non-power steering, steering wheel - going smaller - bad idea?

[thomast]

As I still ponder my engine swap choices and as I put aside a starter issue / coolant leak in sub zero weather issue that happened this weekend...just breath...., I've been contemplating a steering wheel swap for a while.

I have the larger (brown) 1985 non-power steering wheel steering wheel. Not a fan of how large it is and have thought about going smaller. I'm wondering if anyone has tried putting a smaller later model wheel on or a Eurovan steering wheel on a non-steering wheel van? Would it dramatically change how hard it would be to turn the wheel?
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1986 Westy Syncro SVX

[shagginwagon83]

I'm in the same boat. I dig the huge wheel. I think it would be hard to turn (especially parallel parking).

This is how I feel driving the van

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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[bobbyblack]

Small wheel on manual is only super difficult to turn if you are not moving. Once you get going a bit, it can be turned more easily. My upper arm strength gets a workout when I drive my mom's 1951 McCormics/Farmall M. Many folks with modern vehicles just don't get the idea you got to allow the wheels to move a bit in order to turn if you don't have power steering boost.
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[shagginwagon83]

Also OP some people are adding electric power steering to their manual steering vans.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[wcdennis]

You could put some marks on the spokes of your wheel at the diameter of the smaller wheel and try turning with your hands in that "choked-in" position. Not exactly the same motion, but it would give you an idea of how much extra force you would need to exert.

[?Waldo?]

I prefer the larger wheel for better visibility of the gauges.

[CanStan]

[Jake de Villiers]

[thomast]

Thanks for the input. Never dawned on my about it blocking the instrument panel. So, with later model vans, is the steering wheel blocking the panel, or are the interior dimension of the vans different?
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1986 Westy Syncro SVX

[Paulbeard]

[Gnarlodious]

It was damned hard steering after bolting on the wide tires (225/55R17) so I installed power steering. I originally thought I would upgrade to the PS wheel for more leg clearance getting in and out. However it turned out the PS was weaker than I expected. After 18 months of PS I have completely lost the desire to run a smaller steering wheel.

FYI this ’83 has the PS spindles and the diesel Jetta pump. If you put PS on the manual steering spindles you get more leverage. I’ve been told the Jetta pump is a big improvement over the Vanagon pump, but that would be unverified.
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Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit

[Timwhy]

This Jetta wheel is in both of my vans. My Tintop had a bad PS Rack and I ran with no belt for a while turning it into a manual rack.
It really was not hard to turn the wheel and my wife had no problem driving it like that either.
You will lose the tops of the gauges with the smaller wheel but you can still see the needles and you should know where they are
pointing too regardless of the wheel size.
For me I like the smaller wheel and all of its drawbacks.

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'15 Audi A3 Quattro
'09 VW Tiguan (dead)
'87 VW Westy
'91 Tin Top
'90 Cabby
What the Westy wants the Westy GETS


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Timwhy&show_results=summary

http://www.youtube.com/user/TIMWHY2?feature=mhee

[djkeev]

[Abscate]

I think he's just a cutout. They don't think much.
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.ssS!