Just thinking about it grinds my gears. I like being able to spread out my arms. 
One thing that's ALWAYS bugged me.
Le Mans Master
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From: Omaha NE
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It is to close. Unless you have a '77 or later. That was the year GM put the steering wheel 2" closer to the dash. Normal length arms now fit right....
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From: Toronto Ontario
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From: Pensacola Florida
I'm only 5'11" but a stocky guy. The wheel and how bout the fact you gotta bend your knees to drive any distance. My ankle starts talking after an hour or so. Still drive my girl over anything available to me though. Oh well.
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From: Toronto Ontario
However the feeling you get from driving it, it acts as a pain-killer. The doctor could be sitting in the passenger seat doing an operation for all I care.
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Drifting
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From: wichita kansas
i agree! one of the main things that appeals to me about an older vette is the "crudeness" of the car in spite of the awesome design. what i mean is, if i wanted something totally ergonomically comfortable, i would buy a mini-van. i like the crude clutch, versus a modern hydraulic clutch....etc. i like the push button radio that you still have to tweek to get a station locked in. i love old vettes just the way they were! having said all that, i would still take tilt/tele over standard steering column, but i really dont mind either one.......rick
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From: Pensacola Florida
i agree! one of the main things that appeals to me about an older vette is the "crudeness" of the car in spite of the awesome design. what i mean is, if i wanted something totally ergonomically comfortable, i would buy a mini-van. i like the crude clutch, versus a modern hydraulic clutch....etc. i like the push button radio that you still have to tweek to get a station locked in. i love old vettes just the way they were! having said all that, i would still take tilt/tele over standard steering column, but i really dont mind either one.......rick
C4"s and on look NEW. My 74 looks like a piece of history. You can't stop people from admiring a piece of Americana
Last edited by fhickey; Apr 13, 2009 at 02:44 AM. Reason: misspelled
Le Mans Master
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From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Gary
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From: Orange Park Florida
ALL that ergonomic crap is SO personal, two guys the same height maybe wanting two completely different settings for everything......in MY case...being 6'5"...and 225 like a Buick....
some years ago, I cut/moved the floorboard forward under the steering wheel, glass it in and lowered the brake/gas, retained the stickshift brake pedal good with my size 13-14 shoes....
dropped the seat down a good solid 2.5" in back, nice rake to it now....'78+ TT wheel is pulled back 3/4 inch off the firewall, smaller diameter and a bent upward turn sig stem allows plenty of knee room, I can actually drive the car now....stuck a extra spring on the throttle to give a nice neutral balance to the pressure, don't have to lift my foot now....
YMMV.....
some years ago, I cut/moved the floorboard forward under the steering wheel, glass it in and lowered the brake/gas, retained the stickshift brake pedal good with my size 13-14 shoes....
dropped the seat down a good solid 2.5" in back, nice rake to it now....'78+ TT wheel is pulled back 3/4 inch off the firewall, smaller diameter and a bent upward turn sig stem allows plenty of knee room, I can actually drive the car now....stuck a extra spring on the throttle to give a nice neutral balance to the pressure, don't have to lift my foot now....
YMMV.....
Melting Slicks
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From: Hinckley OH
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Lindenhurst, Long Island, New York
I feel the same way. I have long arms for my height (6'9" fringer tip to finger tip, yet I'm only 6'3") and I have the tilt/tele wheel which I never change the position of: all the way forward and tilted all the way up. I could use an extra 2" and a smaller wheel too.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Grant makes some st. wh. w/ a very shallow dish that are a direct bolt on.
I put the Grant black leather one on my Corvette a long time ago. It has polished slotted spokes & a very shallow dish which moves it closer to the dash. Nice, direct bolt on about 13 1/2". Ideal, esp. if one is tall.
Pic. on website shows near flat dish, the back of the st. wh. is about 1/2" up from the mounting. http://ganeys.home.sprynet.com/CorIntPass_small.JPG
I put the Grant black leather one on my Corvette a long time ago. It has polished slotted spokes & a very shallow dish which moves it closer to the dash. Nice, direct bolt on about 13 1/2". Ideal, esp. if one is tall.
Pic. on website shows near flat dish, the back of the st. wh. is about 1/2" up from the mounting. http://ganeys.home.sprynet.com/CorIntPass_small.JPG
CF JASOC Member
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From: Downtown Annapolis, MD. The Future is where we all have to live. Let's not screw it up.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
After test driving several C3s when I was looking for my '71, the tilt/tele steering wheel quickly made it's way onto my list of "must-have" options.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 955
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From: Jersey Shore
I shortened my stock, non T/T column on my '69.
I pulled the column out of the car, cut the spotwelds that hold on the flange that mount to the firewall, moved the bracket up the column shaft, re-weld to column shaft, shortened the steering shaft, and put it back in. depending on how much you shorten it, you may have to relocate the bracket that holds the column to the dash bracket too. Im a short guy, so I only shortened mine 3/4". I should have gone for a little more, but its noticeably better.
I dont use my park/reverse key lock, but if you do, it wont be able to get past the headers.
I pulled the column out of the car, cut the spotwelds that hold on the flange that mount to the firewall, moved the bracket up the column shaft, re-weld to column shaft, shortened the steering shaft, and put it back in. depending on how much you shorten it, you may have to relocate the bracket that holds the column to the dash bracket too. Im a short guy, so I only shortened mine 3/4". I should have gone for a little more, but its noticeably better.
I dont use my park/reverse key lock, but if you do, it wont be able to get past the headers.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Sebastian Florida
On Hotrod TV they put a 'D' shaped wheel in a mustang. Just because it was flat on the bottom and gave more legroom. If you guys are having trouble you might want to try one.
My vette has the Tilt/Tele wheel and I drive with it all the way out and have no problems.
It does have an aftermarket wheel.
I'm 5'9 about 200 lbs. My only complaint about the steering wheel is that in most cars you don't have to take your hand off the wheel to use the turn signals and the vette you do.
My vette has the Tilt/Tele wheel and I drive with it all the way out and have no problems.
It does have an aftermarket wheel.
I'm 5'9 about 200 lbs. My only complaint about the steering wheel is that in most cars you don't have to take your hand off the wheel to use the turn signals and the vette you do.