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Hi everyone. My 68 BB Coupe is supposed to be (and is again) Lemans Blue in color. The data plate says the trim is "STD". So what kind of steering wheel originally came with the car? The one I have in there has a well worn black plastic rim. But when I look online at 68 interior pictures, almost all of what I see shows a brown (possibly wood?). Even the GM sales brochure shows this (see pic). So which wheel is correct for my car? Thanks!
I believe '67 and '68 had same wheel but not certain. It is simulated wood and I think slightly larger in diameter than later models. This is what most of them look like after 50 years, with separations. They are expensive if you can find them in good shape.
68 Corvettes came standard with the plastic simulated wood steering wheel. This is not the teak wheel people speak of. Here is my 50 year old steering wheel in great condition.
Last edited by midigike; Mar 22, 2018 at 08:39 PM.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Yes simulated wood. It had a wood grain molded into it which wears off. The wood grain is sought after by collector types. They are prone to crack and there are repair videos online and kits as well.
67 and 68 I believe was 16" and the 69 and later was 15"and black rubber
You can find them online for around $200 but the gap in the crack/ seperation is what you need to look for. They do make it a challenge to get underneath but I like them. I've been looking for a teak wheel just because, but those are spendy and usually smaller. To make it less of a hassle I bought an Ididit tilt column. It tilts slightly up which helps. They are universal and seem to be made for bigger vehicles that need more down tilt.
Yes, it is 16" and 15" for the 69-up wheel. That wheel is too large for 68's comfortable entrance into your seat. It kills your right thigh. That is why GM made the 69 black rubber wheel one inch in diameter smaller. Lou.
Yes simulated wood. It had a wood grain molded into it which wears off. The wood grain is sought after by collector types. They are prone to crack and there are repair videos online and kits as well.
67 and 68 I believe was 16" and the 69 and later was 15"and black rubber
You can find them online for around $200 but the gap in the crack/ seperation is what you need to look for. They do make it a challenge to get underneath but I like them. I've been looking for a teak wheel just because, but those are spendy and usually smaller. To make it less of a hassle I bought an Ididit tilt column. It tilts slightly up which helps. They are universal and seem to be made for bigger vehicles that need more down tilt.
I ended up using one of those kits on my wheel. It had some big cracks in it. Then since that destroyed the wood grain in those areas I just painted it gunmetal to match the interior. I may go with a teak one someday or if I can find a nice original like Midigike has I would prefer that.
It is 15" and 14" for the 69-up wheel. That wheel is too large for 68's comfortable entrance into your seat. It kills your right thigh. That is why GM made the 69 black rubber wheel one inch in diameter smaller. Lou.
'68's had 16" wheels. 69's came stock with 15" wheels.......not 14". I just changed my stock 15" to a 14".......big difference.
Thank you Ken for correcting me on the correct wheel size. I think that the 63-66 Corvettes had a deeper dish to the steering wheels. I wonder if that is why the 67 steering wheels have a different number than the 68 steering wheels. Lou.
Yes simulated wood. It had a wood grain molded into it which wears off. The wood grain is sought after by collector types. They are prone to crack and there are repair videos online and kits as well.
67 and 68 I believe was 16" and the 69 and later was 15"and black rubber
You can find them online for around $200 but the gap in the crack/ seperation is what you need to look for. They do make it a challenge to get underneath but I like them. I've been looking for a teak wheel just because, but those are spendy and usually smaller. To make it less of a hassle I bought an Ididit tilt column. It tilts slightly up which helps. They are universal and seem to be made for bigger vehicles that need more down tilt.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
The Ididit column is simple to install.
1 remove the lower dash pad trim under the column
2 unplug the harness on the column
3 unbolt the through bolt holding steering column shaft to the rag joint at the steering box
4 remove the steering wheel. its easier now when the column is bolted in still
5 remove the 4 bolts under the dash( 2 hold the column up to the dash frame and 2 go though the fire wall)
6 optional is remove the drivers seat so you dont tear the seat, minimum is cover it with cardboard
7 slide column out
8 paint the new column to match the interior
Install is reverse and you have to buy an adapter for the steering wheel. The wiring harness has an adapter I believe is included with the column.
Again, the column tilts down more than it tilts up but its enough to make it easier to get past the original wheel
I ended up using one of those kits on my wheel. It had some big cracks in it. Then since that destroyed the wood grain in those areas I just painted it gunmetal to match the interior. I may go with a teak one someday or if I can find a nice original like Midigike has I would prefer that.
I do not know how to share his link, but this was posted in CF around 2008 and is a great resource to restore the 67-68 plastic steering wheel. To matching wheel color with Testors model paint. Great article Secondchancegarage.com
Correct steering wheel for a 68?
