Steering wheel identification

[eche_bus]

I know I've seen this info somewhere, but I searched high and low for this today and can't find it so could use a little help...

Steering wheels come up for sale from time-to-time in the classifieds and for some reason, the sellers don't/can't always identify the model year. I know there's a difference between '68-73, '74-77, and '78-79 steering wheels. From '68-'77 they used hard plastic, and '78-79 used soft plastic with thicker spokes. But ... how can I easily tell whether a hard plastic wheel is pre- or post-74?? I want the right one for my '76 and don't want a bad surprise.

[hazetguy]

[eche_bus]

[hazetguy]

[eche_bus]

You took my comment much too literally. My experience thus far is seeing a lot of piss-poor pictures. Some sellers are quick to supply better ones, others have had me waiting indefinitely. Thanks for pointing out the date stamp code, but I'm looking at a photo I just received from a seller and can't see anything. Need to know the difference between wheels.

[busdaddy]

There's really only 2 wheels but if you want to split hairs the later early wheel has the plastic cancelling ring and different horn contact on the back like the one Hazet posted (both interchange), the 77+ fat wheels are easy to spot unless the seller is using his daughters Barbie camera
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[Desertbusman]

Even with the hard plastic steering wheels there is a difference in center hole spline size between earlies and lates.
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71 Superbug
71 Westy

[eche_bus]

[nathansnathan]

For the 1974 model year, the wheel was changed mid-year. Vehicles with VIN 2x4 2164 059 or earlier should use the early wheel (1968 to 1974-1/2). Vehicles with VIN 2x4 2164 060 or later, should use this late wheel.

The early wheel has 36 hub spline teeth and an O.D. of 20.7mm and an I.D. of 19.2mm.

The late wheel has 40 hub spline teeth and an O.D. of 17.68mm and I.D. of 16.55mm.

I couldn't say how to tell them apart from a bad photo though.

[Red Fau Veh]

I think an easy way to tell is the signal canceling device. If the part is plastic, it is late model and if it is steel then it is early bay. Inpictures I have seen this diference so maybe that is easier to spot than a date code.
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1971 Deluxe Sunroof Bay 1905 stroker, dual idf40's, 74mm Scat forged crank, engle 110 cam. CB 044 heads, AutoCraft rockers, chromoly push rods
1973 Orange transporter stock type 4 with dual 40 Dellortos and Empi single quiet pack
1969 Adventurewagen blue whale Gene Berg 1776 built by Dave Kawell dual 36 DRLA's, Vintage Speed exhaust, Bosch 019 screamer
1961 Swivel Seat camper, L345 grey

[eche_bus]

THAT'S the kind of information I was looking for. Thank you! Pre-mid-74 vs post-mid-74 not exactly interchangeable, are they?

[70Crew]

I’m getting ready to ship an early bay steering wheel off to Koch’s to have it re-cast. I have several early bay cores and assumed that they were all the same, but as I look at them more closely I am noticing that there are 2 different styles of center hub pressings. Take a look at these photos…. Both have the same part number and both have the correct number of splines. Does anyone know why they are different, or which one is better? I may be overthinking this but if I am going to spend this kind of money I want to start with the best core. Maybe just different manufacturers or variations from year to year?

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1970 Crew Cab