a flat A Nardi on my '59 GT Carrera. The thick rim, small dia. Nardi repros look odd to me. I don't find any difference in the driving, and the common black BC plastic ones or the multi colored A ones are good wheels too.
- Joris Koning
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Re: would like thoughts on steering wheel
I think nothing beats the flat VDM wheel as introduced with the 550A's and available as an option from about late '56 on the A cars
'56 Coupe
'57 Coupe
'59 Cab
'60 Coupe
'57 Coupe
'59 Cab
'60 Coupe
- Lockie McKinnon
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Re: would like thoughts on steering wheel
hmmm. found an original unrestored Les Leston . It came from a 1960 Roadster. I added the Horn Ring.
Will try this for a little while.
Will try this for a little while.
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Lockie