'76 Steering Wheel Options
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
'76 Steering Wheel Options
All,
I have been happily reading a lot of the prior posts with great interest. I am currently in the process of freshening up the interior of my C3 and have noticed that steering wheel options seem to exclude the '76 (Vega) steering wheel.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Walter
I have been happily reading a lot of the prior posts with great interest. I am currently in the process of freshening up the interior of my C3 and have noticed that steering wheel options seem to exclude the '76 (Vega) steering wheel.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Walter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 918
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville FL
76 was a one-year-only wheel. There are write-ups on putting in the regular Corvette wheels, but there are quite a few parts and it involves some $$$. I discovered that an 84 - 89 C4 steering wheel is a bolt-on replacement. There's a small gap if you have the steering wheel pulled the way toward you, but if you're like most people, the wheel is in far enough so it's not an issue. Personally, I really like the feel of the standard C4 steering wheel, so this is what I will eventually do when I finish my 76.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 918
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville FL
You're welcome. Here's my earlier thread on this with a couple of pictures. The rest of the interior is in very rough shape, but you can get an idea of how the C4 wheel looks.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...76-owners.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...76-owners.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
The leather wrapped 1977 through 1982 C3 T&T steering wheel will also work.
This paper tries to explain the parts required for the update on the 1976 T&T column.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...mn13jl2008.pdf
Jim
This paper tries to explain the parts required for the update on the 1976 T&T column.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...mn13jl2008.pdf
Jim
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 721
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Vega Steering Wheel?
I understand the Vega owners think they got the Corvette steering wheel that year!
(I had planned to swap mine to a 75 since the emblems match, but did a lace on wrap cover which came out reasonably well and is kinda of period correct. Good to know about the 84 steering wheel though.)
(I had planned to swap mine to a 75 since the emblems match, but did a lace on wrap cover which came out reasonably well and is kinda of period correct. Good to know about the 84 steering wheel though.)
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis Kansas
Ok so I've read all these posts, but I would like to keep my car as original as possible. My steering wheel isn't in bad condition except the fact it's sticky to the touch no matter what I do to it. Is it completely impossible to find a steering wheel for this? Would it just be better to put a new wrap or something on it? It doesn't have a leather wrap on it now, doesn't appear like it ever did. Any suggestions? I'm new to all of this, but don't want to replace many of the original pieces.
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Oakdale Ct
In case you decide to change to a different year
I just used Jim Shea's papers (THANK YOU JIM) to replace my Vega wheel with a 77-79 wheel and it wasn't hard at all. (I overhauled the entire column while I was at it.) Total cost was about $200, not including the wheel. I used the old wheel from my first vette, but will eventually replace it or have it re-wrapped since the leather is shot.
Mounted on an engine stand to make the work allot easier:
After pulling the old wheel, this is what it looks like:
Fast forward a couple weeks after rebuilding everything else, the new hub goes on:
Then the new hub cover, new wheel, new horn stand and button, and:
Although it was unique, I just didn't really like the vega wheel.
Let me know if you need a list of parts.
Mounted on an engine stand to make the work allot easier:
After pulling the old wheel, this is what it looks like:
Fast forward a couple weeks after rebuilding everything else, the new hub goes on:
Then the new hub cover, new wheel, new horn stand and button, and:
Although it was unique, I just didn't really like the vega wheel.
Let me know if you need a list of parts.
