Stock Steering Wheel Whos Keeping Them And Why ?

[NewType72]

Originally Posted by Steve Hafner

. . . .

It's a reproduction wheel that I ordered from one of the big catalog companies at least ten years ago . . . closer to fifteen.

If that's so then I'm grabbing the one from truck shop great deal and a killer looking wheel no hassle involved. Original would be amazing but I think some things just need to be new special since its something that keeps you from driving into a ditch
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[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by NewType72

If that's so then I'm grabbing the one from truck shop great deal and a killer looking wheel no hassle involved. Original would be amazing but I think some things just need to be new special since its something that keeps you from driving into a ditch
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Just so you know, these steering wheels have heavy metal under that plastic, so even if the plastic is chipping off, you're still probably more than safe. But, if you're trying to convince the wife why you need to spend $250 on a steering wheel, that argument might work on her
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[NewType72]

Originally Posted by Mister-B

Just so you know, these steering wheels have heavy metal under that plastic, so even if the plastic is chipping off, you're still probably more than safe. But, if you're trying to convince the wife why you need to spend $250 on a steering wheel, that argument might work on her
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Oh yes the cracks in my two original wheels quite clearly show the metal rod and actually the fiancé is pretty supportive thank the good lord that she loves my truck just like me. Though she did mention feelin like a little old lady driving with the big original wheel
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[Steve Hafner]

. . . .

Here's the reason I had to replace my original . . . pretty bad, wasn't it !!!

. . . .

[71K20chevy]

^I've actually seen much, much worse

[NewType72]

Ill have a picture of one much worse an its the one I'm driving with right now
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[Spartan]

I prefer stock. Mine is okay but if a 69 maroon NOS piece shows up or even a perfect horn button...let's just say that I'd pay a premium to win that auction.
I have several for the same era jeep, dodge, international, and yes even ford. It's getting harder to find period interiors for all these trucks...we call em school bus wheels.
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[original-71]

Been thinking of putting mine back on
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[shawno72]

I love my patina'd stocker. Will probably get a reproduction stock one though.

[Chvy2NV]

im looking for a 67-68 3 spoke with the CST horn..

[hayhauler71]

Found mine at a swap meet and only paid $20.00 for it and does not have one crack in it.I did take the buffer to it to shine it up.

[NewType72]

got an eastwood repair kit today when I got home was waiting for me on th eporch so I may just take a swing at making mine nice for now

And Hector do it I love that medium blue and you say your name is Original 71 anyway right

[special-K]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

It's not where they're made, it's the QC of the manufacturer. The same wheel made in the US with the same QC standards would crack too.

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

[BigCountryx]

I would have kept my stocker in the '70, but..... It wouldn't quite buff out.

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[shawno72]

That's cause to have the euro light. It has been lightened for racing
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[ole dollor]

my stock wheel was toast, not much more than a steal wheel left, i had a 1985 gmc wheel and a chevy, horn button, so thats what i run know...

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by special-K

You can move it forward till the cup is t that rubber piece against the instrument cluster. You just collapse the lower column by smacking on the flange that bolts to the rag joint. Do it while removed and not connected to the column so you don't damage the bearings or anything else.

If you get in a head-on collision, you might live to regret losing the shock-absorbing effect of that GM-engineered safety feature.

[Steeveedee]

And MY truck has a steering wheel from some '70s Caprice. I can just see what happens when the thing stalls (rare, I'm a mechanic, but just suppose), and my wife with those pencil arms tries to steer it? I'd like a stock "school bus" steering wheel back, just for that reason. Now, where can I get one not made out of Chinesium? I put a '70 truck four row radiator in my '68 Skylark (yeah, I like some cooling performance, and Buick didn't offer it), and bought the clamps from the dealer. They were made in China. I felt sold out. I worked for GM, at Chevy dealers and at the assembly division in Van Nuys, CA in the early '70s. My dad would be turning 12 grand in his grave (if he hadn't been cremated and tossed out in the Pacific Ocean), if he knew that GM was buying parts in chinee. Me, I just told the counterman what I thought, without ripping his head off, because it really isn't his doing.

[72MARIO]

Originally Posted by Mt Man Chad

Stock wheel so you can put a CST cap on it, best horn cap ever made.

Truck feels like a totally diffirent piece to drive with the cst cap


I bought a 67-68 repop wheel. It feels diffirent much harder. My hands actually hurt after 2hrs of driving.

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by BigCountryx

I would have kept my stocker in the '70, but..... It wouldn't quite buff out.

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I don't think you tried quite hard enough...,
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[NewType72]

My original that I'm actually driving around with right now
What is it about these medium blue wheels that get annihilated over the years?

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

If you get in a head-on collision, you might live to regret losing the shock-absorbing effect of that GM-engineered safety feature.

There is still collapse room left and it's really the same difference. The wheel still has to travel the same distance to impact the driver. The collapsible column doesn't limit effect of impact. If you're hit that hard the wheel will end up in the same place. It's a great safety feature,but people did drive trucks till almost the '70s with solid columns and never gave it a thought.

[dfwright]

Originally Posted by NewType72

What is it about these medium blue wheels that get annihilated over the years?

If you think the blue ones have issues, take a look at the sandalwood steering wheels.

Check out this most excellent example for instance....

[NewType72]

Wow I think it's a a new for spoke design lol
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[71K20chevy]

That's probably why my Sandalwood wheel got replaced by the PO