Steering wheel question

[DarrenW]

If I saw a standard steering wheel off a car that I really like, how would I fit it to a different make/model? Can you buy adapters or do you have to get the column machined or something?

[iRocco]

You might be able to buy adapters / bosses that will convert the wheel to your column.

[GrumpyOldMan]

As far as I know, there aren't any 'off the shelf' adapters for factory steering wheels (= the ones that bolt directly to the column). If the cars are made by the same manufacturer or group (e.g. Fiat/Alfa/Lancia), they may simply bolt on. Otherwise, you'll have to have an adaptor fabricated.

If the wheel is a 'sports' type (= the ones that are bolted with allen keys to a boss and then boss is bolted to the column), you will probably be able to find a boss to suit most cars, as 1380Checkm8 said

[iRocco]

If not, there's always the welder.........

[DarrenW]

Hmm interesting! Cheers!

It's just that i've been looking at steering wheels on eBay... The 3-spoke 'wolfsburg' VW type that came on early Golf GTIs and Sciroccos are going for more than I want to pay...



...so I thought I might be able to get something equally stylish off another car, cheap, and get an adapter or something!

Having said that, apparently steering wheels off 70s Beetles will fit my Mk1 Golf, VERY interesting...

[rmad]

If you can somehow mate the new wheel to the old spline pattern somehow your problem is virtually solved. It might be worth purchasing an aftermarket boss (Mountney etc.) to sacrifice in your quest to make your exciting new curse word wheel.
Or you could just ratchet strap/glue it to your old one and have a sort of double-wheel arrangement...originality and modification! ;D

[rmad]

A Triumph wheel would do the job...Dolly sprints, Stags and 2000/2500s all came with similar things on the options list...a simple adapter plate/ring between a Mountney boss and the chosen wheel would be a simple affair.

cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=27383&item=2482405968

A search for 'Triumph Wheel' brings up quite a few potentials.
search.ebay.co.uk/triumph-wheel_W0QQmaxrecordsreturnedZ300QQsalocatedincountryZ3QQsocurrencydisplayZ2QQsokeywordredirectZ1QQsorecordsperpageZ50QQsosortpropertyZ1

[DarrenW]

Whoah scary! The whole reason why I was thinking about this in the first place is because I loved the steering wheel in my mates old Triumph 2000!

Time to start trawling eBay for Mountney/Momo adapters!

[rainking]

Dude...

I've got a tasteful Momo Leather Wheel, with VW adapter for sale if yer interested.....

S'kinda small though.... and would make the golf a tad heavy(er) to steer.

[Stu]

Darren - why would you want to change the limited edition special leather-bound campaign wheel on the Mk1? It's cool!

There is a wheel very similar (possibly the same) as those early Mk1 GTI/'Rocco ones in our garden somewhere, saw it the other day, not sure if it's off a Beetle though. They are the same fitting as far as I'm aware. Got a wooden rimmed one somewhere too I think.

[DarrenW]

I fancy changing it cos the leather on the current wheel is getting knackered from the use of my Disklok security thing. It's almost impossible to put it on/take it off without scuffing the leather. So rather than source a standard wheel I thought I'd see how much it'd cost to be a bit more creative! The original wheel will be kept and lovingly restored!

[Stu]

Ah ha, cool, makes sense now.
I'll have a look if the one we have knocking around is an original Mk1 'wheel, that might do the trick?