Stock Steering Wheel Whos Keeping Them And Why ?

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by original-71

Been thinking of putting mine back on
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Naw it's ugly, send it to me and I'll dispose of it properly

[BigCountryx]

Maybe I could have saved old blue with that treatment used on the sandalwood wheel lol. Instead, I spent $26 on this Elco wheel and kept all my leverage for manual steer.

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[71K20chevy]

^ I'm not a HUGE fan of that style wheel, but that actually looks great in there!

[shawno72]

Originally Posted by BigCountryx

Maybe I could have saved old blue with that treatment used on the sandalwood wheel lol. Instead, I spent $26 on this Elco wheel and kept all my leverage for manual steer.

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Smokin deal on that wheel Scott. I like those and they look like they were meant for the truck

[CC69Rat]

Originally Posted by special-K

Huh? First of all,I guess we'll never know about the same wheel made in the US since none are made here. Now the ones made here 40+ years ago? They were made better. As far as not being about where they're made? I pretty much disagree because most everything made in China is inferior,whether it due to QC or whatever other reason. In this case,the manufacturer is Chinese,so we agree. It's the QC of the manufacturer.
Anyway,the point I was making was why a really nice OEM wheel is at least worth what a repro is. I'd pay more because they are better. I bought a repro for a rarely driven truck and within 4 years the rim cracked and a 3/16" gap formed at TDC,so I could stare at it driving down the road and be reminded of the money I blew on junk

Tim, my wife is Taiwanese. I'm just speaking in general terms. Regardless of where a re-production part is 'made' .. if it doesn't hold the same production standards as the original it will never be the same, right? Same plant, same materials, same standards = same product regardless of where the plant is located geographically. The plastics are not the same as they were 40 yrs ago and the people in China are likely paid on production if I had to guess? Do you think they give a sh1t about parts for your old truck? I'm thinking no. They're just trying to survive. The people that worked in the GM plants 40yrs ago building these fine 'new' trucks cared more about them and the quality of the products.

That's all I'm saying. Move all the plants to Austria (?) Africa ??? Would the quality be better because of the people who are making them? IMO, the answer is no. That's why it bugs me to hear people say 'Crappy Taiwanese/Chinese parts' .. ever been to China Tim?

I'm not trying to piss anyone off, just voicing an opinion.

[original-71]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Naw it's ugly, send it to me and I'll dispose of it properly

i wish i could dispose of it to chip foose and have him overhaul it to a smaller one like he did in that one espisode. wonder how much it would cost

[BigCountryx]

Originally Posted by shawno72

Smokin deal on that wheel Scott. I like those and they look like they were meant for the truck

I'd rather have a factory 67-68 wheel like you have but couldn't touch one for the price I paid for the Elco wheel. It works and doesn't look too out of place now that my interior is coming back together.
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[fourspeedwagon]

Bigcountry- Is that a 64?

My 68 Burb had a 12" foam wheel on it when I bought it. Looked like somebody stole it off of a gokart. I got lucky and traded a pretty darn decent medium blue custom wheel, complete with horn button for something I had about $8 actual cash invested in.
No power steering, and that tiny wheel made parking awful so I'm happy to have the right one on it now. My mother-in-law loves the truck and thinks she's gonna drive it. I was thinking, no PS, no PB, manual transmission, and it pretty much rides on the bumpstops.. She wouldn't like it long after driving it.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by BigCountryx

Maybe I could have saved old blue with that treatment used on the sandalwood wheel lol. Instead, I spent $26 on this Elco wheel and kept all my leverage for manual steer.

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I'm a huge fan of GM car wheels in trucks. Looks awesome

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

Tim, my wife is Taiwanese. I'm just speaking in general terms. Regardless of where a re-production part is 'made' .. if it doesn't hold the same production standards as the original it will never be the same, right? Same plant, same materials, same standards = same product regardless of where the plant is located geographically. The plastics are not the same as they were 40 yrs ago and the people in China are likely paid on production if I had to guess? Do you think they give a sh1t about parts for your old truck? I'm thinking no. They're just trying to survive. The people that worked in the GM plants 40yrs ago building these fine 'new' trucks cared more about them and the quality of the products.

That's all I'm saying. Move all the plants to Austria (?) Africa ??? Would the quality be better because of the people who are making them? IMO, the answer is no. That's why it bugs me to hear people say 'Crappy Taiwanese/Chinese parts' .. ever been to China Tim?

I'm not trying to piss anyone off, just voicing an opinion.

Nothing personal in my statement. I never proclaimed a reason for things made in China to be poorly made,just they are...or more specifically,these steering wheels. Maybe you answered the why part,which I highlighted,but I never went there with my statement. It could very well be the fault of the American business man who arranged the manufacture in a foreign country specifying cheaper materials.
Plastics technology has progressed leaps and bounds in the last 40 years,so it should be better.

[71K20chevy]

It doesn't matter where they're made at anymore. Bottom line is that most factory workers don't take pride in their work and could give a crap less. Doesn't matter if it's built in the US, China, Taiwan, Africa, etc...

[special-K]

The rod used in the rim of the repros is about 1/2 the gauge of originals.

[Tom Vogel]

Originally Posted by special-K

The rod used in the rim of the repros is about 1/2 the gauge of originals.

Have you cut one apart?

[Don Quixote]

I use a "stock" wheel I bought from Brothers' about five years ago. I do like the large diameter as I don't have power steering and I pull a large trailer; no, I have no plans to change that. My truck steers just fine. The old setup was good enough for the old farmer who owned it the first 25 years and its been good enough for me the last 16. "If it ain't broke..."

[NewType72]

Another good story of a repop wheel. Does It have any cracks yet?
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[special-K]

Originally Posted by Tom Vogel

Have you cut one apart?

No,I had one crack and open up about an 1/8" so you can see the rod. Compared to the rod in OEM wheels,which I've seen due to deterioration,it is 1/2 the size. No,I didn't measure,but I have an eye for sighting measurements after 40 years as carpenter. Let's just say the repro wheels use rod stock that is significantly and noticeably smaller/lighter material.

[69GWC]

They have alot of flex to them as well another sign the metal in them is to small.
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[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

Custom wheels are cool, but not for me. I like my trucks to look like they did when they came off the assembly line, all three have a factory steering wheel.

[Mickm69]

I recently bought a '69 and after installing power steering, the next thing to change was the wheel. With "armstrong steering" the original 17" boat wheel is great but I decided a 15.5" version would be the way to go.
So I took my stock wheel and cut it down.


This is a comparison of the stock 17" on the left and the finished 15.5" version.


Here it is in the truck now.

Cheers!
Mickm

[elf w/capital T]

Im thinking about chopping my stocker up too...how difficult was that resizing the wheel? Either way, im keeping my stock wheel

[dfwright]

Originally Posted by Mickm69

I recently bought a '69 and after installing power steering, the next thing to change was the wheel. With "armstrong steering" the original 17" boat wheel is great but I decided a 15.5" version would be the way to go.
So I took my stock wheel and cut it down.

That looks GREAT! Do you have a write-up of your process? Pictures of the steps?

[Nitro72]

[QUOTE=Mickm69;5880796]I recently bought a '69 and after installing power steering, the next thing to change was the wheel. With "armstrong steering" the original 17" boat wheel is great but I decided a 15.5" version would be the way to go.
So I took my stock wheel and cut it down.

I really like that idea too. They did it on the Overhaulin truck and I thought that would look nice. I would be interested to see the process also.

[c10monkey]

Ditto!
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[Mickm69]

I will put together something for all of you intersted in doing this with your wheel.

It really wasn't hard and it only took me about a week and a half. And one week of that was letting the restoration epoxy cure before beginning sanding.

I will also get some better picutes, those do not do it justice.
Stay tuned.

Cheers!
Mickm

[NewType72]

That looks too darn cool man! great work
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[special-K]

No more boat wheel. Now the shifter looks like a tiller