How bad are the reproduction steering wheel?

[dmjlambert]

Correct you are, and that looks much better and more at home in a 69-72 truck than what came stock. I have what appears to be an extremely rare nowadays and not reproduced '66-only truck standard steering wheel and it looks much better than the original. I don't have a very clear picture of it, but someday I will have it painted along with other parts of the interior and show clear before and after pictures. These slightly older ones don't seem to crack like crazy as the original 69-72 steering wheels.

[special-K]

I've used Chevy car wheels in a few trucks I wasn't keeping original. Not all people who love original trucks are purists. The problem with restoring a rotten steering wheel is you still have a rotting steering wheel. The material the cracks are repaired in is failing. I don't know why they couldn't just spend another $5 in materials and use the proper sized stock

[Richard]

Had a 15" repo wheel in hand for my truck. Seemed to be very sturdy. Not applicable for my build so I passed it to another member. I got rid of my gut , but still like the smaller wheel. So a 15" was still installed. Bowling ball repair material seems to be used in many repairs. May still try restoring the stock saddle wheel I have for fun.

[CG]

Id buy a repro in a heartbeat. I don't recall ever having to manhandle my steering wheel pushing and pulling on it vs the every day driving sort easily hanging on and turn right and left. Maybe a little give would be OK if I rear ended someone, slow my noggin some before smacking something else that wont give (ok that part probably isnt a good sell).

[special-K]

I don't know how to climb into a K/20 without using the steering wheel to pull myself up. I can see one doing fine in a garage queen 2wd with a little luck. If you held the repro wheel I had at the upper half and hit the brakes it flexed, you could feel it. I hadn't been driving that truck much at all (had more trucks back then) and never saw a crack until we got a night in the teens. I noticed the wheel had cracked and spread to leave a gap at least 1/8". I could easily see the rod inside to compare to cracked up 40+ year old OEMs. Way undersized. It's not just the anemic structure of the rim. The outer material shrank up. With no other option for OEM look on a fully restored truck I'd use one and try only holding at the sides. Just seems ridiculous to have to relearn driving to accommodate a low quality part someone is making money off of. Pretty much the same money if made right.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by special-K

I don't know why they couldn't just spend another $5 in materials and use the proper sized stock

Right, most of us don't mind paying more for better quality parts, especially steering wheels, which most all of these era trucks need, and a complete coverage of factory colors while there at it.

[un4gvn!]

I have a dark saddle interior and I wanted to find a steering wheel to match. I was into the Buick GS's before getting into the C 10's. The Buick's used a very cool sport wheel that came in a lot of colors. I started searching the internet for one and found one that was in a Camaro. Hub, Chevy horn button, saddle color in excellent condition. All for the same price of one of the Chinese crap selling today. Just another option if you can't find what you want.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

Ive never owned a repop truck wheel. A buddy with a 72 bought one about 10 years ago and it wasnt bad, but you could tell it was a repop a mile away. I have a "cushioned rim" (the corvette 3 spoke) in my truck. Those reproduction's have been getting a lot better of the years. I can still spot one a mile away, but they have gotten alot better. Now the simulated wood wheels are still bad.

[special-K]

Those GM "Comfort Grip" wheels are a really nice touch for a slightly modified truck. They go hand in hand with rallye wheels for an all GM shoulda coulda look. I've run those in many trucks. I have a saddle Oldsmobile 4-spoke as an option for my '72 GMC. I got my wheel for a decent price, but paid dearly for all the hub and horn parts. Chevys are easy since they made cars and trucks. GMC you either have to do something custom or choose between the motor divisions. I usually go with Pontiac.

We've only been reviewing the 69-72. The OEM 67/68s seem to be a little better on cracking but uncracked are hard to find now. How have those reproductions been working out? I have a few options for my '67 as well. Might end up needing a nice black repro

[dfwright]

I have the 15" Repo in my truck, painted, since Sandalwood isn't done. I am completely satisfied with the quality.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

Originally Posted by special-K

Those GM "Comfort Grip" wheels are a really nice touch for a slightly modified truck. They go hand in hand with rallye wheels for an all GM shoulda coulda look. I've run those in many trucks. I have a saddle Oldsmobile 4-spoke as an option for my '72 GMC. I got my wheel for a decent price, but paid dearly for all the hub and horn parts. Chevys are easy since they made cars and trucks. GMC you either have to do something custom or choose between the motor divisions. I usually go with Pontiac.

We've only been reviewing the 69-72. The OEM 67/68s seem to be a little better on cracking but uncracked are hard to find now. How have those reproductions been working out? I have a few options for my '67 as well. Might end up needing a nice black repro

I run the 3 spoke in pretty much everything, its a habit I picked up from my grandpa as he has run that wheel in pretty much every car/truck since they were new.

I looked at a couple of the repop 67/68 wheels at a swap meet when I was building my 68, they just looked off from the original my truck had (which I sold). They felt sturdy on just the table test from the booth, but no clue how they are actually mounted. My OE wheel was cracked at every spoke and also around where the horn button was. It had led a hard life.

[jeffahart]

Originally Posted by dfwright

I have the 15" Repo in my truck, painted, since Sandalwood isn't done. I am completely satisfied with the quality.

That came out nice! I also got a 15" re-pop. It's one of the better re-pop items I've bought for the truck. Very happy with it. My 15" inch grant was junk.

j

[LockDoc]

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If someone has one of the 15" aftermarket wheels sitting around could you check the depth for me, with the hub sitting on the bench/table, to the top of the rim? It could also be done mounted if a person would put a yardstick across the rim. I'm thinking about getting a blue one for the '72 Dually.

Thanks,
LockDoc

[jeffahart]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

-
If someone has one of the 15" aftermarket wheels sitting around could you check the depth for me, with the hub sitting on the bench/table, to the top of the rim? It could also be done mounted if a person would put a yardstick across the rim. I'm thinking about getting a blue one for the '72 Dually.

Thanks,
LockDoc

About 4-5/8" Same as 15" wood grant if you have one of those hanging around.

Merry Christmas!

j

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by jeffahart

About 4-5/8" Same as 15" wood grant if you have one of those hanging around.

Merry Christmas!

j

Thanks Jeff. I have a Grant on it now but it is a deep, soft rim one. It had a wood rim one on it when I got it but it was a really small diameter one.

LockDoc

[jeffahart]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

Thanks Jeff. I have a Grant on it now but it is a deep, soft rim one. It had a wood rim one on it when I got it but it was a really small diameter one.

LockDoc

You know what the best thing for me is, because the 15" works for me. Is, I don't notice the steering wheel anymore. Every steering wheel I had on this truck bugged me. Now I get in drive and don't notice the wheel anymore. I visually notice it, in a good way. But driving, it gets lost.

j

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by jeffahart

You know what the best thing for me is, because the 15" works for me. Is, I don't notice the steering wheel anymore. Every steering wheel I had on this truck bugged me. Now I get in drive and don't notice the wheel anymore. I visually notice it, in a good way. But driving, it gets lost.

j

Yeah, I think I am going to order one.

Thanks,
LockDoc

[72-CH]

I am also running the 15'' reproduction, very sturdy and I love it. I also went with the van style shifter due to it being shorter to match the wheel.

[72-CH]

Wish I knew how to rotate the picture.

[pjmoreland]

Rotated using Microsoft Paint

[Steeveedee]

I bought a wood covered steel wheel from LMC, but the wood cracked. I have enough wood around here to make a decent replacement. The steel part isn't very flexible, so that's good.

[72-CH]

Thanks for the flip PJmoreland!

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by dfwright

Repo in my truck, painted, since Sandalwood isn't done.

Nice, looks spot on! How did the repo people miss this popular color?

[special-K]

So these smaller OEM replicas also have the more modern fatter rim as well? Looks that way in pictures. These are a nice alternative but I don't consider them reproductions since GM never made 15" wheels with a fatter rim. I guess I'd call them replicas or factory style. Like the LMC '72 door panels. They resemble OEM very closely but not the same. So, replicas not reproductions.

[jumpsoffrock]

Does anybody know what a good price for a lightly cracked/ fair condition 67-72 wheel typically brings at a swap meet?