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Old Aug 16, 2011 | 10:05 PM
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Default 1967 / 1968 Steering Wheel

Hi guys,

Does anyone know if there is a difference between a 67 and 68 steering wheel? If so, does anyone have pictures to show the difference? I assume originals both have the offset third spoke?

Thanks and stay safe,
John
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Old Aug 16, 2011 | 10:51 PM
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anyone?
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Old Aug 16, 2011 | 11:50 PM
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I always thought they were the same. It's too late, but I'd have to go out and look at the third spoke on the 68.

I'd like to buy a teak wheel for my 68, they were an option on the 67's I believe. At $675 I'll have to wait a while however. My 68 has the fakey plastic teak wheel. It's still crack free!!!!!
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Old Aug 17, 2011 | 01:02 AM
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It's after midnight here, and my brain isn't operating at 100% (not that it does much at any other time either), but I think the 67-68 spokes are the same. The rim may be also, but I just can't recall right now.

The only parts book I have in the house is a 1980, and the steering wheels listed there only go back to 69. The book does list the same steering wheel hub for 67 and 68, so both must(?) use the same spoke set up (with the overlap). I have earlier parts books at work, so I can take a look at the steering wheel section in the morning.

Originally Posted by 68/70Vette
I'd like to buy a teak wheel for my 68, they were an option on the 67's I believe. At $675 I'll have to wait a while however. My 68 has the fakey plastic teak wheel. It's still crack free!!!!!
66 was the last year that the teak wheel was offered, there was no teak wheel option for 67. The earlier teak wheel will not attach to the 63-66 hub, but repro teak wheels are available for use on 67 columns.
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Old Aug 17, 2011 | 01:29 AM
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Sorry John,

I looked it up in my 53 to 80 GM parts book and no joy. It only went back to 69.
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Old Aug 17, 2011 | 03:44 AM
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Hi

As little as I know, 67 & 68 are the same.
Somebody once mentioned to think that there might have been a slight color difference in the wood grain texture that is not visible.

Rgds. Günther
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Old Aug 17, 2011 | 07:44 AM
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There would be a difference if one year steering wheel had the three spokes that were stamped from a single piece of steel. Other year had spokes where the 9 and 3 o'clock spokes were from one piece and the 6 o'clock spoke was overlapped at the hub and spot welded in place. This would require that the steering wheel hub would have a clearance notch for the double thickness of metal at 6 o'clock.

The 1977 AIM (and later) T&T steering wheel blowup pic (UPC 9A sheet 3) showed sufficient detail to actually show the notch in both the extension and the hub for the double thickness 6 o'clock spoke. I don't think that the earlier AIM sheets (particularly the 1967-68 time frame) were accurate enough to show the notch in the hub or not.


There should be a different part number for the 1967 hub and steering wheel versus the 1968 if one was a welded, double thickness type (requiring a hub with a notch) versus a single stamping (requiring a hub without a notch).

Sorry, I can't help as to which years were which.
Jim
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Old Aug 17, 2011 | 07:58 AM
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thanks guys, so the hub should be overlapped right?

I had heard somewhere that 67 wheels had a bit more color / grain as maybe Gunther suggested. Anyone heard of this?

Thanks again for all the responses.
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Old Aug 17, 2011 | 09:10 AM
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All 1968 steering wheels have a simulated wood rim made from plastic that is molded to a brushed stainless steel three spoke center with a pattern of parallel lines extending from the center of the wheel to the outer rim. 1968 wheels are 16 inches in diameter. This is all according to Richard Prince's Corvette Restoration Guide. I do not know about a 67.
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Old Aug 17, 2011 | 10:43 AM
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According to my 1970 Corvette Parts Book, the 67 and 68 wheels are different, as they have different part numbers (9746195 for the 67 and 9748390 for 68). Both wheels are listed as "walnut", and I know that both are 16" (69 and later wheels are 15"). As I noted in my previous post, both are also mounted using the same (notched) wheel hub, and use the same offset spoke design.

As others have said, I think the only difference is in the color or shading of the plastic used for the simulated walnut rim.

By 1972, the 67 wheel was discountinued, as the 68 wheel (9748370) is listed in the 1972 Corvette parts book for use on both 67 and 68 Corvettes. This is pretty typical of GM. If everything other than the color was the same, the wheel would be considered an acceptable "service replacement".
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Old Aug 17, 2011 | 11:19 AM
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Originally Posted by gbvette62
...According to my 1970 Corvette Parts Book, the 67 and 68 wheels are different, as they have different part numbers (9746195 for the 67 and 9748390 for 68)...

I used to think they were the same -- look the same, anyhoo, but I caught a blurb somewhere (maybe The Restorer or the NCRS forum) mentioning they were different and would not swap.

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Old Aug 17, 2011 | 01:20 PM
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ok thanks guys. i think i will post some pics of the spare 68? wheel i have and see if we can agree what year it should be from. i take it there is no part number on the wheel right?
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Old Aug 17, 2011 | 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by avalonjohn
...i take it there is no part number on the wheel right?...
Might be a part number on the backside.
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Old Aug 17, 2011 | 01:58 PM
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Hi

There is no P/N, at least I didn't find one.
And the color difference, if there is one, is impossible to see withpout comparison to ea other.

You can consider the 67 being equal to the 68 wheel.
I would bet that even a NCRS judge couldn't for sure say what year you have .

Rgds. Günther
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Old Aug 17, 2011 | 03:46 PM
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Originally Posted by WESCH
Hi

There is no P/N, at least I didn't find one.
And the color difference, if there is one, is impossible to see withpout comparison to ea other.

You can consider the 67 being equal to the 68 wheel.
I would bet that even a NCRS judge couldn't for sure say what year you have .

Rgds. Günther
i agree, i just called an NCRS judge and he did not know. He said he heard some rumor about the height of the wheel being different if you layed it flat??

Where's Mike Ward?
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Old Aug 17, 2011 | 04:40 PM
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Originally Posted by avalonjohn
i agree, i just called an NCRS judge and he did not know. He said he heard some rumor about the height of the wheel being different if you layed it flat??

Where's Mike Ward?
I seem to remember measuring my '68 and the offset was 4" and it did have the overlapped spoke.

It's easy to remove if you'd like some pictures or verification of the offset, let me know.
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Old Aug 17, 2011 | 05:46 PM
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67 and 68 wheels look the same and will interchange. but 67 wheels should have a grain feel to them where as a 68 wheel is smooth.
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To 1967 / 1968 Steering Wheel

Old Aug 17, 2011 | 06:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Nowhere Man
67 and 68 wheels look the same and will interchange. but 67 wheels should have a grain feel to them where as a 68 wheel is smooth.
grain feel?
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Old Aug 17, 2011 | 06:55 PM
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Yes it should be able to feel tiny bumps but over time there wear off
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Old Aug 17, 2011 | 08:49 PM
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My 68 wheel with 63 horn button. Smooth and measures 15 3/4, smooth.

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