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Steering wheel swap.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Steering wheel swap.
Today I learned that I shouldn't order anything without looking into AIM first.
So here is the problem, is it possible to swap this steering wheel:
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/stagi...terior_Web.jpg
with this:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...wL._SX300_.jpg
I hope, the conversion kit form '76 would fit, so I could ride the car (current driving wheel is too big for me, to fit in).
Else I will have to modify stock wheel.
Forgot to say that vette is from '78.
So here is the problem, is it possible to swap this steering wheel:
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/stagi...terior_Web.jpg
with this:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...wL._SX300_.jpg
I hope, the conversion kit form '76 would fit, so I could ride the car (current driving wheel is too big for me, to fit in).
Else I will have to modify stock wheel.
Forgot to say that vette is from '78.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,710
Likes: 2,574
Without knowing who the new wheel is from it is hard to answer but the wheel on this link looks similar and does fit 1978.
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1963-1982.html
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1963-1982.html
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 103
Likes: 1
I needed a couple more inches for my thighs and installed the one from Corvette Central link which I agree looks like the one in your pic in my '73. The one concern I have in looking at your original picture is that the steering column looks like it might be from a C4 not a C3
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,337
Likes: 14
From: Norfolk VA
I needed a couple more inches for my thighs and installed the one from Corvette Central link which I agree looks like the one in your pic in my '73. The one concern I have in looking at your original picture is that the steering column looks like it might be from a C4 not a C3
Last edited by Oldguard 7; Apr 15, 2014 at 04:09 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,666
Likes: 3,121
From: Shamong, NJ
The aftermarket wheel you have pictured, will not mount directly to your 78 straight column.
The infamous, four spoke "Vega" wheel, used on all 76 Corvettes, and 77-79's with the straight column. The Vega wheel mounts completely differently, then any other Corvette wheel.
There's a kit available to mount 3 spoke wheels (similar to the one in your second link), to the 76 tilt/tele column, but not for the 76-79 straight (non-tilting) column. You could probably mount that wheel, using parts from a 69-75 straight column, but you'd have to locate the necessary parts individually, since there's no kit for the swap.
To do the swap, you would need a hub, hub cover/bell, horn contact, contact spring, hardware and horn button. Everything is available for less than $150, except for the hub cover/bell. The bell is not repro-ed, so you'd likely have to find a used 69-75 wheel, and use the bell from it.
For reference, here's a link to the kit that will mount that wheel, on a 76 tilt/tele column. Though these parts are similar, to what you need, they're not interchangeable with the ones needed for your straight column.
http://www.corvetteamerica.com/cf/di...ord%3A%2020340
The infamous, four spoke "Vega" wheel, used on all 76 Corvettes, and 77-79's with the straight column. The Vega wheel mounts completely differently, then any other Corvette wheel.
There's a kit available to mount 3 spoke wheels (similar to the one in your second link), to the 76 tilt/tele column, but not for the 76-79 straight (non-tilting) column. You could probably mount that wheel, using parts from a 69-75 straight column, but you'd have to locate the necessary parts individually, since there's no kit for the swap.
To do the swap, you would need a hub, hub cover/bell, horn contact, contact spring, hardware and horn button. Everything is available for less than $150, except for the hub cover/bell. The bell is not repro-ed, so you'd likely have to find a used 69-75 wheel, and use the bell from it.
For reference, here's a link to the kit that will mount that wheel, on a 76 tilt/tele column. Though these parts are similar, to what you need, they're not interchangeable with the ones needed for your straight column.
http://www.corvetteamerica.com/cf/di...ord%3A%2020340
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 407
Likes: 14
From: Mulberry Florida
The aftermarket wheel you have pictured, will not mount directly to your 78 straight column.
The infamous, four spoke "Vega" wheel, used on all 76 Corvettes, and 77-79's with the straight column. The Vega wheel mounts completely differently, then any other Corvette wheel.
There's a kit available to mount 3 spoke wheels (similar to the one in your second link), to the 76 tilt/tele column, but not for the 76-79 straight (non-tilting) column. You could probably mount that wheel, using parts from a 69-75 straight column, but you'd have to locate the necessary parts individually, since there's no kit for the swap.
To do the swap, you would need a hub, hub cover/bell, horn contact, contact spring, hardware and horn button. Everything is available for less than $150, except for the hub cover/bell. The bell is not repro-ed, so you'd likely have to find a used 69-75 wheel, and use the bell from it.
For reference, here's a link to the kit that will mount that wheel, on a 76 tilt/tele column. Though these parts are similar, to what you need, they're not interchangeable with the ones needed for your straight column.
http://www.corvetteamerica.com/cf/di...ord%3A%2020340
The infamous, four spoke "Vega" wheel, used on all 76 Corvettes, and 77-79's with the straight column. The Vega wheel mounts completely differently, then any other Corvette wheel.
There's a kit available to mount 3 spoke wheels (similar to the one in your second link), to the 76 tilt/tele column, but not for the 76-79 straight (non-tilting) column. You could probably mount that wheel, using parts from a 69-75 straight column, but you'd have to locate the necessary parts individually, since there's no kit for the swap.
To do the swap, you would need a hub, hub cover/bell, horn contact, contact spring, hardware and horn button. Everything is available for less than $150, except for the hub cover/bell. The bell is not repro-ed, so you'd likely have to find a used 69-75 wheel, and use the bell from it.
For reference, here's a link to the kit that will mount that wheel, on a 76 tilt/tele column. Though these parts are similar, to what you need, they're not interchangeable with the ones needed for your straight column.
http://www.corvetteamerica.com/cf/di...ord%3A%2020340
Larry
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Thank you very much 
.
At first I thought, that I asked silly question (mean how hard could it be, to swap it?).
The whole thing is original and from C3. If I remember correctly, T/T collumn was an option back in 78.
It's not T/T column, and I could only confirm this, after receiving AIM with the wheel itself.
That means another 2-3 months waiting for parts.
Who came with the idea, that vega wheel would be any good?
.At first I thought, that I asked silly question (mean how hard could it be, to swap it?).
The whole thing is original and from C3. If I remember correctly, T/T collumn was an option back in 78.
It's not T/T column, and I could only confirm this, after receiving AIM with the wheel itself.
To do the swap, you would need a hub, hub cover/bell, horn contact, contact spring, hardware and horn button. Everything is available for less than $150, except for the hub cover/bell. The bell is not repro-ed, so you'd likely have to find a used 69-75 wheel, and use the bell from it.
Who came with the idea, that vega wheel would be any good?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,337
Likes: 14
From: Norfolk VA
Thank you very much .
At first I thought, that I asked silly question (mean how hard could it be, to swap it?).
The whole thing is original and from C3. If I remember correctly, T/T collumn was an option back in 78.
It's not T/T column, and I could only confirm this, after receiving AIM with the wheel itself.
That means another 2-3 months waiting for parts.
Who came with the idea, that vega wheel would be any good?
.At first I thought, that I asked silly question (mean how hard could it be, to swap it?).
The whole thing is original and from C3. If I remember correctly, T/T collumn was an option back in 78.
It's not T/T column, and I could only confirm this, after receiving AIM with the wheel itself.
That means another 2-3 months waiting for parts.
Who came with the idea, that vega wheel would be any good?
Im sure there are more attractive steering wheels for the non tilt columns out there. If not you may have to lose a few inches from your waist.
Last edited by Oldguard 7; Apr 19, 2014 at 12:59 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,666
Likes: 3,121
From: Shamong, NJ
I guess that they had left over steering wheels from the Vega and decided to use them on the 78-79 cars as 1978 was the Vegas last year of production so they decided to use the left over steering wheels.
Im sure there are more attractive steering wheels for the non tilt columns out there. If not you may have to lose a few inches from your waist.
Im sure there are more attractive steering wheels for the non tilt columns out there. If not you may have to lose a few inches from your waist.
The only Vega the wheel was used on, was the Vega GT. The regular Vega, got the typical single bar Chevy steering wheel. The 4 bar "Vega" wheel was also used on 70"s Camaros, and as the optional Sport Steering Wheel on the 71-72 Chevelle & Malibu.
Last edited by gbvette62; Apr 19, 2014 at 08:20 PM. Reason: I forgot to included the words Chevelle & Malibu
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 489
Likes: 1
From: Suffolk Virginia
We all do it, and have been doing it since 1976, but it's not really fair to call that wheel, the "Vega" wheel.
The only Vega the wheel was used on, was the Vega GT. The regular Vega, got the typical single bar Chevy steering wheel. The 4 bar "Vega" wheel was also used on 70"s Camaros, and as the optional Sport Steering Wheel.
The only Vega the wheel was used on, was the Vega GT. The regular Vega, got the typical single bar Chevy steering wheel. The 4 bar "Vega" wheel was also used on 70"s Camaros, and as the optional Sport Steering Wheel.
My first car was a Vega GT
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,337
Likes: 14
From: Norfolk VA
We all do it, and have been doing it since 1976, but it's not really fair to call that wheel, the "Vega" wheel.
The only Vega the wheel was used on, was the Vega GT. The regular Vega, got the typical single bar Chevy steering wheel. The 4 bar "Vega" wheel was also used on 70"s Camaros, and as the optional Sport Steering Wheel.
The only Vega the wheel was used on, was the Vega GT. The regular Vega, got the typical single bar Chevy steering wheel. The 4 bar "Vega" wheel was also used on 70"s Camaros, and as the optional Sport Steering Wheel.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Not much help. The AIM page is dated 7/28/78 just before 79 production ramped up. It is not clear when it was cancelled.
My hunch is some of these wheels may have been used.
My hunch is some of these wheels may have been used.
