(Doubt that)
76 Steering wheel replacement
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 430
Likes: 31
From: Ontario
76 Steering wheel replacement
I'm going to replace my steering wheel with something that wasn't standard equipment on a Vega. Ecklers has the adapter I need at a hefty price. I can't get around that but I can choose between a repro wheel and an aftermarket and possibly save some money that way. What's the consensus? Are the repro's better or just more expensive? I'm looking at this one:
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1963-1982.html
..vs this one:
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1967-1982.html
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1963-1982.html
..vs this one:
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1967-1982.html
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 430
Likes: 31
From: Ontario
I really like that wheel. Which is it, aftermarket or repro? Are you 100% happy with it? I'd like to know what other C3 guys think too. It won't be original no matter what I do so I see a cheaper aftermarket wheels as fair game. Unless quality is an issue.
It's fairly annoying to have to pay 150 bucks for the privilege of being able to use steering wheels that fit every other C3 year! Who was the GM genius that thought that up?! I've run into the 'special' model issue more than once. For example, I collect old John Deere garden tractors and I have three 400's. They are the only garden tractor model I have ever seen that uses the particular 6 bolt rear hub design a 400 has, which means only a 400 rear wheel will fit. Obviously GM doesn't have the market cornered on bungled designs.
Sorry for the rant. Gets loose on me once in a while.
It's fairly annoying to have to pay 150 bucks for the privilege of being able to use steering wheels that fit every other C3 year! Who was the GM genius that thought that up?! I've run into the 'special' model issue more than once. For example, I collect old John Deere garden tractors and I have three 400's. They are the only garden tractor model I have ever seen that uses the particular 6 bolt rear hub design a 400 has, which means only a 400 rear wheel will fit. Obviously GM doesn't have the market cornered on bungled designs.
Sorry for the rant. Gets loose on me once in a while.
1969/1971/2021 Coupes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,212
Likes: 80
From: Port Huron MI
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
This is the aftermarket which is the one shown in your first link. I love it. I also have a 69 that i will be putting one (of these) on as well.
Terry
Terry
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
It isn't the steering columns fault. The actual 1976 steering column (both the standard non-adjustable and the T&T) are exactly the same as the 1969-1975 columns. It was the Chevrolet steering wheel, hub, telescope lock, extension, etc that was different for 1976. Sorry, it wasn't Saginaw's fault. We just built the columns.
I bought a new 1976 Corvette. As soon as the 1977's came out, my 1976 T&T sprouted a leather wrapped 1977 steering wheel. I did have to obtain the proper extension, hub, telescope lock, horn parts, etc. The only slight difficulty was the 1977 extension was just a bit short so that if the column was telescoped all the way back toward the driver, there was a very slight gap between the lower edge of the extension and the top of the steering column lock housing.
Jim
I bought a new 1976 Corvette. As soon as the 1977's came out, my 1976 T&T sprouted a leather wrapped 1977 steering wheel. I did have to obtain the proper extension, hub, telescope lock, horn parts, etc. The only slight difficulty was the 1977 extension was just a bit short so that if the column was telescoped all the way back toward the driver, there was a very slight gap between the lower edge of the extension and the top of the steering column lock housing.
Jim
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
First of all, I assume that you have a T&T column. The 1976 steering wheels and hardware are different between the two types of steering columns.
The following are to pictures from the AIM books on the difference between the 1976 T&T steering wheel and hardware compared to the earlier (1969-75) T&T steering wheels and the later 1977-82 T&T steering wheel and parts. Things like the extensions are different between the three different years (although the short 1977+ extension will work on the 1969-1976 columns.)
I thought that I had a writeup on swapping steering wheels and parts between C3 steering columns, I can't seem to find it at the moment.
I really can't speak as to the aftermarket steering wheels. Some of them definately will not allow your telescoping mechanism (built into the upper steering column shaft in a T&T column) to work.
Good luck,
Jim
The following are to pictures from the AIM books on the difference between the 1976 T&T steering wheel and hardware compared to the earlier (1969-75) T&T steering wheels and the later 1977-82 T&T steering wheel and parts. Things like the extensions are different between the three different years (although the short 1977+ extension will work on the 1969-1976 columns.)
I thought that I had a writeup on swapping steering wheels and parts between C3 steering columns, I can't seem to find it at the moment.
I really can't speak as to the aftermarket steering wheels. Some of them definately will not allow your telescoping mechanism (built into the upper steering column shaft in a T&T column) to work.
Good luck,
Jim
Last edited by Jim Shea; Jan 21, 2013 at 07:23 AM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 44
From: Calgary Alberta
The difference is preference. I would only use either a 69-75 wheel or a 77-82 Corvette wheel. I'm a stock kind of guy, so my first choice would be to leave the 76 wheel on there unless it was in bad shape. I have two Corvettes, both with stock wheels. One is a 76, and I played with the idea of swapping it out, but in the end I decided to keep it. If I had swapped it out, I would have installed a 1977 wheel. I don't like the look of the non-stock style wheels...they always seem to look out of place. You were looking for opinions, so just offering mine.
Last edited by Brcmpbl; Jan 21, 2013 at 01:20 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 430
Likes: 31
From: Ontario
No problem. I welcome your opinion. I just meant if it wasn't going to be the original style for the car it wouldn't matter if it wasn't a real Vette wheel or not. Now that Jim has pointed out the T&T issue it's a moot point. That's going to dictate what I actually buy. I don't t&t much but it would bug me if I couldn't.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 430
Likes: 31
From: Ontario
Good point. I've actually had two `76 Camaros and two `76 Novas with the exact same steering wheel. I wasn't fond of the look and feel it had in those cars but it didn't bug me like the one in my Vette does.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,449
Likes: 40
From: Panama City Beach, Florida
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 430
Likes: 31
From: Ontario
It looks like the kit is for T&T columns too. That's the way I interpret it anyway. Anybody know for sure if it does?
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...-kit-1976.html
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...-kit-1976.html