The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1960 - 1966 Chevrolet & GMC Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-13-2024, 03:57 PM   #1
hairball
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Durango Colo.
Posts: 75
Steering wheel

Good afternoon everyone,
I have been searching for an original reproduction steering wheel but with a 15 inch diameter for my 1965 C10. The only thing that I can find is at americanretco.com. It fits 60-66 Chev and GMC trucks and it has 15 inch diameter. It is very pricey but it's what I am looking for. Has anyone used on of these or have other sources?
Thanks,
Frank
hairball is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2024, 04:13 PM   #2
62bagger
Senior Member
 
62bagger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Sonora California
Posts: 285
Re: Steering wheel

I cut my steering wheel to 15". it is a bit of work but it helps with leg room.
Attached Images
 
62bagger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2024, 11:12 AM   #3
hairball
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Durango Colo.
Posts: 75
Re: Steering wheel

Thanks 62 Bagger, I am afraid this might be above my skill level. I would end up wrecking my perfectly good steering wheel. Yours certainly looks very nice, great job.
hairball is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2024, 01:31 PM   #4
scottofksu
Registered User
 
scottofksu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Posts: 437
Re: Steering wheel

Oh wow! Those American Retro wheels are NICE! Wish they had the '65 Deluxe Wheel but the '66 wheel is good enough for me!
__________________
Travis' Tribute Truck - 65 C10 Frame Up Restoration
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=495073
scottofksu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2024, 02:04 PM   #5
vin63
It's Better With Nitro
 
vin63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Posts: 2,262
Re: Steering wheel

I've done a few reduced diameter 60-65 deluxe steering wheels, including the one I run in my C10. It's not too difficult...just time intensive. If you have the time, you can pick up a spare wheel and cut it down, so you're not risking your existing steering wheel.
Attached Images
     
__________________
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
vin63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-16-2024, 07:42 PM   #6
61hawk
Registered User
 
61hawk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Lexington, SC
Posts: 324
Re: Steering wheel

Quote:
Originally Posted by vin63 View Post
I've done a few reduced diameter 60-65 deluxe steering wheels, including the one I run in my C10. It's not too difficult...just time intensive. If you have the time, you can pick up a spare wheel and cut it down, so you're not risking your existing steering wheel.
Would you be available to do these for others? I'd be fine with just a cut down and weld, I could handle the rest.
61hawk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2024, 03:55 PM   #7
forestb
Registered User
 
forestb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Burbank, CA
Posts: 3,619
Re: Steering wheel

Those are totally awesome steering wheels. Here is the link to American Retro. They are a little pricey but less than what I paid for my aftermarket aluminum wheel.

https://americanretro.com/1960-66-truck/
forestb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2024, 12:24 PM   #8
hairball
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Durango Colo.
Posts: 75
Re: Steering wheel

Happy Easter All,
I ended up buying the 60-66 C10 steering wheel from americanretco.com. As I previously stated, I wanted the original look with a 15 inch diameter wheel. This thing is top notch and meets all my expectations, nicely done. My order was shipped within hours of placement and it arrived quickly. The shipping was free and no added tax. My horn and turn signals work just as they did before. It's expensive, but I couldn't find any other options for what I wanted. The hard was convincing my wife on the cost of it. For more details, check their website.
Hairball








.
hairball is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2024, 11:27 AM   #9
jweb
Senior Member
 
jweb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,208
Re: Steering wheel

Thanks for following up on this. I have been considering one of these for my 64 Suburban.

I purchased the smaller diameter wheel for my 51 pickup from Speedway and I was very disappointed in the quality and fit. It's good to know the American Retro worked out.
__________________
1951 Truck, LS1/4L60
1964 Suburban, current project
2014 Silverado daily driver
1953 Westerner "canned ham" trailer, rebuilt
1974 Prowler trailer, rebuilt
jweb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2024, 05:06 PM   #10
72Mountaineer
Registered User
 
72Mountaineer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Where Mountaineers are free
Posts: 406
Re: Steering wheel

To the guys who have cut down their wheel......is there a Youtube video on this?
72Mountaineer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2024, 05:56 PM   #11
62bagger
Senior Member
 
62bagger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Sonora California
Posts: 285
Re: Steering wheel

Check out this posting. that is where I put the pictures of my steering wheel cut down. Its a bit of work but you will be happy with the results.

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...Steering+wheel
62bagger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2024, 10:54 AM   #12
bikeguy0@yahoo.com
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: Loveland, Colorado
Posts: 9
Re: Steering wheel

Any of you guys have trouble with the horn grey spring loaded plunger? I have this wheel and that plunger won’t fit into the hole in the steering wheel without drilling the hole larger. I can’t get it to fit and the horn won’t work because of it.
This is someone else’s photo but my contact won’t slide into the steering wheel without sanding the plastic significantly or opening the hole in the metal of the steering wheel.
Name:  IMG_2170.jpg
Views: 192
Size:  90.3 KB
bikeguy0@yahoo.com is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2024, 12:56 PM   #13
hairball
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Durango Colo.
Posts: 75
Re: Steering wheel

I measured the diameter of the plastic contact bushing and it was 31/64ths. I enlarged the hole in the steering wheel to that size using a 31/64 drill bit. Hope this helps.
hairball is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2024, 01:45 PM   #14
bikeguy0@yahoo.com
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: Loveland, Colorado
Posts: 9
Re: Steering wheel

Quote:
Originally Posted by hairball View Post
I measured the diameter of the plastic contact bushing and it was 31/64ths. I enlarged the hole in the steering wheel to that size using a 31/64 drill bit. Hope this helps.
Thx, glad I'm not the only one with this issue. I'm just going to return the wheel and order from another company. I just can't believe these companies can't figure this crap out before shipping something. For the price of this wheel no one should have to be drilling a hold out larger. I actually didn't like the 15" size anyway. Felt like I was holding on to a go-kart wheel.
bikeguy0@yahoo.com is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2024, 02:34 PM   #15
hairball
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Durango Colo.
Posts: 75
Re: Steering wheel

I would also recommend sending it back. After all the screwing around, I found yet another major design flaw that made my horn inoperative. I was able to make it work after much time spent and frustration (I was beyond the 30 day return policy). I contacted Mike at mike@americanretco.com about the issues and was ghosted after his first initial email. After all the hassle and lack of customer service, I would not recommend this company. Hope they make it right for you.
hairball is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2024, 05:46 PM   #16
VictoriaHardware
Senior Member
 
VictoriaHardware's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Southeast Michigan
Posts: 792
Re: Steering wheel

I bought the '66 C10 Deluxe American Retro 15" wheel and found the same problem. Thought maybe they left a piece out of the parts kit, but no. Yes, it's sad that these people can't get simple things right. I ended up carefully sanding down the OD of the gray plastic end from .483" to .450". That worked and the rest of the install went well. It's been 3 months and all is well so far.
Attached Images
  
VictoriaHardware is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2024, 05:49 PM   #17
forestb
Registered User
 
forestb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Burbank, CA
Posts: 3,619
Re: Steering wheel

I had to do the same thing with an aftermarket aluminum wheel from CPP. It came with it's own plunger that didn't even fit the wheel.
forestb is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:33 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com