78 non tilt column
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 751
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From: Lufkin Texas
78 non tilt column
Can anyone tell me what I have to do to replace the vega type steering wheel with the 3 spoke aluminum vette steering wheel?
My column is non tilt so it came with the 4 spoke wheel.
My column is non tilt so it came with the 4 spoke wheel.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 751
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From: Lufkin Texas
Wow I thought surely someone would have done this before. Please keep reading.
Originally Posted by toupstrio
Can anyone tell me what I have to do to replace the vega type steering wheel with the 3 spoke aluminum vette steering wheel?
My column is non tilt so it came with the 4 spoke wheel.
My column is non tilt so it came with the 4 spoke wheel.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena Maryland
I have the Vega Steering Wheel and like it. They didn't make many non tilt steering columns. Keep your wheel when you take it off. You can put almost any steering wheel on your car. All of the Corvette parts company's sell aftermarket steering wheels. You will need an adapter that they all sell to adapt the new steering wheel to the column. Ecklers, MidAmerica, Corvette Central to name a few.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 751
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From: Lufkin Texas
Originally Posted by djgrelli
I have the Vega Steering Wheel and like it. They didn't make many non tilt steering columns. Keep your wheel when you take it off. You can put almost any steering wheel on your car. All of the Corvette parts company's sell aftermarket steering wheels. You will need an adapter that they all sell to adapt the new steering wheel to the column. Ecklers, MidAmerica, Corvette Central to name a few.
Ok Thanks I have a tilt wheel from another vette and was trying to see if it would fit or if I needed anything.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Originally Posted by toupstrio
Can anyone tell me what I have to do to replace the vega type steering wheel with the 3 spoke aluminum vette steering wheel?
My column is non tilt so it came with the 4 spoke wheel.
My column is non tilt so it came with the 4 spoke wheel.
Jim Shea is the C3 steering column guru and can guide you to where you want to get. He was the GM steering column engineer and knows his stuff.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena Maryland
Originally Posted by hunt4cleanair
As a 78 owner and one who had looked at 78s...can't recall seeing any non-tilts. Have you got any pictures you can send?
Jim Shea is the C3 steering column guru and can guide you to where you want to get. He was the GM steering column engineer and knows his stuff.
Jim Shea is the C3 steering column guru and can guide you to where you want to get. He was the GM steering column engineer and knows his stuff.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
When I compare the 1978 standard steering column to the 1969-1975 standard column, the upper end (where the steering wheel hub assembly attaches) are for all practical purposes identical. Your steering column head is 4.11 inch diameter. The 1969-75 column head was 4.04 diameter. The steering shaft serrations, length, etc are the same.
Your Vega steering wheel has an integral hub. So you need the 1969-75 steering wheel and all of its attaching hardware and horn parts. None of the Vega steering wheel parts will interchange.
The 1969-75 column used a GM #3937896 hub assembly. The steering wheel attached to the hub with six screws. That hub should attach directly to your 1978 column with no problems. So you will find that any 1969-75 Corvette steering wheel, along with its hub, horn parts, and attaching hardware will adapt directly to the 1977-79 standard steering column.
Jim
Your Vega steering wheel has an integral hub. So you need the 1969-75 steering wheel and all of its attaching hardware and horn parts. None of the Vega steering wheel parts will interchange.
The 1969-75 column used a GM #3937896 hub assembly. The steering wheel attached to the hub with six screws. That hub should attach directly to your 1978 column with no problems. So you will find that any 1969-75 Corvette steering wheel, along with its hub, horn parts, and attaching hardware will adapt directly to the 1977-79 standard steering column.
Jim
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 751
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From: Lufkin Texas
Originally Posted by Jim Shea
When I compare the 1978 standard steering column to the 1969-1975 standard column, the upper end (where the steering wheel hub assembly attaches) are for all practical purposes identical. Your steering column head is 4.11 inch diameter. The 1969-75 column head was 4.04 diameter. The steering shaft serrations, length, etc are the same.
Your Vega steering wheel has an integral hub. So you need the 1969-75 steering wheel and all of its attaching hardware and horn parts. None of the Vega steering wheel parts will interchange.
The 1969-75 column used a GM #3937896 hub assembly. The steering wheel attached to the hub with six screws. That hub should attach directly to your 1978 column with no problems. So you will find that any 1969-75 Corvette steering wheel, along with its hub, horn parts, and attaching hardware will adapt directly to the 1977-79 standard steering column.
Jim
Your Vega steering wheel has an integral hub. So you need the 1969-75 steering wheel and all of its attaching hardware and horn parts. None of the Vega steering wheel parts will interchange.
The 1969-75 column used a GM #3937896 hub assembly. The steering wheel attached to the hub with six screws. That hub should attach directly to your 1978 column with no problems. So you will find that any 1969-75 Corvette steering wheel, along with its hub, horn parts, and attaching hardware will adapt directly to the 1977-79 standard steering column.
Jim
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 751
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From: Lufkin Texas
Originally Posted by djgrelli
In 78 GM produced 46,776 units of which 8,918 were non tilt steering columns which came with the Vega steering wheel. I wll take a few pictures this weekend and email them to you.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena Maryland
Originally Posted by toupstrio
I thought that all pace cars came standard with a tilt column if that is the case that would mean that only 2,416 vettes came with a non tilt column and a vega wheel.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Just one point of clarification. The 1976 through 1979 standard steering column Vega steering wheel came with an integral hub. The standard column hub was the same from 1969 through 1975. The T&T hub was the same 1969 to 1975 and again from 1977 to 1982 but it was different from the standard column hub. So I hope that your steering wheel came with the standard column hub attached to it.
The steering wheel (1969-1975) attached to the hub with six screws. That steering wheel was the same regardless of standard or T&T column.
My Corvette Central catalogue shows the 1969-75 standard column hub as #563026.
I could not find that part at the Corvetteforum Mall or in the Zip catalogue. It also does not show up at the GMPartsDirect.com websight.
Jim
The steering wheel (1969-1975) attached to the hub with six screws. That steering wheel was the same regardless of standard or T&T column.
My Corvette Central catalogue shows the 1969-75 standard column hub as #563026.
I could not find that part at the Corvetteforum Mall or in the Zip catalogue. It also does not show up at the GMPartsDirect.com websight.
Jim