can't decide: 15" steering wheel or original 17 1/2"???

[jcurran4]

Please weigh in with your thoughts. I'm really torn between a 15" steering wheel (in green for the Green Monstah) and a stock 17 1/2". I'm putting in a new tilt column, and I got no big belly, so no concern there. It has a 15" after market wheel now, and the size is great, but I am trying to go stock where I can. Just don't want it to be TOO big. Thoughts? Experiences? Wish I had...? Thank y'all!
Jill

[special-K]

Well, the stock wheels aren't too big. They are the size the trucks came with and I for one feel the engineers designed as close to the perfect truck as possible.

[YBNORML]

I somewhat agree with what special-k says.
The factory wheel isn’t that big. But it sure feels big compared to the 15” one that youre used to.

My 67’ has the stock wheel and my 72 has an aftermarket 15” wheel. I drive both trucks regularly and can sure feel the difference when going from one truck to the other.

I like the 15” because it feels sort of sportier, and that truck is heavily modified.

I also like the stock one because it still feels more like an old truck. And that truck is only mildly modified.

Guess I’m not much help.

[special-K]

Yeah, I'm not saying a person can't feel the need for a smaller wheel. Especially people who have only driven newer vehicles that all have smaller wheels. But to say they are too big is saying GM screwed up and they certainly didn't. Like any vehicle, do what suits you. I have run car wheels that are smaller, 88-98 truck wheels, and even 67/68 wheels are a bit smaller. None seemed so different that it mattered either way. I never gave it a thought. No different than driving one vehicle them hopping in another to drive. When I have changed wheel size I noticed the difference right away, and within a week it seemed no different

[jcurran4]

Originally Posted by special-K

Well, the stock wheels aren't too big. They are the size the trucks came with and I for one feel the engineers designed as close to the perfect truck as possible.

Ooohh, that's an excellent point. I do think it's as close to perfect as possible.

[jcurran4]

Originally Posted by YBNORML

I somewhat agree with what special-k says.
The factory wheel isn’t that big. But it sure feels big compared to the 15” one that youre used to.

My 67’ has the stock wheel and my 72 has an aftermarket 15” wheel. I drive both trucks regularly and can sure feel the difference when going from one truck to the other.

I like the 15” because it feels sort of sportier, and that truck is heavily modified.

I also like the stock one because it still feels more like an old truck. And that truck is only mildly modified.

Guess I’m not much help.

"feels more like an old truck." I think I'm leaning that way for sure. Thank you.

[jcurran4]

Originally Posted by special-K

Yeah, I'm not saying a person can't feel the need for a smaller wheel. Especially people who have only driven newer vehicles that all have smaller wheels. But to say they are too big is saying GM screwed up and they certainly didn't. Like any vehicle, do what suits you. I have run car wheels that are smaller, 88-98 truck wheels, and even 67/68 wheels are a bit smaller. None seemed so different that it mattered either way. I never gave it a thought. No different than driving one vehicle them hopping in another to drive. When I have changed wheel size I noticed the difference right away, and within a week it seemed no different

They certainly did not. I used to have a '66 Mustang without power steering, and I loved that "big" wheel. Original it is! Thank you.

[Getter-Done]

You asked So.
Original is my vote.
There is nothing wrong with Custom when it makes it more user friendly .
You have the room for the Big wheel (Go with It).









.

[jocko]

original any day of the week and twice on sunday.

[Fbks_Cruiser]

If you have an automatic trans or 3 on the tree, I think the bigger wheel looks better. The shift lever is designed for the 17.5 inch steering wheel. In my opinion when you swap to a 15 inch wheel the shift lever sticks out past the steering wheel a little too far.

[Richard]

Factory wheel feels to big for me. Do not need the clearance either. I will be going to the van type shift lever on my tilt column as it is shorter. Using an aftermarket 15" wheel. I would run the reproduction 15" wheel myself if I could figure out a way to make it work with my paddle shifters. I am still working on a solution.

[Andy4639]

I like them all! I like the wood 2 spokes out of the cars of the same time period. I also like the stock wheels. I have a 67 I cut down and rewelded it but never have finished it up. I need to do that.
Over all I like the car wheel better I guess. They are basicly the same size as the trucks though.

[blackhawck]

I have the Brothers 15" repro wheel. It has the "look" of original in new smaller size. I think it's the best of both worlds.

[HO455]

Personal choice decision. Personally I love the factory wheel in my Burban. One of the things I don't like about my 09 2500 Ram is the miniature steering wheel it has. If I wanted to drive a car I would have bought a car.

[CamTra]

if you have power steering then my vote is after market 15". if you do not have power steering then definitely use the larger one. I find it steers easier with the larger one.

[57larry]

15 inch for me because I'm fat

[OL SKOOL]

I really like factory. Some aftermarkets are ok

[FleetsidePaul]

I have a factory wheel. When I bought my truck it had a little bitty steering wheel. That was the first thing to go.

[Thealien]

I always like this leather steering wheel.

[toolboxchev]

I have stuck with the Stock Wheel for now. What is really helpful is the color matched suicide ball on it.

Cop pulled me over few years back, YOU KNOW THATS ILLEGAL!

Simply informed him the truck came with it! (grumble, grumble) says the officer.

[Andy4639]

Here are some of mine I have in the trucks and cars.

First picture my 71 C 10 with factory Chevelle SS wheel I redid and leather wrapped it.
2nd picture is a old Corvette wheel I have had it in both of my truck at one time are another.
3rd is the 64 SS Impala wheel I refinished.
4th is the Ramp truck now with a GM 2 spoke I refurb with a home made horn cap.
4th is a GM 2 spoke I did with another home made horn cap with SS emblem that I did to match the wheels and the interior emblems.
As you can see I like the GM wheels.
I'm with Tim on this I think they all look great. As I stated in my earlier post I have the one 67 wheel I cut done to 15 " just haven't finished it yet. One day I will though and see how it looks.

[tim_mc]

I kept my original wheel in part because of it's patina & color. The newer 3 turn power steering box and tilt column makes it fun to drive - it steers like a '73 Caddy...one finger all day long. Before finding the farm truck, the plan was to use a 15" Comfort Grip wheel.

[Cash3481]

Don’t the now make a factory style 15” one?

[69Tom]

Originally Posted by Cash3481

Don’t the now make a factory style 15” one?

Yep. They’re really nice and sturdy. I have both a reproduction standard size and the 15”. I think I like the 15” wheel better.

[truckster]

I think it's important to remember that when these trucks were designed power steering was somewhat rare. The engineers and designers put the large wheel on not for looks, but to increase applied torque to the steering shaft.

Having said that, I like the look of period-correct steering wheels. I think one of the nicest I've seen was from a period Chevelle or Cutlass.