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Revisiting steering wheel replacement

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Old Jul 4, 2006 | 06:42 PM
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Default Revisiting steering wheel replacement

Ok,
After fixing the other 4 problems that cropped up, I am ready to get back to the problem that started it all.
I bought a Grant steering wheel for my non tilt/tele column.
Here is a pic with the old wheel removed:


I remove the old horn contact plunger from the plastic horn contact assembly, per the steering wheel installation instruction supplement.


And I cannot install the hub in the proper "up" orientation:


It strikes the rest of the plastic horn contact assembly:


Am I supposed to cut this part off of the horn contact assembly? It is all one piece.
I cannot figure this out.
BTW, it's a '69.
Scott

Last edited by Shrike; Jul 4, 2006 at 11:29 PM.
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Old Jul 4, 2006 | 10:54 PM
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Any ideas?
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 12:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Shrike
Any ideas?
Cant you put the horn contact through the hole in the hub?
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 12:17 AM
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I can, but then the steering wheel is about 90 degrees out:

(this is with the wheels pointed straight)
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 12:42 AM
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I was trying to think if there was something you could do in the column.It would scew up the turn signal canceling.Looks like the hub is wrong.I guess you could redrill the steering wheel.Sorry I couldnt help anymore than that.
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 12:44 AM
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Can you turn the hub over?
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 12:54 AM
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No, I can't flip the hub, the holes for the steering wheel bolts don't go all the way thru.
I'm beginning to wonder if this is the right hub myself. It's the one they reccomend and I emailed Grant's tech support to confirm before I ordered, but I don't see how it can work.
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 11:02 AM
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Talk to Grants tech support, get a guys e-mail address and send him the pics you posted and see what he has to say.
I first thought your tires must not be straight...but they are.
Then I thought that maybe someone did some work on your steering and the steering box may have it misaligned. Did the original steering wheel fit correctly with the tires straight and the wheel correct? This would also affect your turn signal so it sounds like it must be the hub that is wrong. That horn contact looks like it belongs in that hole. E-mail your pics to Grants Tech support and let us know how you make out. I was considering one of those pop-off steering wheel adapters from them as an anti-theft device. Let me know how things turn out. Good luck
-B
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 11:10 AM
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The original wheel is perfectly straight. I'm gonna do what you suggested and email Grant. I'll let ya'll know what they say.
Scott
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 01:48 PM
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You didn't want to get a direct fit wheel? Grant makes a 6 hole wheel that screws right on to the stock hub. I am converting a 69 with an aftermarket wheel back to stock and I wouldn't recommend using anything but a stock hub. The other hubs just don't look right!
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 01:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Shrike
The original wheel is perfectly straight. I'm gonna do what you suggested and email Grant. I'll let ya'll know what they say.
Scott
let us know
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 02:08 PM
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Originally Posted by CAGregK
You didn't want to get a direct fit wheel? Grant makes a 6 hole wheel that screws right on to the stock hub. I am converting a 69 with an aftermarket wheel back to stock and I wouldn't recommend using anything but a stock hub. The other hubs just don't look right!
According to Grant, you can't put one of the direct fit wheels on a non tilt/tele column.
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 09:57 PM
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Well I sent an email to customer service this morning and received a reply at 5:30 from the Director of Technical Sales. Quick reply!

Unfortunately, all he said was I needed the 3196 kit instead of the 4193 and that they must have a problem with their listing.

I sent another reply to let him know that I had double checked before ordering by sending an email to Grant customer service and they had verified that I needed part number 4193 and that I could not use one of their direct fit steering wheels.
Given that the info about the 4193 kit was erroneous, I wanted to know if I could use one of the direct fit wheels. I can't see why I couldn't, as CAGregK says, it screws right onto the stock hub with 6 screws just like my original wheel.
Unless he can tell me why I can't use one, I'm gonna send all of this stuff back to Summit and order a direct fit wheel.

I'll let you know how the next step goes.
Scott
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Old Jul 6, 2006 | 10:34 AM
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Received second reply.
"Thanks for the info. I will have a talk with customer service about this. Again, sorry for any inconvenience."

Didn't answer my question about the direct fit wheels.

I'm just gonna pack everything up and send it back.
Looking on ebay for steering wheels now.
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Old Jul 6, 2006 | 10:47 AM
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I looked at Grant's website and it says the direct fit will fit both standard and tilt/tele columns.

I say send it all back and get the direct fit.
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Old Jul 6, 2006 | 10:50 AM
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I just bought a really nice steering wheel on ebay from VETTEMAN904.
It is a direct fit wood grain with chrome center and rubber where the chrome and wood meet. Really nice unfortunately they had the wrong steeringwheel in the wrong box so now I'm waiting for it to get in stock.
They're customer service is lacking but I haven't seen a wheel like this elsewhere. Check it out!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1
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Old Jul 6, 2006 | 11:16 AM
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70 LS1- That's what I thought too, but the first time I contacted them, they told me it definitely would not fit. I'm sure they're wrong, but I'm fed up with Grant right now. I'd rather give my money to someone else. But direct fit is the way to go.

68 NJConv 454- those look pretty sweet, and the price is right too.
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To Revisiting steering wheel replacement

Old Jul 6, 2006 | 12:46 PM
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The Grant is one and the Corvette catalogs have the italian one with colored leather wheel. The Grant looks like the stock wheel but has a thicker rim and smaller diameter.

I don't know why they are sating it won't work on a non-tilt column.
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Old Jul 6, 2006 | 03:16 PM
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The six-hole Grant wheel fits just fine
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Old Jul 6, 2006 | 03:19 PM
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Another thought: you said the wheels are straight - did you check if the steering is adjusted correctly ? How many turns do you have from 'center' position to lock left and right ? Same amount or (for example) two turs left and three turns right ??
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