Steering wheel help

[Kjb13]

I would like to install an aftermarket steering wheel in my '72 standard bug. I'm looking for help to determine what combination of adapter, spacer and dish depth would put the wheel at approximately the same position as the factory wheel. If anybody has done this or knows what might work, I would be VERY thankful for your input.

[runamoc]

the problem you are going to run into is the 'dish' of the new steering wheel. I put a grant steering wheel on a '69 and had to use a 3" 'spacer' because of the 'flatness' or lack of 'dish' the wheel has. My knuckles were still close to the turn signal stalk.
_________________
Daily driver: '69 Baja owned 44 yrs - Plan B: '81 Rabbit Diesel LS Deluxe - Plan C: '72 Ghia
Yard Art: 2 Sandrails
Outback: '69 Ghia - '68,'69,'70,'72 Beetle - '84 Scirocco, GTI - Pair of '02 Golfs-
VW Wiring = It's just wires

[Kjb13]

The distance from the top of the steering column housing to the rim of the wheel is about 5". If I use a spacer and dish combo that is about 5", I should be okay with the signal and wiper stalks. I was just hoping that someone could verify this from experience.

[Floating VW]

I've got a Grant wheel in mine, more specifically this one here:

http://www.grantproducts.com/products/view/7/

It has about a 3-1/2" to 3-3/4" dish, plus the inch or so for the adapter kit. I had no problems with the distance to the signal levers. Or rather, no problem until I installed a quick-release mechanism that kicked the wheel out by about 2 inches or so, and had to mod some flappy paddles to the levers.

Interestingly enough, I just did a little write-up about here a couple days ago:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=691895&highlight=

Good luck, man.
_________________
"It's time you started treating people as individuals, rather than mathematically predictable members of an aggregate set, regardless of how well that works."

[Kjb13]

Floating VW, I have seen your thread and I have to say those paddles are a work of art. Did you notice much of a difference in the steering with a smaller wheel?

Thanks for you input.

[allenw]

I have a 13 inch grant and it is a little tougher to steer but it does help workout the pecs. The only other problem with the 13 inch is it blocks the top of the speedometer.

[Glenn]

They made the wheel 15" for a reason. So unless you have rally large thighs.... get a 15" wheel.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

[Kjb13]

I do plan on using a 15 inch wheel. I just wanted to verify that a wheel with about a 3.5" dish would allow enough clearance for the stalks.

Thanks for all of the replies.

[runamoc]

[Floating VW]

[Kjb13]

Definitely no 10" for me, but I may consider a 13.5".

Thanks

[glutamodo]

Ugh, I'm with Glenn, in preferring stock diameter (which is closer to 16 than 15 inches, at 400mm, at least on the 60s Bugs I've had). Back when I was a mechanic, I rather hated driving customer's cars that had small steering wheels.
_________________
Andy T.


IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox.

[Kjb13]

Thanks for the input, Andy.

[runamoc]

Chain links always provide a firm grip.

_________________
Daily driver: '69 Baja owned 44 yrs - Plan B: '81 Rabbit Diesel LS Deluxe - Plan C: '72 Ghia
Yard Art: 2 Sandrails
Outback: '69 Ghia - '68,'69,'70,'72 Beetle - '84 Scirocco, GTI - Pair of '02 Golfs-
VW Wiring = It's just wires

[ashman40]

Just my comment on the install of a Grant 13" wheel on my '71 steering column (turn signal switch ONLY; no wiper switch)...
The effort to turn the wheel while stopped was noticeably higher, requiring pulling down hard on the steering wheel.
Turns while moving were not significantly impacted.
With the recommended Grant adapter for a '71 the turn signal lever cleared the wheel, barely. I could not keep my hands on the wheel as I turned the wheel... my fingers would contact the lever. An additional inch of clearance would have been nice. I had to re-learn how to turn while only holding the right side of the wheel, releasing the left side when my fingers approached the lever or reaching for the top of the wheel. With a larger diameter wheel (15") it might not be an issue.
_________________
AshMan40
---------------------------
'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}

[Ron G]

I’ve got a question guys, I got a 71 super I’m trying to put an aftermarket wheel on and the only problem I’m having is making the porn work because my wires do not come up through the center of the column Any ideas be greatly appreciated.Scratch my head a few times over this trying to figure out how to run the wiring. Because my horn button wire is attached to the turn signal switch. See photos wheel, hub, Turn signal switch. I am sure a new hub/spacer is in order with some type of ring with the wire coming up for the horn button.

[hitest]

Making the porn work might require a picture of your porn button to see how it grounds against the wheel/hub.
_________________

[Cusser]

[ashman40]

You need to get your hands on the contact ring that is installed on the underside of the steering wheel adapter. It is held in with a few screws.

This brass ring contacts the brass “ears” on the face of the turn signal switch and extends the horn ground path to the steering wheel. In ‘71 this brass ring would have been connected (electrically) to the steering wheel+steering shaft making them part of the horn circuit. Some brass rings (‘72-later?) come with a wire that would allow you to connect the ring directly to the aftermarket horn button and the steering wheel + shaft do not need to be part of the circuit.

The wire coming up from the steering box thru the steering shaft would be the ground path and be connected to the horn button. When you pressed the horn button you closed the contact between the ground wire and the steering wheel giving the horn a path to ground and the horn would sound.

Check if your steering shaft is grounded or not. If it is, then wire the horn contact ring to your horn button and let the button ground to the steering wheel when you press the button.
If the steering shaft is NOT grounded, run a wire down the steering shaft and ground it to the steering box bolt on the coupler. The top end of this wire connects to the horn button so that when you press your horn button the wire from the horn contact ring and the ground wire short together. Whether your horn button allows this directly (two terminals on the button) or you may need to wire the horn contact ring to the steering wheel itself and let the ground wire and steering wheel come together when you press the horn button.
_________________
AshMan40
---------------------------
'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}

[Vanillagurilla]

I just have a big button on my dash for my horn lol.