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Honuak
Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2009
Posts: 393
Location: AK
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 Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 2:22 pm Post subject: Eurovan to Vanagon steering wheel mod |
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I took the steering wheel off to fit a new column cover with thermometer in the seat heat slot as others have done. Much easier to fit the plastic column on with steering wheel off.
This shows the multi tool mod I made to the Eurovan wheel to prevent high/low beam wand interference. Cannot see it with wheel fitted. |
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RBEmerson
Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2011
Posts: 1669
Location: No longer TX NM AZ NV CA UT - :(
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 8:50 am Post subject: |
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| r39o wrote: |
| stevey88 wrote: |
| I put in a steering wheel from an early Eurovan. |
I like it. Now I need to find a leather one. Wonder what a new one costs? I bought a new leather wheel for our A4 when we got it. It was $220 from VW. Emm.......
In the mean time, I am going to use a nice leather A2 wheel I got. I await the little special adapter......($11 shipped.) |
FWIW, I installed the leather cover from Van-Cafe. The thickness of the rim was too small for my big paws. I wanted more "heft" without a wheel transplant. The leather cover did the job exactly as I hoped for.
The big tip is to be very, very, very obsessive about pulling the stitching tight. Done right, the edges of the cover will meet and stay close to each other, even as the leather begins to setting in and pick up the contours of the bumps on the under side of the wheel.
And, of course, center the seam at the bottom of the rim. Once the lacing starts, there's little hope for adjusting the positioning. On the places where the cover goes over the spokes, try to use a lacing hole that's actually over the edge of the spoke. That way the cover will shape itself to the spoke, otherwise... well, it just doesn't look quite right with a somewhat loose flap over the spokes. YMMV, of course.
I can't comment on the change in wheel diameter when transplanting a wheel. Our Westy has power steering. Still, I'm glad for the extra diameter when doing tight K turns in a limited space. It makes getting the wheels around a little faster and easier, even when I let the van roll a bit (avoids scuffing and flatting the tread).
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Drunk is when you think you look sophisticated, but can't spell it. |
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Volkska
Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2013
Posts: 106
Location: Central Jersey
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 8:58 am Post subject: |
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Clean swap! Looks killer! 
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2011 VW GTi 6MT (The Daily)
2003 Golf 2.Sl0w (The Flaming Turd)
1997 VR6 motor awaiting some love and a Vanagon
1986 Honda Elitee 150 awaiting a title |
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RBEmerson
Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2011
Posts: 1669
Location: No longer TX NM AZ NV CA UT - :(
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:15 am Post subject: |
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While reviewing this thread, an (I hope) interesting thought occurred to me. The replacement wheel suggested the notion of installing an airbag capable wheel. It's not the same as a full-on airbag system, of course, but has anyone ever tried this? I assume there are problems with the added wiring needed for the bag inflator, and adding the needed sensor(s). NTL, it might be a step forward in improving the odds for a survivable crash.
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Drunk is when you think you look sophisticated, but can't spell it. |
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narendra.vw
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2013
Posts: 430
Location: Bangalore India
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:47 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for this thread & bringing it back. Since my van is now running with power steering, OE bigger dia steering wheel is very sensitive. so, I want to replace it for smaller dia steering wheel. |
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svenakela
Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2006
Posts: 776
Location: Ekerö
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| Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 2:42 am Post subject: |
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Eurovan -92. Bolt on.
Found out that the slip ring for the horn was worn out on the original wheel, so the upgrade had a bonus steering column renovation effect. |
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smurfpike
Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2010
Posts: 219
Location: Utah
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| Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2014 10:05 am Post subject: |
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| syncrodoka wrote: |
| They have a better feel and different positions to put your hand that is more comfortable to me, the spoke across the top is sloped and feels better on the wrist than the straight stock one. The minor problem is that the high beam is a little harder to engage/disengage since the base is wider and it touches the stalk when you pull it up. |
syncrodoka
I just bought a 93 Eurovan steering wheel and have not installed it yet on my 87 Syncro camper but I was wondering is it possible to put a thin washer under the steering wheel before you mount it to the column so that the high beam switch will work better?
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1978 Westy Camper, Full ground up restoration, restoration thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=593413 |
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Timwhy
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Joined: January 01, 2009
Posts: 3722
Location: Maine
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