Stock Steering Wheel Whos Keeping Them And Why ?

[1972RedNeck]

Why change from stock?

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by 1972RedNeck

Why change from stock?

Main reason I changed mine was the huge diameter.... got one a couple inches smaller, with a thicker, padded rim. It's much more comfortable.

[Mt Man Chad]

Stock wheel so you can put a CST cap on it, best horn cap ever made.

[72MARIO]

Originally Posted by Mt Man Chad

Stock wheel so you can put a CST cap on it, best horn cap ever made.

Truck feels like a totally diffirent piece to drive with the cst cap


I bought a 67-68 repop wheel. It feels diffirent much harder. My hands actually hurt after 2hrs of driving.

[towbar]

no comparison IMO, the 3 spoke comfort grip and the GM wood wheels rule the roost. Just look classic, are comfortable to drive.....like what a steering wheel should be.

[70cst]

I kept mine stock because i wanted to keep the cab as close to stock as possible. I wanted the feel of a 70 C10

[sstone69]

I switched out the Corvette wheel for a stock wheel. I am trying to keep everything stock as much as possible.

[ole dollor]

my stock wheel was toast, not much more than a steal wheel left, i had a 1985 gmc wheel and a chevy, horn button, so thats what i run know...

[special-K]

It's funny how now that steering wheels are made smaller so many think these wheels are huge. They call them school bus wheels,etc. Actually,the stock wheels in these trucks were no larger than most car steering wheels from the '60s on back. few weeks ago I bought a 69-72 steering wheel with no cracks from a guy who specializes in Impalas. He had a sweet assortment of '58-67 Impala wheels and wee compared them all. And guys go nuts over the '59 Impala wheels.
That's what's so cool about GMs. You can swap so many parts around. I have car steering wheels with chrome horn rings,Comfort-Grips,late model truck,as well as N.O.S. and excellent condition 67-72 wheels,and even some vintage aftermarket. You can't have too many,right? They're like dog dish hubcaps...change them according to your mood.

[bollybib]

Really nice pics of stock wheels in this thread.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by special-K

It's funny how now that steering wheels are made smaller so many think these wheels are huge. They call them school bus wheels,etc. Actually,the stock wheels in these trucks were no larger than most car steering wheels from the '60s on back.

Yup, from an era when the only power steering most vehicles had was "Armstrong". Those large-diameter wheels were needed for leverage.

[NewType72]

I'm wanting to go original just having trouble finding a nice black one for a reasonable price

[Steve Hafner]

. . . .

I bought a "new" original type for my 70's restoration, I didn't consider anything else.

I'm trying to keep it as stock as possible ( except for things that make it safer )

. . . .

[special-K]

Originally Posted by NewType72

I'm wanting to go original just having trouble finding a nice black one for a reasonable price

Finding one is the biggest step. Not sure what you consider reasonable,but consider most are cracked,so uncracked wheels are at a premium. So you pay the price. I think $250 for an OEM wheel in excellent condition is reasonable. Also consider,flimsy repro wheels made in China cost bout that much and they crack in just a handful of years. I have a N.O.S. saddle wheel I wouldn't sell for under $500. I paid $325 for it in '91

[CC69Rat]

Originally Posted by special-K

..flimsy repro wheels made in China cost bout that much and they crack in just a handful of years...

It's not where they're made, it's the QC of the manufacturer. The same wheel made in the US with the same QC standards would crack too.

[twouvakind]

For me.....it's like a ships bell on a sailing vessel. I would sooner have it rebuilt($400+)than go aftermarket.

[OC 72]

Thought about changing mine..but, decided to leave the stock one.

[cmcclean]

Originally Posted by twouvakind

For me.....it's like a ships bell on a sailing vessel. I would sooner have it rebuilt($400+)than go aftermarket.

Thats exactly how I feel. My truck has been in the family since new in 72. I can feel the history every time I drive it. The wheel is cracked in several places and I can't imagine it being any other way. Everything else has been rebuilt but the wheel has been polished by over 400K miles and earned every crack and imperfection.
I think I have a little tear in my eye just thinking about it.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

It's not where they're made, it's the QC of the manufacturer. The same wheel made in the US with the same QC standards would crack too.

Huh? First of all,I guess we'll never know about the same wheel made in the US since none are made here. Now the ones made here 40+ years ago? They were made better. As far as not being about where they're made? I pretty much disagree because most everything made in China is inferior,whether it due to QC or whatever other reason. In this case,the manufacturer is Chinese,so we agree. It's the QC of the manufacturer.
Anyway,the point I was making was why a really nice OEM wheel is at least worth what a repro is. I'd pay more because they are better. I bought a repro for a rarely driven truck and within 4 years the rim cracked and a 3/16" gap formed at TDC,so I could stare at it driving down the road and be reminded of the money I blew on junk

[CC69Rat]

Originally Posted by special-K

Huh? First of all,I guess we'll never know about the same wheel made in the US since none are made here. Now the ones made here 40+ years ago? They were made better. As far as not being about where they're made? I pretty much disagree because most everything made in China is inferior,whether it due to QC or whatever other reason. In this case,the manufacturer is Chinese,so we agree. It's the QC of the manufacturer.
Anyway,the point I was making was why a really nice OEM wheel is at least worth what a repro is. I'd pay more because they are better. I bought a repro for a rarely driven truck and within 4 years the rim cracked and a 3/16" gap formed at TDC,so I could stare at it driving down the road and be reminded of the money I blew on junk

Tim, my wife is Taiwanese. I'm just speaking in general terms. Regardless of where a re-production part is 'made' .. if it doesn't hold the same production standards as the original it will never be the same, right? Same plant, same materials, same standards = same product regardless of where the plant is located geographically. The plastics are not the same as they were 40 yrs ago and the people in China are likely paid on production if I had to guess? Do you think they give a sh1t about parts for your old truck? I'm thinking no. They're just trying to survive. The people that worked in the GM plants 40yrs ago building these fine 'new' trucks cared more about them and the quality of the products.

That's all I'm saying. Move all the plants to Austria (?) Africa ??? Would the quality be better because of the people who are making them? IMO, the answer is no. That's why it bugs me to hear people say 'Crappy Taiwanese/Chinese parts' .. ever been to China Tim?

I'm not trying to piss anyone off, just voicing an opinion.

[NewType72]

The new ones crack that quickly?? They seem to be very nice for being repops. From what I've seen at least
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[NewType72]

And Steve that wheel looks really good on your truck must resist urge to call truck shop immediately
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[Steve Hafner]

Originally Posted by NewType72

And Steve that wheel looks really good on your truck must resist urge to call truck shop immediately
Posted via Mobile Device

Thanks . . . mine's been on for about 15 years and no cracks so far.

I replaced it way before I had the truck restored three years ago.

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by Steve Hafner

Thanks . . . mine's been on for about 15 years and no cracks so far.

I replaced it way before I had the truck restored three years ago.

Have they really been making repro steering wheels for 15 years?

[Steve Hafner]

Originally Posted by ls1nova71

Have they really been making repro steering wheels for 15 years?

. . . .

It's a reproduction wheel that I ordered from one of the big catalog companies at least ten years ago . . . closer to fifteen.