Steering wheel hoop shortening

[72BlckButy]

I'm lookin for any/all threads where people have reduced the diameter of their original steering wheels. I have a friend that is interested in doing this.

IIRC, someone in the NW part of the US did this (1sik72 or something).

Thanks in advance.
Nate
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[67c10rustbuket]

Rocketking did this, here is a link to the page with pics. Sounds like a tough job

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...403536&page=17

[RManson]

Here's my version, on my '68...

http://www.customclassictrucks.com/t...teering_wheel/

[RManson]

Oh, and good luck. Let us know how it turns out for him and if ya'll got any questions, shoot me a PM.

[GASoline71]

Nice work!

Gary

[cericd]

Also some info here starting with post #163 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=432436&page=5. The final result is shown here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=345

[RocketKing]

Sorry I don't have a thread but I can try to sum it up.

I cut the center out of the wheel and had a problem with getting the hoop round again. I thought about this for quite some time on how I could be sure to make the hoop perfectly round, I finally took a 15" truck rim and laid the hoop inside and bent it to fit, and welded. I then shortened the three spokes on the center to fit, then welded them in place.(hoop ended up being around 14 1/2")
Then used a two part epoxy for the large gaps and hole fills, and sanded (this was the most time consuming).
After I was happy with the look, I went back with bondo and filled the little nicks and imperfections, sand, spray primer, wet sand and paint.
This is the first time I have ever tried this and during the work I thought I would never do it again, but looking back at how I now have a system it probably would not be as bad.
I have even had members ask me to build them one and I would love to help out, but I am a afraid I would not meet expectations.

[Mickm69]

I did the wheel in my '69. I cut it down to 15 1/2" and I think it is the perfect size.

Here is a comparison of stock vs. 15.5" resized

Here it is mounted in the truck.

Not hard to do and well worth the effort.

Cheers!
Mickm

[cericd]

Originally Posted by Mickm69

I did the wheel in my '69. I cut it down to 15 1/2" and I think it is the perfect size.

Not hard to do and well worth the effort.

Cheers!
Mickm

Any pics of the process? I'd like to do this to my stock wheel.

[Mickm69]

Cericd,
I wish I had taken some shots but did not think about it at the time. I did however rear and follow the outline RManson made available and it worked without problem.
Find the outline here. http://www.customclassictrucks.com/t...teering_wheel/
Hope this helps. If you have any questions, I'd be glad to give to help.
Mickm69

[72BlckButy]

Thanks for the info guys!!!!

[Rochlow]

Originally Posted by Mickm69

I did the wheel in my '69. I cut it down to 15 1/2" and I think it is the perfect size.

Here is a comparison of stock vs. 15.5" resized

Here it is mounted in the truck.

Not hard to do and well worth the effort.

Cheers!
Mickm

Wow, Great work!! I've wanted to see what a 69 and up wheel looked like.. Got me considering this now..

[Mickm69]

Rochlow,
Thanks for the kind words. I really like the look of the oe wheel but the large size did not make it comfortable to drive.
Now, it is very comfortable and everyone asks,"is this really the stock steering wheel"?

If you are considering whether or not to do it, I would do it again in a second.

Cheers!
Mickm69