'76 replacement steering wheel
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 2
From: McDonough Georgia
'76 replacement steering wheel
Does anybody make a replacement steering wheel for a '76 with tilt/tele?the factory wheel is not what i want,reminds me of the mid 70's camaros which i am not a fan of.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 505
Likes: 8
From: Houston Tx.
Do a search in the forum for '76 wheel conversions. There are a certain number of parts you need to acquire to put a pre-76 or post-76 steering wheel on. There are some good articles and instructions too.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Hobart Ind, near chicago
Originally Posted by mkflanagan
Does anybody make a replacement steering wheel for a '76 with tilt/tele?the factory wheel is not what i want,reminds me of the mid 70's camaros which i am not a fan of.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: San Gabriel CA
going through the same thing right now
Jim Shea has written great articles in regards to this subject. You can install a 69-75 or 77-82 steering wheel, but you will have to get the parts to adapt the different steering wheel including a hub. I still have to get my parts list together. Good luck.
69-75 steering wheel instructions
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...nRev16FE06.doc
77-82 steering wheel instructions
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...umn16FE061.doc
69-75 steering wheel instructions
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...nRev16FE06.doc
77-82 steering wheel instructions
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...umn16FE061.doc
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
From: Grand Forks North Dakota
Originally Posted by troy1m
YOU ARE CLOSE , BUT THINK ABOUT VEGA.
Camaros used it too, as did the Chevelles. I'm not sure why it's called the "vega wheel" since just about every Chevy car used it in '76.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Dunbarton NH
They all had tele? If not than I would say that they are probably not the same... If yes then I don't understand why there aren't tons of alternatives out there that would just bolt right in. What makes this wheel so unique that no one makes aftermarket wheels for it? If it is just the same as a vega, camaro, chevelle, cavaler, or what ever than there would be a good market in making replacement custom steering wheels.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 109
From: B'ham Alabama
Justin is right. ALL the "sporty" Chevy line up in 1976 used the same steering wheel. The Camaro & Z28, Chevelle / Malibu, Corvette, AND the Vega.
Actually, if you go the numbers,...the VEGA "used" the Vette wheel.
I'm a glass half full guy myself.
Actually, if you go the numbers,...the VEGA "used" the Vette wheel.
I'm a glass half full guy myself.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 2
From: McDonough Georgia
Originally Posted by Batsy74
They all had tele? If not than I would say that they are probably not the same... If yes then I don't understand why there aren't tons of alternatives out there that would just bolt right in. What makes this wheel so unique that no one makes aftermarket wheels for it? If it is just the same as a vega, camaro, chevelle, cavaler, or what ever than there would be a good market in making replacement custom steering wheels.
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Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Hobart Ind, near chicago
Originally Posted by JustinGJ
Camaros used it too, as did the Chevelles. I'm not sure why it's called the "vega wheel" since just about every Chevy car used it in '76.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Dunbarton NH
Originally Posted by mkflanagan
No they didnt all have tele,the wheels just all look the same,an aftermarket wheel wil not just bolt on the the column.thats why i am trying to find out which way to go.If you look for aftermarket wheels they are all either 68-75 or 77-82 nothing for 76
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 2
From: McDonough Georgia
Originally Posted by Batsy74
So the only similarities are in the look... not the actual part?
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 505
Likes: 8
From: Houston Tx.
The problem with the '76 wheel is the hub and wheel are one piece. I made the conversion on mine (described in the Jim Shea articles above) and the main parts I needed was a hub, hub extension, tele lock ring, horn contact spacer and steering wheel. All of the other internals remained. The bubba who owned the car had painted the rubber wheel and it disintegrated into a gooey, sticky mess.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 2
From: McDonough Georgia
Originally Posted by 76vette1
The problem with the '76 wheel is the hub and wheel are one piece. I made the conversion on mine (described in the Jim Shea articles above) and the main parts I needed was a hub, hub extension, tele lock ring, horn contact spacer and steering wheel. All of the other internals remained. The bubba who owned the car had painted the rubber wheel and it disintegrated into a gooey, sticky mess.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 845
Likes: 1
From: Columbus Indiana
I happened onto this wheel while poking around on e-bay. I really like the flat three spoked look and thought I'd try to adapt a Trans-Am wheel. The top photo from the auction was the interesting one. I'd just finished rebuilding my tilt/telescopic and was real familier with the bolt holes and spacing on the stock wheel. The back side of this one looked just like it. I have no idea what the wheel's off of. The metal core and spokes are aluminum, I popped it into the sandblaster and glass beaded it, now the spokes have a nice matte finish. I built a new fixture to space the horn button out and hold the top horn contact assembly. With a little fab work, horn works fine, as does t/t functions. I think I gave $22 plus shipping. The bottom photo, I had to temporairly reinstall the column to pull the car into the garage to bond a new header bar in. BTW, I'd already bought a steering wheel hub/spacer off a Trans-AM, the splines allowed it to slip right onto the center shaft of the t/t. They were exactly the same. I still don't think it'd be real hard to swap a mid 70's TA wheel onto a t/t. JMO.....John
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 505
Likes: 8
From: Houston Tx.
Originally Posted by vette4820
Just picked up a 77-82 steering wheel last week. Trying to piece together everything for my car. Is the 77-82 hub different than the 68-75 hubs? Can I use the earlier hub?