Steering wheel depth - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chazz · 04-08-2015, 12:00 AM

Simple question...I hope. I just bought a 63 step side. It seems to me that the steering wheel is too close, when I sit (I'm average size) in the seat, the wheel is almost in my gut! Its after market, just would like to know the best solution. I'm not looking for original, so after market is OK. Is there a distance I should be concerned with? The wheel on there now is about 6" from base of horn button to rim. THANKS, I look forward to resto/modding this project with plenty of help from here. No comments, the interior is going to change.....lol

vin63 · 04-08-2015, 12:26 AM

The bezel of the column on mine is right at the dash. And, it was still a little too close, so I made the diameter of the steering wheel smaller to make the dish of the steering wheel shallower (shortened the hub of the wheel).

Are you able to adjust the steering column toward the dash? Does it have a DD steering shaft that you can shorten?

chazz · 04-08-2015, 12:31 AM

THXS Vin, I'm going to have to look at this more closely. I thought about just changing the wheel, to a newer one that I like, shorter dish, would be an easy fix?

markeb01 · 04-08-2015, 01:27 AM

You could easily change the wheel. The Grant 502 rubber rim wheel 13” in diameter and 3.5” deep:

Mooneyes makes one that is 15” diameter with a 3.5” dish:

Or a vintage Covico wheel is 14.5” diameter and 2 3/8” dish:

Of course there are numerous other styles to choose from.

chazz · 04-08-2015, 09:55 PM

Thanks guys, I'm going to start with a new wheel and go from there.

Jim53066 · 04-08-2015, 10:16 PM

I bought a copy of the old Cobra steering wheel off ebay, it is 15 inch wheel and has only a 1 3/4 inch dish. (from mounting base to top of wheel wood)

I mounted it on a small (short) adapter. You need an adapter to mount that type wheel to GM column because it is held on with 9 allen type screws. I did have to bend my shifter away from the wheel as there was not enough room for my fingers to pass over it while turning the wheel, but that is a small price to pay for belly room.

I first had an original Corvette wheel from a 58 on there and it has even less dish to it.
NOTE: That is also a 72 tilt column that is pushed forward as far as it would go without rubbing on the dash.

Jim

04-08-2015, 12:00 AM	#1
chazz Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: colorado Posts: 13	Steering wheel depth Simple question...I hope. I just bought a 63 step side. It seems to me that the steering wheel is too close, when I sit (I'm average size) in the seat, the wheel is almost in my gut! Its after market, just would like to know the best solution. I'm not looking for original, so after market is OK. Is there a distance I should be concerned with? The wheel on there now is about 6" from base of horn button to rim. THANKS, I look forward to resto/modding this project with plenty of help from here. No comments, the interior is going to change.....lol Attached Images

04-08-2015, 12:26 AM	#2
vin63 It's Better With Nitro Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 2,262	Re: Steering wheel depth The bezel of the column on mine is right at the dash. And, it was still a little too close, so I made the diameter of the steering wheel smaller to make the dish of the steering wheel shallower (shortened the hub of the wheel). Are you able to adjust the steering column toward the dash? Does it have a DD steering shaft that you can shorten? __________________ 1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads 4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch Tubular front and rear suspension Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes

04-08-2015, 12:31 AM	#3
chazz Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: colorado Posts: 13	Re: Steering wheel depth THXS Vin, I'm going to have to look at this more closely. I thought about just changing the wheel, to a newer one that I like, shorter dish, would be an easy fix?

04-08-2015, 01:27 AM	#4
markeb01 Senior Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Spokane Valley, WA Posts: 8,356	Re: Steering wheel depth You could easily change the wheel. The Grant 502 rubber rim wheel 13” in diameter and 3.5” deep: Mooneyes makes one that is 15” diameter with a 3.5” dish: Or a vintage Covico wheel is 14.5” diameter and 2 3/8” dish: Of course there are numerous other styles to choose from. __________________ My Build Thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444502

04-08-2015, 09:55 PM	#5
chazz Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: colorado Posts: 13	Re: Steering wheel depth Thanks guys, I'm going to start with a new wheel and go from there.

04-08-2015, 10:16 PM	#6
Jim53066 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 129	Re: Steering wheel depth I bought a copy of the old Cobra steering wheel off ebay, it is 15 inch wheel and has only a 1 3/4 inch dish. (from mounting base to top of wheel wood) I mounted it on a small (short) adapter. You need an adapter to mount that type wheel to GM column because it is held on with 9 allen type screws. I did have to bend my shifter away from the wheel as there was not enough room for my fingers to pass over it while turning the wheel, but that is a small price to pay for belly room. I first had an original Corvette wheel from a 58 on there and it has even less dish to it. NOTE: That is also a 72 tilt column that is pushed forward as far as it would go without rubbing on the dash. Jim Last edited by Jim53066; 04-08-2015 at 10:55 PM.



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