Stupid question time

[RazburyPly48]

I want to change out the stock steering wheel on my '48-club coupe. I also want to keep the stock steering column and prefer something Mopar. Sure, I can source an aftermarket something -lots of wheels and sources- and not tough to do. I have changed the stock seat for buckets and while it is very cool looking, it's time for an update to go with the rest of my modifications. So, any ideas?

[moparfun]

What's your budget and what's the look your going for? 

[RazburyPly48]

I'm hoping to find a steering wheel in a salvage yard that is useable but fixable-not a pile of crap I would spend weeks repairing. It would be super coming from a donor Mopar - hoping for the right splines too. Don't think much newer than the 70's.

 

[Sniper]

I think my 51 and my 65 Cuda can swap steering wheels.  But I haven't tried it yet.  Just remember power steering cars have smaller diameter steering wheels than manual steering ones, so that might make steering harder if you swap them.

[RNR1957NYer]

I've got a '64 'cuda and I can't imagine trying to turn my '41 at low speed into a tight spot with a wheel that small - I need all the leverage I can get.

[Sniper]

Well, my 65 has manual steering so my steering wheel might be larger.

Edited October 29, 2022 by Sniper

[LeRoy]

14 hours ago, Sniper said:

Well, my 65 has manual steering so my steering wheel might be larger.

I drove a 1970 Peterbilt cabover with manual steering in my younger days, the steering wheel in that thing looked like a wagon wheel.?

[SteveR]

16 hours ago, Sniper said:

Well, my 65 has manual steering so my steering wheel might be larger.

Do you have the stock 13" wheels or are they 14"

My 65 Bacaruda had the 13" with manual steering. I never found it a problem. But I only had bias-ply tires

However my 37 Plymouth with 16" radials is tough when parking.

[Sniper]

13" tires.  My 51 has radials, no problem with it really.  Keeps me in shape, lol.  Just to up my game I am test fitting P255/50R17's in the front.  That ought to up my gun size.

[SteveR]

9 minutes ago, Sniper said:

That ought to up my gun size.

They don't call it Arm Strong Steering for nothing.

[andyd]

The 41 Plymouth I had with 205/75x15 Coker Classic whitewall radials used a 1946-48 Plymouth steering wheel with 35psi in the front tyres, steering was heavy but not unduly so thru the stock 1941 steering box .......and the 1940 Dodge uses 205/65x14 radials on 14x6 alloy mags with 32psi and the small woodrimed steering wheel thru a narrowed Austin 1800 Rack & Pinion........steering is hard when stopped but once moving is not too difficult........as for what will swap and what looks good.......that in the realm of your own preference.........the Plymouth had the stock split bench, the Dodge has a pair of bucket seats & mopar auto console.........andyd  

[DavidJose1]

Did you use the stock steering shaft and an adapter to mount wheel?

[andyd]

Nope, the Dodge has a 318 Poly/auto the column is homemade using alloy tube that is modified to sit into the upper part of a late 60's Valiant indicator/upper bearing part that has an Oz Valiant collapseable concertina section and a homemade alloy adaptor to mount the steering wheel...........the actual steering shaft which is from memory a 3/4" steel shaft goes thru a sealed bearing at the floorboard level thats encased by the alloy outer and then uses a uni joint and shaft to a lower uni joint at the narrowed 9" Austin 1800 rack & pinion   

Edited August 2, 2023 by andyd
more info.