I'm finishing up my Fiero seat swap and the whole time I was making and test fitting the brackets and seats I had removed the steering wheel for better access on the drivers side. What I forgot to check is getting in and out with the new seats and steering wheel installed.

While it's manageable for me to get in and out I don't think anyone bigger (6' 200lb) than me will be able to and if I put on a few pounds............
My '71 (convertible) has a standard column without power steering so I need the bigger diameter steering wheel as I have Armstrong power steering.
Ultimately I'd go for a stock tilt-tele setup but I don't want to buy and rebuild a basket case (which most out there are that I've found) and I don't what to mortgage my house for a nice, ready to install stock TT. If anyone has a good stock TT for sale that I can change the color if needed and/or replace the key tumbler please let me know. I'd go as high as $700 for a good plug and play TT.
The other solution is a removable steering wheel. 74_stingray posted a nice quick release system in another thread but I wanted to start a new one as to not hijack that thread. Please post up picture, websites, ease of installation and even regulatory information. I would like to retain as stock appearance as possible and is there a quick release system that can use the original wheel?
Thanks everyone.

Oh, ya - and other solutions that I haven't thought of.

 

Last summer I installed Mazda Miata Waterfall seats in my 74 Coupe which has manual steering and standard steering column. I realized quickly that it was difficult to get into the car due to the seats side bolsters. The problem presented a few options as noted in the above post, the most obvious solution would be to change the column to T&T. The T&T columns are quite expensive as a rebuilt unit and it’s not much cheaper to purchase a used column and rebuild so I began researching alternative methods. The solution I chose, and am very happy with after having in the car for a year now is to use an NRG Innovations Quick Release (SRK-250BK) and NRG Hub (SRK-170H). Two things that were significant for me in the end result were a functioning horn and 15” steering wheel, the steering wheel size being driven by the need with manual steering (which btw I purposely converted my car to manual steer). I had intended to use the factory steering wheel, not because I particularly like it’s feel but rather it’s size. I purchased the above listed parts from Amazon along with an aftermarket horn button and installed the parts upon arrival. I discovered the NRG hub is drilled in the Momo bolt pattern which has six holes but are clocked 60 degrees off from the Corvette hub. One could choose to re drill the hub or adjust the wheel straight by adjusting the tie rods, unfortunately there is another issue, the deep dish of the Corvette wheel combined with the quick release brings the steering wheel too close to the driver. I was not ready to give up on the quick release just yet, since I don’t particularly like the skinny factory wheel anyway, I decided once again to explore other options. After extensive research I found a steering wheel that suited my desires, with the correct(Momo) bolt pattern,the OMP Velocita 380mm, flat dish,(14.961”) part number, OD/2030/NN. I absolutely love this steering wheel, it has the same feel as my old Momo Veloce wheel I installed in my Porsche back in the day. The steering wheel and NRG parts available through Amazon, wheel currently $255.88, NRG QR $131.85, NRG hub $99.16. The prices are significantly less expensive than rebuilding or purchasing a rebuilt T&T column. Below are photos of the install and horn adaptation.

Completed install with the long awaited MrMikes seat covers





Horn contact installed, ready for QR and hub install

Adapter, shop fabricated to adapt stock wheel to hub

Horn contact

 

More photos, in particular the stock wheel installed on the NRG QR.

Shop fabbed adapter on stock wheel

Clocked 60 degrees off when straight

 

Horn and quick release function.

 

theandies, given your desire to retain the stock wheel, based on my research, I believe that you have no other reasonable option that the T&T column.

 

yeah, youll need a flat wheel. a lot of drifter/race/jdm guys use deep dish wheels its alot closer to your chest, you can turn the wheel a lot more quicker with elbows bent. thats also why you see jdm cars with 2 ft shifter ***** so its easier to reach

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is the momo pattern the same as the GM only 60 off? I think ive read people installing Momo wheels on their Gm trucks.
Can you just mount the quick release directly? without installing a new hub and save 100 bucks? sorry if im ot, figured you might know.

 

I do prefer the wheel closer but it’s ridiculously close with the deep dish.
Yes, same 6 bolt, clocked 60 degrees off, you can’t change the hub orientation because of the horn contact location, IIRC.
No, unfortunately you cannot mount the QR without the matching hub.
Eddy

 

FYI.....You can drill a new hole to relocate the horn button if originality is not a concern.

 

The horn button is not the concern, rather the hole in the hub that the contact protrudes.

This hole

 

So how do you like the shallow dish steering wheel meaning how well does it perform in a parking lot since we don't have power steering. Also do you still have the part numbers and who you ordered from (you and PM who you purchased from in case its against forum rules).
Right now I'm more concerned about increased Armstrong steering effort than anything.......well $$$$ is always a concern, that us why I'm looking for a quick release.

 

Love the horn honk video!

 

I just measured my stock 74 with T&T column, with the wheel in a vertical position, that is to say flat, the distance to the front of the wheel is 9 3/4”, the distance to the front of the steering wheel on my 74 with standard column and QR is...9 3/4”. I didn’t realize that until now. The parking qualities are not different with the QR setup. The part numbers are listed in my first post with the exception of the horn button kit, I will try to find where I purchased, if memory serves, it was eBay? I love the QR set, would make the same decision again no problem, not a fan of the ergonomics of the factory wheel but the looks are stellar. I had planned on having the original leather wrapped before I determined it was clocked wrong, that made it an easy decision for me to research wheels. I love the OMP.

 

Thanks, the horn aspect was very important to me, all of the other QR setups I found were race car QR and not suitable for this car in my estimation.

 

The horn button kit was from eBay.

 

Thanks for all your help Eddy! Great information. Now I'm going to **** off the wife (again) with another purchase. At least I can tell her it's cheaper than an original TT column.
BTW here is my seat install so far. I'm going to start another thread for the full install.

 

You are welcome. The seats look great, I can tell you that you will enjoy your Corvette like never before. Hey, Corvettes are better than other really bad things we could choose🔥
Eddy